A synergistic relationship between TTMI, SJH and industry is key to ensuring the continued development and commercialisation of new healthcare therapeutics and innovations. TTMI and SJH are committed to a clinically orientated solutions approach to research that will drive improvements in patient outcomes. Hence, we welcome opportunities to foster industry collaborations to expedite healthcare research, while concurrently, facilitating access to leading scientific and medical talent. As exemplified in the case studies below, TTMI has a wealth of experience developing enterprise collaborations, and therefore, is well placed to advise and capitalise on various national and international support initiatives. The scope of enterprise involvement can take many forms, and the following is a brief summary of past engagements:

• Equipment and Core Facility Access
• Collaborative Research — Consultancy
• Licensing Agreements
• Contract Research / Innovation Vouchers
• Innovation Partnerships
• Horizon 2020

Development of a semi-conductor sequencing-based panel for genotyping of colon and lung cancer by the Onconetwork consortium.

Prof. Orla Sheils

Prof. Orla Sheils has been working as a founder member of the OncoNetwork Consortium in collaboration with ThermoFisher to develop and validate the CE-IVD Oncomine Solid Tumor DNA and Solid Tumour Fusion Transcript kits which enable highly accurate and reliable multiplexed sequencing of formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumour samples with the quality and performance needed for the clinical laboratory. Click here for further details.

Promising new small molecule drugs for treating gastrointestinal cancer.

Prof. Jacintha O’Sullivan

A drug discovery program led by Professor Jacintha O’Sullivan in TTMI in collaboration with Dr. Breandán Kennedy in UCD have identified and patented a small molecule drug Quininib with potent anti-angiogenic activity. Patent: Quininib is the subject of the patent. Anti-angiogenic compounds, WO 2012/095836, granted Dec 2014. Click here for further details.

Human Pulmonary Immunology.

Prof. Joseph Keane

Our track record in developing new paradigms of host defence has allowed us to screen numerous novel therapeutic approaches – with potential to drive innate and cell mediated responses to support diseased patients with immune defects and lung disease. Our collaboration with the RCSI has led to the development of novel inhaled micro-particle approaches to lung directed therapy. Click here for further details.

Saving newborns with neonatal sepsis. European researchers developed a sample-to-result automated system for detecting blood pathogens in infants at the point of care.

Prof. Orla Sheils

The EU-funded ASCMICROPLAT (Fast automated multiplex analysis of neonatal sepsis markers on a centrifugal microfluidic platform) project addressed this issue through the development of a novel diagnostic platform capable of performing rapid diagnosis of neonatal sepsis. Briefly, the device allows detection of a biologically relevant panel of neonatal sepsis pathogens and sepsis biomarkers from paediatric serum samples within four hours. Click here for further details.

Interrogating T cell migration – a High Content Analysis approach.

Prof. Aideen Long

Prof. Long and her research team have utilized siRNA and pharmacological libraries in combination with high content analysis (HCA) to identify novel signaling pathways or enzymes involved in T cell migration. Image-based HCA is a technology that is ideal for the analysis of complex cellular phenotypes, as the automated image acquisition permits large cell populations to be rapidly analysed on a large scale. Click here for further details.

Trinity Health Kidney Centre – Unlocking the potential of patient registries and biobanks.

Prof. Mark Little

This highly successful endeavour has exclusive access to longitudinal data and samples from many well -phenotyped patients through the Irish Rare Kidney Disease Registry and Biobank, and the material available has led to the development of exciting new biomarkers of kidney disease. Such an approach has led to the publication last year in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology by the group of a unique urine test that will help clinicians manage difficult to treat kidney vasculitis. The group have shown that soluble CD163, as measured in urine of patients, correlates well with the level of inflammation caused in active renal vasculitis and displays excellent biomarker characteristics. Click here for further details.

Understanding the genetic etiology of mental disorders.

Prof. Aiden Corvin

Using methods based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) arrays we have identified common and rare genetic variants that contribute to schizophrenia risk in the Irish population. We have also made a substantial contribution to international efforts which have now identified more than 150 common risk loci for these conditions. Click here for further details.

From bench to bedside. Key enabling technologies at TTMI.

Prof. Yuri Volkov and Prof. Adriele Prina-Mello

Prof. Yuri Volkov and Prof. Adriele Prina-Mello (TTMI Nanomedicine and Key Enabling Technologies group) are developing platforms in diagnostic, treatment and theranostic applications and have licenced a number of technologies to industry. Click here for further details.

Under Construction

Genomics core facilities – TrinSeq.

Dr. Elaine Kenny

The facility supports diverse projects from determining organisms that define soil composition (metagenomics) or cause disease (e.g. food-borne pathogens); to identifying ancient human DNA; to finding genetic mutations in living people that contribute to conditions as disparate as autism, arthritis and cancer. Click here for further details.

High Content Analysis approach.

Prof. Aideen Long

Image-based HCA is a technology that is ideal for the analysis of complex cellular phenotypes, as the automated image acquisition permits large cell populations to be rapidly analysed on a large scale. Click here for further details.

Flow Cytometry

Dr. Eamon Breen

Flow cytometry revolutionised the area of cell research, coming from humble beginnings of being able to measure 2 intrinsic parameters in the 1950s to modern day cytometers that can now analyse two intrinsic parameters along side 32 extrinsic parameters. The current facility can analyse 9 parameters at ~5000 cells per second, and shortly, a machine will be in place that can analyse 16+ parameters and speeds of up to 70000 cells per second. Click here for further details.