2009 Press Releases
Nanoweek Launched
01.12.2009
To mark the beginning of Nanoweek on November 30th 2009, the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe, TD unveiled Toxichip, a nanobiotechnology solution developed at the Tyndall National Institute, UCC.
01.12.2009
To mark the beginning of Nanoweek on November 30th 2009, the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe, TD unveiled Toxichip, a nanobiotechnology solution developed at the Tyndall National Institute, UCC.
The solution has the potential to replace animal testing currently used in toxicity screening.
Nanoweek is organised by Nanoscience Network and runs until December 4th. The programme includes a wide range of national events designed to raise awareness of the contribution that nanoscience makes to the Irish economy and also to highlight the central role it can play in driving the Smart Economy.
Launching the Toxichip, the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, said: “The creation of a strong research, innovation and commercialisation ecosystem is a core part of the Government’s vision for a ‘smart’ economy. The Toxichip is a wonderful example of that ‘smart’ economy in action. The development demonstrates our capacity to create highly innovative new products when the supports are put in place to allow academia and industry to collaborate. We now have over 600 researchers working in nanotechnology and 300 students undertaking PhD programmes related to nanoscience.”
As described by the project co-ordinator Dr Eric Moore, the Toxichip platform is a sensing system that monitors the effects that toxicants have on human and animal cells. For example, it is capable of monitoring how cells behave and interact with drugs, chemical pollutants in the environment and toxic substances in food and beverages. The funding for the project was from the FP6 European programme and included several European academic and industry partners.
Professor Roger Whatmore, CEO, Tyndall National Institute said: “Nanotechnology is growing ever more important to Ireland’s future competiveness. Through Government and industry funding we now have a world leading infrastructure in place with the Competence Centre for Applied Nanotechnology (CCAN), the Tyndall National Institute and Crann based in TCD where over 600 researchers are now working in nanoscience.”
Mr Leonard Hobbs, Intel Ireland noted, “The recent establishment of the Competence Centre for Applied Nanotechnology is critical to the development of the nanoscience ecosystem in Ireland. The CCAN was established by companies coming together to define their common research interests, which will have a strategic impact on their business area in the coming years.”
For further information on Nanoweek visit http://www.nanoweek.ie
Pictured at the unveiling of Toxichip at the launch of Nanoweek were L-R: Minister Batt O'Keeffe; Professor Roger Whatmore, Tyndall National Institute; Dr Michael Murphy, President, UCC; Professor Gerry Wrixon and Dr Eric Moore Tyndall National Institute.
1246MMcS
Nanoweek is organised by Nanoscience Network and runs until December 4th. The programme includes a wide range of national events designed to raise awareness of the contribution that nanoscience makes to the Irish economy and also to highlight the central role it can play in driving the Smart Economy.
Launching the Toxichip, the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, said: “The creation of a strong research, innovation and commercialisation ecosystem is a core part of the Government’s vision for a ‘smart’ economy. The Toxichip is a wonderful example of that ‘smart’ economy in action. The development demonstrates our capacity to create highly innovative new products when the supports are put in place to allow academia and industry to collaborate. We now have over 600 researchers working in nanotechnology and 300 students undertaking PhD programmes related to nanoscience.”
As described by the project co-ordinator Dr Eric Moore, the Toxichip platform is a sensing system that monitors the effects that toxicants have on human and animal cells. For example, it is capable of monitoring how cells behave and interact with drugs, chemical pollutants in the environment and toxic substances in food and beverages. The funding for the project was from the FP6 European programme and included several European academic and industry partners.
Professor Roger Whatmore, CEO, Tyndall National Institute said: “Nanotechnology is growing ever more important to Ireland’s future competiveness. Through Government and industry funding we now have a world leading infrastructure in place with the Competence Centre for Applied Nanotechnology (CCAN), the Tyndall National Institute and Crann based in TCD where over 600 researchers are now working in nanoscience.”
Mr Leonard Hobbs, Intel Ireland noted, “The recent establishment of the Competence Centre for Applied Nanotechnology is critical to the development of the nanoscience ecosystem in Ireland. The CCAN was established by companies coming together to define their common research interests, which will have a strategic impact on their business area in the coming years.”
For further information on Nanoweek visit http://www.nanoweek.ie
Pictured at the unveiling of Toxichip at the launch of Nanoweek were L-R: Minister Batt O'Keeffe; Professor Roger Whatmore, Tyndall National Institute; Dr Michael Murphy, President, UCC; Professor Gerry Wrixon and Dr Eric Moore Tyndall National Institute.
1246MMcS