Node 3 - TCD Main Campus Site
The strong elements contained within this site include whole body integrative biology/physiology, structural biology and medicinal chemistry. There are existing trends in areas such as biochemistry and immunology which are powerfully synergistic and the School of Pharmacy has rapidly developing programmes in area such as medicinal chemistry and nanotechnology which are also synergistic with the overall mission. The strengths of the Schools of Physics and Chemistry in nanotechnology and in medicinal chemistry and materials science indicate that there are relationships which need to be built and maintained in order to generate research integrity across the system. Of crucial importance is the capacity for integrative biology and physiology to provide powerful support to the disciplines which are based on pathology and on their identification of new therapeutic targets.
It is critical that relationships are developed which strengthen such links particularly in areas of neurosciences, infection and immunity, and cancer. In addition, the development of strength in bioengineering should be seen as a crucial element of the research strategy with particular applications both in areas such as orthopaedics and in regenerative medicine.
Strategic development has taken place at the node 3 site with the development of the recently opened Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute. Crucially the role of the medical school provides capacity to integrate very powerfully with basic science disciplines towards the generation of new translational strategies for application within the other nodes of the strategy. The Biosciences Building has represented the major capital programme for the university at this point in time and strongly integrates the mission of the Medical School with the missions of Schools such as Biochemistry and Immunology, Chemistry and Pharmacy.
There is a new potential to generate a new generation of scientists with the capacity to integrate knowledge in Biomedical Sciences with the advanced knowledge in the basic sciences. In this regard the Medical School is currently co-funding a Chair in Structural Biology at the main campus node with the intention of developing strengths in this of direct application to cancer biology and immunology into the future.
