A newly refurbished laboratory that will aid the research into cancer, infection, immune deficiency and metabolic disorders was opened in Dublin yesterday.

Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe, was on hand to formally unveil the renovated Sir Patrick Dun Translational Research Laboratory at the Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Medicine and St James’s Hospital.

Professor Dermot Kelleher, Head of TCD’s School of Medicine and Vice Provost for Medical Affairs, commented on the occasion: "The refurbishment will further facilitate interdisciplinary research at the highest level for scientists and clinicians. With the aid of the facility and its advanced technology it is intended that the important research carried out by Trinity’s clinicians and scientists may be translated more rapidly into clinically effective management strategies for patients."

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"The Sir Patrick Dun laboratory as a modern research facility is also excellently equipped, and readily positioned to generate high quality research output, train post-graduate researchers to PhD level, and foster national and international collaborations."

Professor Tom Rogers, Head of Clinical Microbiology, who co-ordinated the project on behalf of the School of Medicine added: "Our immediate proximity to the Central Pathology Laboratory, and St James’s Hospital, significantly increases our capacity to undertake cutting edge translational research in collaboration with clinical colleagues."

The scheme – which was funded through the Higher Education Authority’s Research Facilities Enhancement Scheme (RFES) - has increased the School of Medicine’s research space by over 900 square metres, as well as providing new, advanced equipment for the laboratories.

(NS/KMcA)