UCD & IEHG Open Clinical Research Centre at Wexford General Hospital
On Monday 15 April, UCD and the Ireland East Hospital Group (IEHG) opened a new Clinical Research Centre at Wexford General Hospital, their first outside Dublin.
Clinical research aims to discover ways to improve medical care and the quality of life for patients who are living with chronic illness.
The new UCD-IEHG clinical research centre at Wexford General Hospital will link to the comprehensive research facilities and supports provided by the UCD School of Medicine and to wider studies carried out at the Mater, St Vincent’s and the National Maternity Hospital.
UCD opened clinical research centres at the Mater Misericordiae and St. Vincent's University Hospitals in 2006 and since then has undertaken over 200 studies and 130 clinical trials with patients suffering from various chronic diseases including end-stage kidney disease, pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. Patients taking part in trials donate samples to the clinic on a regular basis, and these are assessed in the context of their own treatment and for the development of more accurate therapies for these diseases in general.
Speaking at the launch Mary Day, CEO of the Ireland East Hospital Group said: “Today’s launch is a great success story for Wexford General. This is the first time UCD CRC has been expanded outside Dublin. Through the partnership between University College Dublin and IEHG, we are committed to ensuring all patients in our hospital group, regardless of geography, are provided access to cutting-edge care.”
Professor Andrew Deeks, President of University College Dublin said: “Wexford General Hospital will be the first Level 3 hospital in the Ireland East Hospital Group to be able to avail of expert research support, educational programmes, and oversight of clinical research within the hospital. We will support clinicians based in Wexford by providing facilities for high-quality clinical research as well as a cohort of professional and experienced research scientists, data managers and clinical research nurses who ensure studies are conducted and managed to the highest levels of quality. We keep patients centremost by providing excellent clinical care and access to the latest clinical interventions alongside the motivation to encourage participation in a trial process that – even if it cannot guarantee to cure them – may lead to better therapies for future patients.”
A core objective of the is to develop an Academic Health Science Centre, where education and professional healthcare training along with research contribute to patient care and well-being, supported by strong engagement with primary, community and continuing care partners.
Pictured l-r: Prof Andrew Deeks, President of UCD; Ms Lily Byrnes, General Manager, Wexford General Hospital; Ms Mary Day, CEO IEHG; Prof Peter Doran, Director of Clinical Research at UCD