Ruth Barrington appointed as new CEO to Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre The Board of Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre (DMMC) is delighted to announce that Dr Ruth Barrington has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dr Barrington will take up the position on 1st October 2007, following the end of her contract with the Health Research Board, where she has been a very successful CEO for nine years.

Welcoming Dr Barrington's appointment, Dr. Michael Kamarck, Chairperson of DMMC said:

"Dr. Ruth Barrington brings her substantial experience and track record to the DMMC at an exciting time for this major biomedical research collaboration between Trinity College Dublin; University College, Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. University College, Cork, and National University of Ireland, Galway, are shortly to join the collaboration and the DMMC will become known as Molecular Medicine Ireland (MMI). MMI will align the activities of all five of Ireland's premier biomedical research institutions and seven affiliated teaching hospitals. It will create a critical mass and centre of excellence in molecular medicine research and education, facilitating cross-institutional collaboration and enhancing translational research capability."

Commenting on the appointment, Dr Barrington said: "I am pleased to be taking up this important and challenging position, especially at this pivotal time in the translation of research into tangible benefits for improved health and economic progress in Ireland. "

Further information on the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre Established in 2002, with funding from the Higher Education Authority as part of Ireland's National Development Plan, the DMMC is major biomedical research collaboration between Trinity College Dublin; University College, Dublin, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

With a focus on cancer biology; infection, inflammation and immunity; neuroscience; and vascular biology, the DMMC's successes have been recognised and cemented through the award in 2006 of funding to create the first Wellcome Trust/Health Research Board Clinical Research Centre in Ireland and the creation of ICRIN, the Irish Clinical Research Infrastructure Network. Subsequently, in October 2006, ICRIN joined the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN) positioning Ireland as a key player in European clinical research.

Further information on Dr. Ruth Barrington Dr Ruth Barrington has been the Chief Executive of the Health Research Board (HRB) since 1998. The HRB is the chief funding agency for competitive, peer reviewed health research in Ireland and is a major provider of research and information services to the health system.

Dr Barrington is a graduate of University College Dublin, the College of Europe in Belgium and was awarded a Ph.D from the London School of Economics. She was awarded an honorary degree in laws by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth in May 2005 and is a Trustee of the Irish Times.

Two Irish Researchers Receive Awards for EBBS Conference
Two Irish researchers have been awarded travel grants for the 39th Annual General Meeting of the European Brain and Behaviour Society in Trieste, Italy in September. Deirdre Harvey (NUI Maynooth) was awarded one of only eight Postgraduate Awards, and Dr Anne-Marie McGauran (Toulouse, formerly NUI Maynooth) was granted one of two Postdoctoral awards.

British Neuroscience Association-Neuroscience Ireland joint meeting in 2007
The 19th National Meeting of the BNA will be held from 1st-4th April, 2007 in Harrogate, in association with Neuroscience Ireland. This will represent an excellent platform to raise the profile of Neuroscience in Ireland with our colleagues in the UK, and we encourage all Neuroscience Ireland members to participate in this meeting. A call for symposia for this meeting will be issued to Neuroscience Ireland members in the coming week.
For further details contact either:

Dr. Thomas Connor
Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience
E-mail: connort@tcd.ie
Phone: 01-6088575
or,
Dr. Richard Roche
Department of Psychology,
NUI, Maynooth
E-mail: Richard.Roche@nuim.ie
Phone: 01 708 6069

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