RIGHT: Ann Atzberger, Facility Manager, demonstrating the new instruments to Prof Padraic Fallon, Trinity College Dublin (left) and Dr Brian Collier, Science Foundation Ireland (right).

The €840,000 state-of-the-art technology at the Facility will enable precision analysis and isolation of cell samples towards the development of treatments and cures for a range of conditions.

€755,000 of the cost was provided by Science Foundation Ireland, as an equipment grant. The funding has also facilitated the appointment of a dedicated Facility Manager, Ann Atzberger, who has been recruited from the University of Oxford.

Speaking at the opening, Professor Padraic Fallon from the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, said:

"This is a landmark occasion for cellular research in Ireland. This new facility will greatly assist in increasing our understanding of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. We are equipping ourselves today with the instruments of tomorrow.

“Importantly, as well as being used by clinician scientists in St. James’s and associated hospitals, the new instruments at this facility will be available for use by external academics, industrial scientists and other researchers involved in analysing disease processes. The investment in this innovative, open-access facility represents real value for money.”

  Director-General of Science Foundation Ireland, Professor Frank Gannon, said:

“By helping to fund highly-specialised equipment such as this, SFI is equipping Ireland’s leading scientific and medical professionals with the appliances that will expedite critical future discoveries.

"This investment will significantly enhance the nature and quality of cell research and, ultimately, patient treatments in this country”. (Source: SFI)



RIGHT: Analysis chamber with three lasers used to isolate different types of cells.