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Walter Kolch appointed Director of UCD Conway Institute

Professor Walter Kolch has been appointed Director of the UCD Conway Institute for a 3 year term.  Professor Kolch is currently Director of Systems Biology Ireland, a Centre for Science, Engineering & Technology (CSET) funded by Science Foundation Ireland and based in UCD Conway Institute. 

A recognised leader in systems biology, Walter’s work uses modern –omics technologies and the strength of computers and mathematics to understand biology and to unravel the complexities of cells through the use of models that predict biological behaviours. The research being undertaken at Systems Biology Ireland aims to enable quicker and better treatments of a range of medical conditions, including various cancers and should allow for better therapies to be delivered more effectively to patients.

Prior to his appointment to Systems Biology Ireland in 2009, Walter Kolch has spent his academic career in Austria, the US, Germany and more recently in Scotland where he was appointed Group Leader at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Glasgow in 1998.  He became Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Glasgow, in 2000 and within this role was the founder and Director of the Sir Henry Wellcome Functional Genomics Facility from 2001-2004. This facility was one of the first worldwide, which integrated bioinformatics, proteomics, genomics and transcriptomics research and service.  From 2005 to 2009, he was Scientific Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (IRC) Proteomics Technologies between the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde and Dundee, which is developing innovative proteomics technologies and has an associated doctoral training centre.

Welcoming his appointment, the President of UCD, Dr Hugh Brady, said that Walter Kolch would provide leadership and vision for the strategic development of the Conway Institute in line with UCD’s Strategic Plan to 2014.

“The Conway Institute has an excellent track record in primary research alongside close collaboration with industry researchers.  Walter’s role, as Director, will be to promote an intellectual and cultural environment that fosters academic excellence, research impact, and top level education; promoting the Institute to external stakeholders and industry partners, as well as developing funding opportunities.