Systems Biology Ireland (SBI), a Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Science Engineering and Technology, is a research initiative between University College Dublin (UCD) and the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). Based on the Belfield campus of UCD, Systems Biology Ireland is set to become a national centre for excellence in systems biology research.
Established in June 2009 with an award of €14.8 million over 5 years, SBI is the largest single research programme awarded to the Institution. Additional funding of over €4.5 million has been committed by industry partners including Ark Therapeutics, Hewlett Packard, Servier, Agilent Technologies, Siemens Ireland and Protagen AG. SBI is being led by Director, Prof Walter Kolch and Deputy Director, Prof Boris Kholodenko. It is currently located in the UCD Conway Institute until it moves to its new facilities which are under development, between UCD Conway and the UCD Health Sciences Centre.
The interdisciplinary nature of systems biology holds the promise for significant advances in science beyond the boundaries of individual disciplines. SBI will draw on expertise from distinct but complementary scientific disciplines to develop quantitative analysis and predictive modelling approaches with state-of-the-art technology platforms for biotherapeutics. The initial focus within the area of biotherapeutics will be the signalling networks that make cell fate decisions and govern stem cell function towards improving the biomedical application of stem cells. SBI will harness this knowledge to develop novel approaches for drug target identification, personalised medicine and toxicity profiles.
