FUNDED PROGRAMMES

The Programme for Human Genomics (PHG)

The landmark completion of the Human Genome Project provides a unique resource for biomedical sciences. The Programme for Human Genomics is a partnership between the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre (DMMC) comprising UCD & TCD and RCSI's Biopharmaceutical Sciences Network (BSN). This Programme will ultimately create a single Centre of Excellence in Molecular Medicine and Pharmacogenomics. It's over-riding goal is the application of human genomics and proteomics to the study of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of human disease with a view to identifying new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

The programme has three operational elements:

1. Candidate gene identification through cutting-edge transcriptomic and proteomic research programmes
2. The identification of disease-susceptibility genes by high throughput variant detection, genotyping and gene validation in human disease.
3. The identification of therapeutic targets through state-of-the-art functional genomics, transgenics and gene knockout technologies.

The Programme for Human Genomics is establishing Dublin as a centre of excellence in molecular medicine by integrating the DMMC and the BSN at 4 levels

1. Research themes
2. Technology platforms
3. Bioresource of genetic and phenotypic data
4. Educational programmes

The operational components of the PHG have been summarised as follows :

Programme for Human Genomics
	Strategic Management Group
		Research Implementation Group
Technology Sub-Groups		Disease Focus Sub-Groups		Education & Information
Irish Genebank Management		Cancer		Education Programmes
Genome Resource / Clinical Research Units Co-ordinator		Cardio/Renal Inflammation
Imaging, Laser Capture, Microdissection, SC Microinjection		Host Defence & Immunity
Proteomics, Bioinformatics & Microarrays		Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Funding : The Programme for Human Genomics is funded by the Higher Education Authority ( HEA ) under cycle 3 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions ( PRTLI ). This builds on earlier funding which established DMMC and instigated Molecular Medicine Research Projects in all three institutions.