06 Mar 2006

The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building opened at UCC, 6 March

The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building at University College Cork (UCC) - opened today (6th March 2006) by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Micheál Martin - is a very significant milestone in the university's continuing development. UCC is currently 'Irish University of the Year' and received this award, in part, because of the university's record in both research and infrastructure development. With the addition of The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building to its other facilities the position of UCC's College of Medicine and Health (incorporating pharmacy, medicine, nursing and midwifery, dentistry, and clinical therapies) at the forefront of Irish healthcare education and research is further enhanced.

Built at a cost of €22.3m, The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building comprises some 5,600m2 of teaching and research laboratories, lecture theatres and seminar rooms and support space. It is home to both the undergraduate and postgraduate facilities of UCC's new School of Pharmacy, as well as to the university's Analytical and Biological Chemistry Research Facility (ABCRF), and also houses a dedicated industry suite to facilitate collaboration between UCC and the pharmaceutical industry. The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building is located adjacent to the university's BioSciences Institute and the BioTransfer Unit to facilitate leading edge university-industry research collaborations.

"The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, by housing both the School of Pharmacy and the ABCRF, demonstrates UCC's commitment to the belief that research and teaching should be integrated, as they enhance each other," said Professor Anita Maguire, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Director of the ABCRF. The ABCRF consists of inter-disciplinary research teams from Chemistry and Biochemistry. Their research activities have a natural synergy with the research work of the School of Pharmacy. This synergy will encourage innovative collaborations, both nationally and globally, with partners in the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, as the building will house the ABCRF researchers, predominantly members of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, and the School of Pharmacy within the College of Medicine and Health, the building will form a key collaborative research bridge between the two newly established Colleges.

During the opening ceremony the importance of this new facility was acknowledged by Minister Martin who stated, "The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building represents a significant advance by UCC that clearly supports the Government's policy to promote university-industry partnerships in pursuit of our national goal to build a globally competitive knowledge-based economy".

UCC's School of Pharmacy was established in 2003. This followed an internationally peer-reviewed competition that saw UCC being selected by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Education to establish a new School of Pharmacy in Ireland. Pharmacy is now one of the university's fastest growing disciplines with the School providing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in mainstream and specialist areas of pharmacy.  

Speaking at the opening ceremony, UCC President, Professor Gerard Wrixon said "UCC has embarked on the creation of one of the largest Colleges of Medicine and Health in the country, with the most diverse portfolio of degree programmes, and which aims to deliver new standards of excellence. In the past five years we have added professional degree courses in Nursing, Pharmacy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Public Health. Student numbers in the College of Medicine and Health, which were in the hundreds in the mid 1990s, will soon be up to three thousand."

President Wrixon also paid tribute to the Government stating,  "The establishment of the School of Pharmacy demonstrates the Government's commitment to tackling the serious shortage of pharmacists being experienced in our hospitals, in community pharmacies and in the pharmaceutical industry. The concentration of pharmaceutical companies in the Munster region gives confidence that the career opportunities for UCC's pharmacy graduates are many and bright. The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building will deliver benefits for Ireland, for the pharmaceutical industry, for pharmacy researchers, and for future generations of students."

The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building is named in honour of Dr Tom and Mrs Marie Cavanagh. Dr Cavanagh, a commerce graduate of UCC, is Vice-Chairman of the university's Governing Body and a director of the Cork University Foundation. President Gerard Wrixon said, "The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building is so named in appreciation of Dr Tom and Mrs Marie Cavanagh who have served this university tirelessly and with great distinction. Dr Cavanagh has been a valued member of the Governing Body for many years during which time he has served on many important committees and been Chairman of the Finance Committee. The university is delighted to have the opportunity to name this magnificent facility in recognition of their many years of dedicated service."

The Atlantic Philanthropies role in the development of the School of Pharmacy President was highlighted by President Wrixon who said, "The Atlantic Philanthropies deserve great credit from all involved in, and benefiting from, Irish higher education. They have been the principal non-governmental supporter of the highly beneficial Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI). Through their very generous support they have made a key contribution to the growth and development of university education in Ireland thereby benefiting current and future generations. The Atlantic Philanthropies support has been a catalyst in the enormous progress witnessed in Ireland's university sector which, assisted by this support, is achieving international renown. UCC has benefited considerably through the PRTLI programme. This Atlantic Philanthropies and Government initiative, which, provides support for research and infrastructural development, has enabled UCC to build world-class facilities such as the BioSciences Institute and the National Nanofabrication Facility in the Tyndall National Institute. As a result of the development of such facilities UCC has been able to deliver world-class research and to enhance the university's international reputation. The €30 million investment in the new Postgraduate Library is another key project for UCC that is also being delivered as a result of the PRTLI initiative. The Atlantic Philanthropies support has created a lasting legacy that will enhance the university experience for future generations of UCC students."

"The Government is also to be congratulated for its far-sighted decision to establish the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) programme which is transforming the potential of Irish Universities," said President Wrixon. In welcoming the recent announcement by Minister Martin of a 22% increase in SFI funding President Wrixon also took the opportunity to acknowledge the support of the Minister over many years saying, "Micheál Martin's support, particularly in relation to UCC's development of its College of Medicine and Health is of great value to the university, to Cork, and indeed to Ireland."

Concluding the opening ceremony UCC President Gerard Wrixon stated, "The Cavanagh Pharmacy Building represents a major advance for UCC and all who are, and who will be, associated with UCC owe a large debt of thanks to those who made this possible. In particular our thanks therefore go to the Minister and the Government, to The Atlantic Philanthropies, and in particular to Tom and Marie Cavanagh and their family."

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