Minister for Health Unveils Foundation Stone for Charles Institute
In February 2010, Minister for Health, Ms Mary Harney TD unveiled the foundation stone for the Charles Institute, the first national institute devoted to dermatology in Ireland. Funded by the City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital Trust and by University College Dublin, the Charles institute will undertake research into common skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, skin cancer as well as rare genetic skin diseases and training for undergraduate and qualified health professionals.
Pictured left to right are: Prof Eoin O’Brien, City of Dublin Skin & Cancer Hospital Charity; Dr Hugh Brady, UCD President; Mr Peter Flanagan, Chairman, City of Dublin Skin & Cancer Hospital Charity; Ms Mary Harney, TD, Minister for Health and Children; Prof Noel Whelan, Chair, St Vincent’s Healthcare Group; Mr John Morgan, Chair, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.
“In planning the Charles Institute, we have set it between the UCD Conway Institute, where we conduct basic research, and the UCD Health Sciences Centre, where we educate doctors, nurses and other health professional…” The Institute is also directly linked to the teaching hospitals in the Dublin Academic Health Centre, St Vincent’s University Hospital and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and the Board of governors of the City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital Charity as well as extending to patient groups and charities in the community.
Prof William Gallagher, UCD Cancer Researcher and Minister for Health, Ms Mary Harney TD viewing scientific samples
The Charles Institute at UCD will recruit upwards of 50 scientists, graduate students and medical practitioners, devoted to dermatology research and training. The outcomes of this work will help to tackle and treat skin conditions and give us the opportunity to develop an international centre for research excellence in this area.
With the main construction programme well advanced, it is anticipated that the building will be open in late 2010.
