Ulster University’s Personalised Medicine Centre has secured a £490,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation to establish a state-of-the-art multi-omics laboratory at its base within the C-TRIC (Clinical Translational Research & Innovation Centre) building on the Altnagelvin Hospital site.
This is the first time the University has received funding from the Wolfson Foundation since 1980, a significant endorsement of the Centre’s leadership in personalised and precision medicine.
Part of the School of Medicine, the Personalised Medicine Centre aims to develop clinical tools and therapies tailored to a person’s unique genetic and molecular profile. The new lab will significantly enhance the Centre’s capacity for high-throughput genetic, proteomic and data-driven research – essential tools for understanding complex diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. This deeper understanding makes it possible to spot diseases earlier and diagnose them more precisely, leading to better treatment options and improved patient care.
The funding will support collaboration with the life sciences industry in Northern Ireland and beyond and will also expand training opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students, positioning Derry~Londonderry as a hub for expertise and personalised medicine innovation.
Dr Catriona Kelly, Senior Lecturer at Ulster University’s School of Medicine, said:
“This investment represents a huge advancement for clinical research in the North West. The Multi-Omics Lab will allow us to deepen our understanding of disease mechanisms and accelerate the development of targeted therapies. We’re proud to be advancing research that will directly benefit patients while also training the next generation of scientists.”
Established in 2013, the Personalised Medicine Centre is a research-intensive institute which exploits cutting edge data analytic approaches to make novel discoveries across a range of chronic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, childhood cancers and musculoskeletal diseases. With the largest single concentration of researchers focused solely on personalised medicine in Ireland, the Centre is a driving force in health innovation.
Jessica Warner, Head of Funding at the Wolfson Foundation, commented:
“We are delighted to support Ulster University and the Personalised Medicine Centre in their mission to develop new diagnostic tools and therapies. The Centre is already building up vital population level data for the region, and this funding will enable Ulster’s clinical researchers to accelerate vital discovery science in a range of diseases and conditions.”
The Personalised Medicine Centre is uniquely positioned at the intersection of academia, healthcare, and community advancement, working hand-in-hand with C-TRIC, Ulster University, the Western Health and Social Care Trust, and Derry City and Strabane District Council to revolutionise diagnostics and therapeutic care in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Professor Liam Maguire, Pro Vice Chancellor of Research at Ulster University, said:
“This new multi-omics lab strengthens Ulster University’s role in advancing personalised healthcare and tackling complex diseases through world-class research. We are grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for their vital support in making this possible.”
This funding represents a significant boost for the city of Derry~Londonderry, reinforcing its position as a leader in biomedical research and innovation.
