Apr 9 2010
CRANN has been awarded 15.5 Million Euros in non-exchequer funding, following a competitive process, to lead two major European nano research projects which will create 17 R+D roles.
In a move that will create 12 new R&D roles, the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) and TCD School of Medicine, in partnership with CRANN, will lead a pan-European team that has attracted funding worth approximately €12m, to develop new nanomedical technology which will enable the early and rapid diagnosis of cancer.
Two Irish SMEs are also participating in the programme, Cellix Ltd. and Radisens Technology. The collaboration between industry and academia will also provide an excellent platform for small Irish indigenous companies to become active in research and gain access to international markets. In addition, the success of being awarded this research programme also provides a significant opportunity to market Ireland’s growing capability in nanomedicine and nanotechnology to multinational companies who do not currently have a presence in Ireland.
Professor Dermot Kelleher, Head of TCD School of Medicine and IMM Director said: “This is a huge vote of confidence and recognises Irish leadership in the cutting edge field of nanomedicine. This research programme will address some of the most important questions in human medicine relating to diagnosis and treatment of cancer, using 21st century experience and know-how in nanotechnology, and we are looking forward to the time when our patients here will benefit from these innovative technologies.”
In partnership with Intel, CRANN will also lead a European consortium focussed on the development of the next generation of electronic chip which will drive faster, lighter and more efficient computers, mobile phones and home gaming machines. This project will lead to the creation of five R&D roles.
Mr Leonard Hobbs, Head of Research at Intel Ireland said, “We are delighted to be extending our ongoing collaboration with CRANN to include some key European partners in pursuit of the continued miniaturisation of the electronic circuit."
Prof. Mike Morris from UCC said, “For Europe to play an important role in the continued development of computers at cost effective prices will require real innovation and the transfer of research to the industrial environment. Our project centres on developing innovation for the benefit of industrial partners such as Intel.”
Prof. John Boland, Director of CRANN said, “Investment in building Ireland’s R&D capability over the past ten years is delivering returns by attracting industry and academic based funding into Ireland and creating new jobs. Ireland is now globally recognized for its expertise in the area of nanoscience, as evidenced by the large amounts of non-exchequer funding we are winning through competitive international research projects. Research is a global competition and we need to continue to develop our knowledge base and expertise to make Ireland a true Innovation Centre.”
About the Cancer Research Programme
TCD School of Medicine and CRANN Principal Investigator, Professor Yuri Volkov, will lead a European team of researchers to create advanced medical diagnostic devices, enabled by nanotechnology, which will allow the early and rapid diagnosis of cancer. Importantly the new technology when developed will also enable the early detection of specific cancer types, leading to improved patient care. The programme will be lead by a team of clinical medical researchers from St James Hospital Campus, in collaboration with the nanoscience Institute CRANN at TCD. The Irish team will lead a mix of 22 European partners from academia and industry from 9 EU countries for a four year period, under the large scale EU Funding Programme.
Professor Yuri Volkov, the Principal Investigator in the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) and CRANN, has been awarded the scientific leadership and coordination of the project. TCD Professors John Michael D. Coey, School of Physics and CRANN, Yurii Gounko, School of Chemistry and CRANN and Ken Dawson from University College Dublin, School of Chemistry are also collaborators in this project.
About the Semi Conductor Project
The semiconductor industry has the goal of doubling the speed and halving the size of the transistor every 18 months – Moore’s Law. This relentless pursuit of smaller more efficient electronics has hit a roadblock.
CRANN, in partnership with leading universities in Europe, has won the funding to lead this research programme after a European wide competition, to develop new “smart” materials which will enable a solution to this problem. The materials will organise themselves on the nanoscale to allow unprecedented control over the feature size of next generation electronics.
Prof. Mike Morris from the Department of Chemistry, UCC will coordinate the project, which will involve 3 companies and 6 research partners across 7 European countries. This project is a combination of two of the five drivers recognised as critical to the future competitiveness of the European economy – nanoelectronics and nanotechnology.