The Personalised Medicine Centre, through a unique partnership between Ulster University, the Clinical and Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC) and the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT), will provide world leading capability in data analytics, biomarker discovery and medtech development along with the capacity to perform robust clinical trials and business support to commercialise and implement new diagnostic tests, drugs and technologies.
Embedding world-class medical research in the heart of the community, the Personalised Medicine Centre (formerly THRIVE) is a visionary healthcare project which meets urgent local and global healthcare needs by embracing the potential of personalised medicine.
Personalised medicine is about finding the right treatment, for the right person, at the right time. At Ulster University our researchers study precision medicine to diagnose a range of diseases. They study genomes (DNA) of people to understand diagnosis and treatment of long-term illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
In fact, Ulster University offers the only stratified medicine university course in the UK and Ireland developing a pipeline of innovative and talented graduates for the Life & Health Sciences sector in Northern Ireland.
Community-focused Healthcare Quarter
Personalised Medicine Centre (formerly THRIVE) will create a new healthcare quarter in Derry Londonderry with the development of a new Healthcare Research Institute (HRI). It will also see the expansion of C-TRIC at Altnagelvin Hospital and outreach facilities at Strabane and Fort George.
The Personalised Medicine Centre project will feature several different elements:
Healthcare Research Institute
A new Healthcare Research Institute will contribute to the Riverfront Regeneration Programme.
Here, researchers and NHS clinicians in partnership with industry, will carry out world-class medical research to help prevent disease and to address some of the biggest health challenges of our times.
The Personalised Medicine Centre (PMC) builds upon research and awards:
Community-owned Healthcare Company
The Personalised Medicine Centre is funded by the Inclusive Future Fund (IFF) which is an exclusive fund for the City and region. It recognises the unique circumstances facing the region and will help create new opportunities for the local community.
In a first of its kind community-focused initiative, the Health Research Institute will be home to a highly novel community owned health company. The THRIVE Genome project will study the genes of the people of Derry~Londonderry and Strabane. In-keeping with a move towards empowering a more personal responsibility for health, the people of the city and district will be shareholders of this community centre, much like a Credit Union model.
Life-changing research in areas from cancer to stroke
Ulster University researchers, in partnership with DCSDC and Western Health and Social Care Trust, have been pioneering personalised medicine for years now. At our Clinical Translational Research and Innovation Centre (C-TRIC) site at Altnagelvin Hospital, researchers break new ground in areas such as childhood cancer and motor neurone disease.
Building on our world-class research and growing our team of talented researchers, the City Deal will enable the expansion of the C-TRIC research centre. The City Deal will see us establish new research centres specialising in multimorbid disease and areas such as cancer, dementia, motor neurone disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, COVID-19 and rheumatoid arthritis.
Steps towards the transformation of the health service
This unique health-science district will generate more research, more employment, more spin out companies and more patents.
Ultimately, by specialising in personalised medicine, Ulster University and our trusted partners will pave the way for the transformation of the healthcare service in Northern Ireland.
Position: Professor of Genomics
School of Biomedical Sciences