CAO’s launch bid for National Research Biobank
On the 3rd of June all seven Chief Academic Officers across Ireland wrote a letter published in the Irish Times outlining the urgent need for a national research biobank.
(opens in a new window)Prof Paul Burke, University of Limerick Hospital Group, (opens in a new window)Prof Tim Lynch, Ireland East Hospital Group, University College Dublin; (opens in a new window)Prof Anthony O’Regan, Saolta University Healthcare Group; NUIG, (opens in a new window)Prof Owen Smith, Children’s Health Ireland, University College Dublin; (opens in a new window)Prof Helen Whelton, South Southwest Group, University College Cork; (opens in a new window)Prof Joe Keane, St James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin; (opens in a new window)Prof Paddy Broe, Royal College of Surgeons outlined the massive research and clinical benefits such a biobank would have during the next wave of COVID-19.
‘We need to be prepared to provide support to our clinician researchers so they can distinguish asymptomatic carriers from the severely affected, and also those more likely to mount a meaningful immune response, and those survivors of severe Covid-19 who will develop chronic complications, as well as finding a cure. This will allow the doctors to direct scare resources, intensive-care beds and novel antiviral agents to those most at need.’
Read the letter in full on the (opens in a new window)Irish Times website