A substantial investment totalling £55 million, made possible through funding from the Northern Ireland Executive alongside various consortium partners, is set to advance innovation within the critical field of precision medicine
This initiative is spearheaded by the Strength in Places Fund, an arm of UK Research and Innovation, and is based at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB).
At the heart of this initiative is the Future Medicines Institute (FMI), which receives backing from a diverse coalition of leading medical companies.
The FMI will enhance R&D productivity through interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating expertise from various fields, including biomedical science, chemical biology, and data analytics.
To facilitate collaboration and innovation, the Future Medicines Institute will feature a state-of-the-art laboratory environment.
Precision medicine
The institute’s primary focus is precision medicine, a transformative approach to healthcare that aims to develop tailored treatments for individual patients.
This methodology considers a range of patient-specific factors, including genetic makeup, environmental influences, lifestyle choices, and precise diagnostic information.
Experts from the medical, academic, and industrial sectors will collaborate to propel advancements in precision medicine.
These advancements include:
- Drug Discovery and Development: Exploring new compounds and therapies to tackle diseases more effectively.
- Genomics and Precision Medicine: Harnessing the power of genetics to tailor treatments to individual patients.
- Diagnostics and Biomarkers: Developing advanced diagnostic methods to identify diseases early and accurately.
Advancing precision medicine in Northern Ireland and the wider UK
This collaborative effort is designed not only to benefit Northern Ireland significantly but also to position the UK as a leader in this burgeoning sector.
During the announcement of this significant financial commitment, Economy Minister Conor Murphy emphasised the investment’s potential to bolster Northern Ireland’s burgeoning diagnostic and therapeutic sectors.
He spoke to the importance of this funding in driving growth, fostering innovation, and positioning the region as a key player in the evolving field of personalised medicine.
Professor Christopher Scott is Dean of Research at the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences at QUB.
Professor Scott said the institute would show Northern Ireland had the right trained workforce to see products through from research to development: “We are treading new ground together with new equipment and expertise.
“The overarching goal is to drive the productivity of research and development that we do in Northern Ireland.
“We want to make the process more accessible and de-risk the involvement of research and development for our companies.”
