Northern Irish oncology hub showcased in Washington DC
2 April 2010
Almac, an international drug development organisation opened a
high-level Washington DC event last month: From Science to Society:
A Northern Ireland Showcase in Cancer Genomics and Personalized Medicine.
The event highlighted the capabilities and exceptional work of Northern
Ireland’s established oncology hub.
The event was opened by Declan Kelly, US Economic Envoy to Northern
Ireland, appointed by US Secretary of State, Senator Hillary
Clinton. Arlene Foster, MLA, Minister for the Department of
Enterprise Trade and Investment presented: Setting the Northern
Ireland Context and Dr John Niederhuber, Director, National
Cancer Institute presented: NCI – Northern Ireland Relationship.
The oncology hub, a Northern Irish collaboration between academia
and the pharmaceutical industry, is seeking to share its accrued
expertise and to expand its links and association with the
international and US based pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic
industries, in addition to academic and clinical research centres.
Almac, working with Queens University Belfast, is striving to
increase research and development into personalised medicine, by
acting as the bridge between academia and industry.
Audiences in attendance at the event included senior academics,
Government sponsored health executives, clinical research and
pharmaceutical executives, US legislative officials from both the
House of Representatives and the Senate, including senior staff from
the office of former Democrat Presidential candidate, Senator John
Kerry, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rhian
Chilcott, Head of the Confederation of British Industry’s Washington
Office.
Commenting on the event, Almac’s CEO, Alan Armstrong, remarked:
“We are delighted to take this opportunity to address key opinion
formers and industry representatives in the US and to highlight
Northern Ireland’s oncology hub and its specific expertise and
extensive service offering in the realm of personalised medicine.
Raising the hub’s profile amongst senior decision makers and
Government officials will help ensure that appropriate support
reaches this commendable initiative, which is constantly striving to
break new ground and foster further innovation in personalised
medicine.”