Louise O'Reilly
Question:719. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the work of an organisation (details supplied); and if specific funding will be provided for translational health research. [19310/24]
View answerTuesday, 30 April 2024
Questions (719)
Written answers
Translational research fills the research space between the laboratory, where basic science discoveries are made, and the clinic, where patients are seen and treated. The goal is to bring new discoveries as quickly and safely as possible from the laboratory to the patients. Translational researchers also take the observations and outcomes from the clinic back into the laboratory to study, understand, and ultimately, improve outcomes for patients.
Through the Health Research Board, my Department provides funds to ensure that research and evidence are translated into important breakthroughs that improve people's health and that new treatments are delivered. The HRB has invested more than €150M over the last decade and a half in clinical trials infrastructure and research support services to ensure Ireland’s clinicians and researchers have the enabling environment to form partnerships and collaborations (with other investigators and or industry) for the benefit of patients the health system and the economy.
The fast-evolving field of advanced therapies has the potential to address significant and growing unmet healthcare needs. It offers new opportunities for the treatment, quality of life and cure of many diseases and therefore holds a huge potential in terms of possible impact on patients, public health and the healthcare system. During 2020, one of the first gene therapy trials in Ireland, involving an infant with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, was delivered in the Wellcome-HRB Clinical Research Facility at St James’s hospital, heralding the new wave of Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products therapies, that are becoming an option as a potential cure for rare diseases. The continued HRB investment in the CRF at St James’s’ Hospital has a particular emphasis on support for trials of Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products therapies.
To optimise the translation of advanced therapies into clinical practice, the collection of biological samples and related clinical data in high quality biobanks is critical. Advances in genetics, genomics and advanced therapies has increased the demand for high quality specimens and associated laboratory data. The National Irish Covid-19 Biobank (NICB) established in 2021 by the HRB, with the support of the Department of Health was the first investment in a national biobank.
In addition to national investments the HRB leads Irish health research efforts to compete directly in the main EU funding programmes for research and innovation, notably Horizon Europe programme (2021-2027) with a budget of over €95 billion.
I am aware of the strong demand from the health research community here in Ireland to join EATRIS, the European infrastructure for translational medicine. In November 2023, the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI), based in St James Hospital, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EATRIS as a way of formalising the commitment of both parties to foster collaboration and coordination. The MoU also promotes the benefits of Ireland’s potential membership in the EATRIS research consortium among national research institutions through the Translational Medicine Alliance Ireland. The latter, as a new decentralised and collaborative network which brings Irish Universities and Technological Universities together with the aim of boosting engagement and collaboration in translational research, is a good starting point from which to plan for Ireland’s participation in EATRIS.
I would welcome a wider discussion on Ireland’s membership of EATRIS and perhaps other non-profit European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs). We already have experience of benefiting from membership of other European Research Infrastructure Consortiums (ERICs) and the benefits of EATRIS membership for patients, the healthcare system and the economy are clear and compelling.