The Lord Lieutenant of County Borough of Londonderry, Ian Crowe, welcomed Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal to C-TRIC, a state-of-the-art clinical research facility. C-TRIC is a unique collaboration between the Western Health and Social Care Trust, Ulster University and Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Ahead of her tour of the facility, Her Royal Highness met with Professor Paul Bartholomew Vice Chancellor of Ulster University as well as Dr Tom Frawley, CBE, Chair of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, Neil Guckian OBE, Trust Chief Executive, and Chief Executive, Derry City and Strabane District Council Mr John Kelpie.
Other colleagues who met with Her Royal Highness included Ulster University Professor Liam Maguire, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research & Chair of C-TRIC Management Board and Professor Aaron Peace; Chief Executive of C-TRIC and Director of Research & Development at the Western Trust, before being lead on a tour of the state-of-the-art facility by both Professors.
On the tour, The Princess engaged with doctors, research staff and research students to hear of the various trials and projects currently taking place in the facility.
Stephanie Duguez PhD, Senior Lecturer at Ulster University and Dr Gavin McCluskey, Consultant Neurologist Western Trust shared information on Motor Neurone Disease research by the Duguez group. The aim is to decipher the role of intercellular communication in different physiological and pathological conditions such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA-III & IV).
Her Royal Highness heard that within the School of Medicine at Ulster University, the Personalised Medicine Centre aims to develop treatments and clinical tools that consider a person’s individual genetic and molecular signatures. Research focuses on a range of disorders from neuromuscular disease, dementia, metabolic disorders (diabetes and cardiovascular disease), cancers, musculoskeletal disorders and kidney disease. The centre drives the identification of new treatment options and diagnostic tests.
Vanessa Quinn PhD, Western Trust Programme Manager and Kathryn Ferguson, Western Trust Research Nurse by Professor Peace. Ms Quinn briefed Her Royal Highness on plans to expand clinical trials through a mobile research unit clinic, a bespoke purpose built vehicle that will focus on reducing barriers for taking part in research for participants by delivering research within the communities we serve - as part of the overall Derry City and Strabane Council City Deal.
Furthermore, The Princess observed the cutting-edge technology and resources and heard of the commitment to innovation and research in the collective pursuit of improved patient care and outcomes.
After the tour, Her Royal Highness returned to the Boardroom where Professor Peace introduced a number of groups including members of the C-TRIC Board, Western Trust Research and Development Staff and Personalised Medicine Centre Staff and Students from Ulster University to hear about the collaborative work taking place in the facility.
Following a few words from Dr Tom Frawley, The Princess accepted an invitation to sign the visitors' book before farewells.
