2005 Press Releases

02 Mar 2005

BUPA Ireland Research Centre - euro2.5 Million Donation to UCC


BUPA Ireland is to donate euro2.5 million to University College Cork's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology to fund the new BUPA Ireland Research Centre . It represents one of the largest corporate donations to an Irish university and one which will have a significant impact on research into women's health.

The BUPA Ireland Research Centre, which will focus on women's health and childbirth, will be a leading-edge facility headed by Professor John Higgins and located on the top floor of the new state-of-the-art Cork University Maternity Hospital . The Centre, which will officially open in mid-2006, will bring together research, training and best clinical practice. It will investigate the molecular basis of human reproduction and will incorporate a National Perinatal Centre which will collate national data as well as issuing national guidelines informing best practice in obstetrics and gynaecology. The Centre will also become an international leader in postgraduate training and innovation in gynaecological surgery.

The formal announcement of the donation will be made on Wednesday, March 2 nd at UCC by An Tánaiste Mary Harney TD, Minister for Health and Children, in the presence of Professor Gerard T. Wrixon, President of UCC, Mr. Martin O?Rourke, Managing Director of BUPA Ireland and Professor John Higgins, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Head of Department at UCC. 

Congratulating the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Cork University Maternity Hospital the Tánaiste said "This type of initiative highlights the fact that the Health Care Service in Ireland should have the ambition "to aim high" and be an international leader in clinical research and innovation. The National Perinatal Centre will be an important part of the BUPA Ireland Research Centre and the Department of Health and Children has donated euro1.5 million to support its set up. Ireland must be confident that we have mechanisms in place to ensure the safety of mothers and their babies" said An Tánaiste.

President Wrixon welcomed BUPA Ireland's confidence in UCC and its willingness to make a commitment of this magnitude to the research and postgraduate training within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. "Such a magnificent financial commitment to UCC will enable the university to offer leading-edge facilities to clinicians and scientists and will further consolidate UCC's reputation as a centre of excellence in research and teaching. This is a long term partnership which will have a major impact on the care of patients within the Cork University Maternity Hospital ".

Commenting, Martin O'Rourke said "We believe that the academic expertise of UCC and the international experience of BUPA Ireland bodes well for the success and international standing which this centre hopes to achieve. Ultimately mothers, babies and families will benefit from the research to be undertaken at this centre. The BUPA Ireland Research Centre reflects our not for profit ethos and our mission of caring for the community we serve.   We are determined that the BUPA Ireland Research Centre will be a world-class operation".  

Professor Higgins said "Thisdonation demonstrates the importance of the university sector working side by side with the clinical service in pursuit of excellence in patient care".

 

025MMS


« Back to 2005 Press Releases

                 

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

Top