Magazine from the Regional Development Centre, DkIT.

1. Regional Development CentRe & ReseaRCh offiCe
the link
issue seven winteR 2010
Novation is up for the challenge
Professionals discover hidden talents
Water workshop in Uganda
Finding commercial apps for biotech
Where research & InnovatIon Meets enterprIse

2. Contents Foreword
3
Staying positive
Cool thinking
at ICE 2010 is drawing to a close and
for some the end of the year
4
cannot come quickly enough.
Start-up scoops A hair-shirt budget, bailed-out
€100k prize Regional Development CentRe &
ReseaRCh offiCe
banks, and a stalling economy
the link on the one hand; on the other
an Arctic freeze that brought
5 large parts of the country to
Novation is up for the challenge
Novation firms make
Professionals discover
hidden talents
Water workshop in
a standstill. Yes, it’s been a
leap of faith
Uganda
Finding commercial
memorable year – for all the
apps for biotech
Where research & InnovatIon Meets enterprIse
wrong reasons.
6 Student entrepreneurs
in the making
What crumbs of comfort, if any, can be found in developments
here at the Regional Development Centre? As far as we are
concerned there are plenty. One thing that cannot be stifled
by any recession is individual creativity and passion to succeed
7
and in this issue of The Link both of these can be found in
Professionals find spades. Personifying this attitude is Kieran Fitzpatrick, CEO
hidden talents of Barracuda FX, a software house which employs 20 people
in the IFSC in Dublin and which recently scooped a €100,000
prize from InterTradeIreland in its competition for early stage
8 Water workshop
in Uganda
businesses. Fitzpatrick in recent years has participated in both
the Enterprise Start Programme and the Novation Enterprise
Platform Programme (NEPP) at the RDC.
9
A different type of operation altogether but no less promising
Sensing an is the Ion Channel Biotechnology Centre (ICBC), an Enterprise
opportunity Ireland-funded research group at DkIT which focuses on the
commercial applications of biotechnology and is making
10
exciting headway in the area of drug discovery. Find out
Drug discovery more about its work on page 10. The importance of strategic
focus at ICBC research partnerships to DKIT is also highligthed in the articles
on pages 9 and 11, concerning the Water is Life research
programme led by DKIT researchers from the Centre for
11
Freshwater Studies (CFS) and the formal collaboration recently
Answering established between software engineering researchers at DKIT
LERO’s call and the LERO CSET funded by Science Foundation Ireland and
led by the University of Limerick.
12 Succession
planning
Here at the RDC we will continue to support entrepreneurs
and young businesses as effectively as we can though a varied
roster of programmes. An exciting new addition to this is
the ICE initiative, a cross-institutional programme which is
The Regional Development Centre (RDC) is a centre to promote aiming to fire up the entrepreneurial engines within business.
innovation, technology transfer and enterprise in the wider region and is Although still in its early stages, ICE is seen as a radical new
based on the DkIT Campus.
model for enabling businesses to respond to change in a
dynamic and flexible manner. (See article on facing page.)
We hope you enjoy these and other stories in this edition of
The Link. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding
content, or would like to be included on the mailing list,
please email anne.tinnelly@dkit.ie. Finally, we would like to
wish everyone associated with the RDC a very happy Christmas
and peaceful New Year.
Issue 7
Regional Development Centre Dublin Road Dundalk Co Louth
T | +353 42 9370400 F | +353 42 9370499 Irene McCausland External Services Manager, RDC
W | www.rdc.ie E | info@rdc.ie Tim McCormac Head of Research, DKIT
LINK
Great care has been taken to ensure that this information is accurate,
Front cover:
but the Regional Development Centre, including its subsidiaries does not Mountaineer Ian McKeever is pictured descending Aconcagua, western
accept responsibility or liability for errors or information which is found Argentina during his successful Seven Summits World Record attempt
to be misleading. in 2007. McKeever is to lead a charity climb of Kilimanjaro to mark the
tenth anniversary of Novation EPP. See story on page 5.
Written & edited by Brian Skelly, The Write Business, + 353 86 857 5829
2

3. Pictured celebrating
the launch of the
ICE project were
(front row, from left):
Irene McCausland,
External Services
Manager, DKIT;
Professor Richard
Harris, University
of Glasgow; and
Professor Renee Reid,
Glasgow Caledonian
University. Back row,
from left: Ariane De
Vriendt, Special EU
Programmes, and
Professor Rodney
McAdam, University
of Ulster.
Cool thinking at ICE
A radical new way of enabling at GlaxoSmithKline consumer products, The programme is free to
companies to exploit change and attended each of the workshops to participating companies but does
adding value by developing new provide an insight into how innovation require each owner manager and
business models, products, services can make a difference to a company’s key staff members to commit to
and processes is how the Innovation fortunes.” participating in the 12 in-house half-
for Competitive Enterprises (ICE) day sessions over the 12 months’
programme in which DkIT is lead Kieran continued, “Companies were duration and committing time
partner has been described. then given an overview of the ICE and resources to work through an
ICE kicked off with a series of programme and invited to apply for innovation project.
nine innovation information and year one of the intensive 12-month
recruitment workshops across the main ICE Innovation ‘learning by doing’ DkIT is the lead partner on the ICE
three eligible regions of Northern programme.” programme and is collaborating
Ireland, Western Scotland and the six with University of Glasgow, Glasgow
border counties of Ireland earlier There are four strands to the ICE Caledonian University and the
this year. programme: University of Ulster.
ICE Programme Manager Kieran • Sharing of information, resources and Kieran Fegan can be contacted via
Fegan said, “This programme, which knowledge through a cross-border, email at kieran.fegan@dkit.ie or by
has received €2.49 million from cross-regional network of companies phoning +353 42 939 1038. The ICE
the European Union’s Interreg IVA • Access to cross-regional expertise in website is www.iceprogramme.com.
Programme with support from Scottish the third level partner institutes and
Enterprise, will seek to develop the business support agencies This project is part financed by the
innovation capacity and capability of • Technology transfer and licensing European Union's European Regional
30 SMEs per year for the next three opportunities Development Fund through the EU
years. During the initial workshops • Intensive in-house Innovation INTERREG IVA programme managed
we gave over 100 company owner Learning Programme coupled with by the Special EU Programmes
managers the opportunity to undergo in-company mentoring (‘learning by Body with support from Scottish
an innovation audit. Peter Robbins, doing’) Enterprise.
the former Head of Global Innovation

4. R
Kieran Fitzpatrick
CEO and founder of
Barracuda FX on left
with Fergus McIlduff,
NISP and Maurice
Curran, Barracuda FX
Co-Founder.
Risk and reward: software firm with
NEPP roots scoops €100k prize
Barracuda FX, a software solutions Sean MacEntee, Manager, Regional Batt O’Keeffe TD, Minister for
provider to leading global banks Development Centre, Dundalk Enterprise Trade and Innovation,
which has firm roots in Dundalk, has Institute of Technology, said: said: “Barracuda FX is to be
won the overall prize of €100,000 in “We’re delighted to see this latest congratulated on their tremendous
an InterTradeIreland competition for recognition for Barracuda FX. achievement. They typify
high-growth businesses. Smarthomes and mCor Technologies Ireland’s entrepreneurial spirit,
are other previous Novation using their ideas and vision to
Prior to starting Barracuda FX, CEO Enterprise Platform Programme develop innovative products and
Kieran Fitzpatrick participated in participants who have gone on to services that break new ground
the Enterprise Start Programme at enjoy success in this same all-island and have widespread global
the Regional Development Centre competition. We’re committed potential. InterTradeIreland’s
in Dundalk Institute of Technology. at the Regional Development flagship competition supports and
Subsequently, he completed the Centre to continuing to provide a nurtures entrepreneurship and
Centre’s Novation Enterprise Platform productive environment to all those new ventures – key to Ireland’s
Programme (NEPP) in 2008-’09. NEPP entrepreneurs developing their recovery and growth. After all,
is the Regional Development Centre’s business ideas to the stage where today’s budding entrepreneurs are
flagship enterprise development they’re market ready.” tomorrow’s big employers.”
programme for technology start-ups.
For his part, Mr Fitzpatrick said of the InterTradeIreland’s Seedcorn
Now employing some 20 people at the award: “Taking part in the process competition, with an overall prize
International Financial Services Centre helped us refine our business plan. fund of €280,000, aims to recognise
(IFSC) in Dublin, Barracuda FX provides Effectively it helped us to take a step and promote the best early stage
trading and risk management software back and re-evaluate all aspects of the companies across the island.
solutions to international banks. Its business. We are delighted to take Companies are selected following
Issue 7
innovative Foreign Exchange Order home the Best High Growth Company an intense competition designed
Management System gives banks prize. It is a validation of our business to mirror a real life investment
complete control and confidence to and winning will also help to raise our process.
significantly transform their foreign profile. It is a great endorsement for
LINK
exchange business by increasing the team and it will definitely help us Further information about the
revenues, reducing costs and removing attract the highest calibre of staff to Regional Development Centre is
operational risk. our business.” available at www.rdc.ie
4

5. R
Enterprise 5
LINK
Tenth Novation NEPP
Issue 7
Enterprise Platform charity
Programme scales challenge
new heights 2011
High-achieving mountaineer Ian
McKeever will lead the charity
climb of Kilimanjaro in July
The 2010/11 Novation Enterprise of the “leap of faith” where they
Platform Programme launched climbed a 50-foot pole and jumped To celebrate the 10th anniversary of
early November with participants off to catch a strategically placed the Novation EPP programme, which
undergoing a challenging three days trapeze. Perhaps it was a measure has supported over 100 technology
of training and personal development of the participants on this year’s entrepreneurs in the North East
in Carlingford, Co. Louth. programme that only one failed to region, all former participants, trainers,
catch hold of the target. mentors and investors are invited
The theme of the launch was “Brick to take part in a charity climb of
Walls Make Us Climb Higher.” As The NEPP programme celebrates Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, in
Ian McKeever author, adventurer its 10th anniversary this year and July 2011.
and broadcaster put it “brick walls so far has supported over 100
shouldn’t be seen as something to entrepreneurs, many going on to The challenge will be led by Ian
stop them (the participants) starting start technology businesses in the McKeever, current world record holder
their businesses but as something to North East region. A recent survey for the Seven Summits (the highest
remind them how badly they want to indicated employment of over 300 peak in each of the continents)
be successful." and annual sales of over €27million. completed in 2007. Ian has brought
Amongst the sectors represented over 100 people up Kilimanjaro in
Ian had joined the participants to by this year’s group are software Tanzania, each successfully making
share his experiences of climbing the development, sports products, the summit.
seven highest peaks on the planet energy, food and manufacturing.
in 2007 in a world record time of A full training, nutrition and support
155 days. Of particular interest to As a final thought Ian shared the package will be provided and
the group was how Ian brought all following with the group: “Never participants can choose to support a
the various stakeholders together let the things you cannot do charity of their own or choose one as
and created a product or package to interfere with the things that a group.
meet their needs in order to fund the you can do!” Advice all of us can
challenge. follow... Full details available from
garrett.duffy@dkit.ie.
Of course each of the participants was Details of Ian’s other adventures can
given their own challenge in the guise be found on www.givemeheros.ie

6. Enterprise
ACE up Social and healthcare
professionals tune into
your entrepreneurship
sleeve An innovative five-week programme about entrepreneurship aimed at those
studying and working in the health and social care arena was recently run
by DkIT. A wide range of contributors from social charities, the healthcare
profession, academia and DkIT’s Regional Development Centre (RDC) were
involved in this non-accredited programme.
Developed jointly by the RDC and the School of Health and Science at DkIT the
programme was made available via podcast from the ACE website and also went
out live to listeners of Dundalk FM, having its own regular weekly slot during the
month of November.
The course has received widespread attention from major health organisations,
trusts and charities. For further information email ace@dkit.ie.
Enterprise interns roll
up sleeves
Student enterprise interns in DkIT, Cork IT, IT Blanchardstown and Sligo IT are
Creating entrepreneurial graduates getting to grips with, for some, their new roles promoting enterprise and business
through a collaborative approach is ownership among their fellow students.
the aim of the Accelerating Campus
Entrepreneurship (ACE) programme, a The Enterprise Internship Programme is a two-year programme supporting one or
joint initiative between IT Blanchardstown, two student interns at the ACE partner institutions listed above, which effectively
Cork IT, IT Sligo and NUI Galway and led offers the interns an apprenticeship in applied entrepreneurship.
by Dundalk Institute of Technology.
This year’s dynamic group met recently at DkIT to participate in an exciting
Collaboration means embedding training residential programme focused on developing personal skills such as
entrepreneurship education into existing communication, negotiation, presentation and selling.
non-business programmes. It also means
effecting organisational change within Their first task of the academic year was to publicise the Newstalk 106-108fm
and between the various participating Student Enterprise Competition. This competition encourages students to form
institutions to reflect the entrepreneurial cross-disciplinary teams to solve real business challenges using a case study
activities happening between the academic format. Teams compete for the opportunity to represent their institute and the
schools and departments, and incubation winning prize of a luxury Caribbean cruise.
and technology transfer offices.
The enterprise interns have a wide variety of entrepreneurship activities
ACE is supported by the HEA's Strategic planned for the academic year including organising a prestigious speaker series;
Innovation Fund, provided by the collaborating in student-led initiatives; assisting staff in curricular activity; leading
Issue 7
Irish Government under the National social and charitable events including 'Enterprise & Innovation Week' promoting
Development Plan 2000-2006 with the seed capital funding, challenges and competitions; and generally encouraging
assistance of the European Regional and supporting all types of student business activity.
Development Fund. For more information
visit: www.aceinitiative.ie.
LINK
6

7. Enterprise 7
LINK
Experienced professionals
Issue 7
Discover hidden talents
Pictured (L-R) at the launch of the Discovery Programme Pauric White Chairman Louth Economic Forum, Malacy McCloskey
Executive Group Chairman Boyne Valley Food Group, Joan Martin Town Clerk Drogheda Borough Council, Michael McCabe,
Enterprise Officer Louth County Council, Anne Cauldwell Enterprise Ireland, Sean MacEntee, Regional Development Centre,
Claudine McGrane, Tom McGuinness, Dept. of Social Welfare, Michael Curran, Louth County Council, Sarah Warden Programme
Participant, Peter McGrane Programme Facilitator, Bernard McKevitt, Dept of Social Welfare and Pat McCloughan.
Ten experienced professionals have • How commercial ideas are great support "if you've had an idea
come together to develop new ideas generated for a while, haven't been able to
and explore ways in which they can progress it, and you want the extra
use their skills, experience and talents • Routes to commercialisation push to be able to achieve it."
to exploit commercial opportunities.
All are receiving support as part of • How successful entrepreneurs The Discovery Zone is not just
The Discovery Zone, a programme have transitioned from manager to about starting a business for the
developed by the RDC at DkIT in entrepreneur participants but is also about
conjunction with Cork IT aimed at discovering themselves. In this respect,
unemployed or underemployed • The journey from a good idea to the participants will discover their
professionals. It is hoped that many developing a worthwhile business potential and any "road blocks"
participants will commercialise ideas opportunity. that may have prevented them from
generated during the 12-week achieving their true potential so far.
programme. The Discovery Zone will facilitate the This softer side of the course will
above by delivering elements which enable the participants to develop
The programme provides formal include business workshops, personal a stronger, more robust mentality,
training one day a week, along with a skills development, group project making them better able to cope with
further two days per week facilitated work, individual project work, guest the numerous setbacks encountered
group and individual workshops, speakers, case studies, expert inputs, when setting up a new venture.
mentoring and access to the facilities external visits and mentoring.
of the RDC. There is particular Currently there are over 1,000
emphasis on personal development The RDC intends to run a further unemployed professionals in County
during the programme. three Discovery Zone programmes Louth . The Discovery Zone aims
during 2011. This pilot project to address this issue in a small but
In addition to no charge for focuses on County Louth and has strategic way by accepting a group
participation on The Discovery Zone, been co-funded by Louth County of between eight and 12 participants
social welfare benefits will not Council and Enterprise Ireland . on each 12-week programme. The
be affected by attendance on the candidates undergo an interview, and
programme. Already the initial course, which if successful, are offered a place on the
is nearing the half-way stage, has programme. The first programme will
Having completed the programme, received very positive feedback. The conclude in February 2011, with the
each participant will have a better participants are especially delighted next scheduled to begin the following
understanding and appreciation of: with the personal development and month. For details contact
the level of training and support sean.macentee@dkit.ie
• How their career to date is an asset offered.
that can be used for further benefit This pilot project focuses on County Louth
Dervla McGee, a current participant, and has been co-funded by Louth County
• How opportunities are created by noted, "The Discovery Zone has given Council and Enterprise Ireland.
those with skill and determination to me the motivation and support to
explore them succeed in my business."
• A methodology for testing the Tom Laramie, a fellow participant,
commercial viability of new ideas said The Discovery Zone offered

8. Research
A key feature of the morning session
was the presence of high-level ministry
officials from the Ugandan government.
A strategic aim of Irish Aid funding
is to bring about change not just on
the ground but at policy level also.
To this end Dr Callist Tindmuguya,
Commissioner with the Ministry of
Water & Environment, spoke about
Water Policy in Uganda . Dr Tindmuguya
is also a member of the Water is Life
Advisory Group and has many years of
experience dealing with water-
provision issues.
Julian Kyomuhangi, Assistant
Commissioner at the Ministry of Health,
made an address on sanitation and
hygiene in relation to health. Successful
water provision cannot be separated
from sanitation and health issues, so this
was a welcome and informative session.
Peter Oumu, Economist with Irish Aid
Dr Edel Healy, Head in Kampala , broadened the discussion
of School of Health with an address entitled ‘Millennium
and Science at DkIT Development Goals and Uganda - how
on the equator. Ireland is contributing’. In the afternoon,
Josephine Asasira, Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) Manager,
Water Is Life, delivered a presentation
Ideas flow at Ugandan on the role of GIS in the project and
updated the group on the computer-
based maps that she has produced from
water workshop initial project data. These maps will be
invaluable for linking and monitoring
aspects of the water infrastructure and
health effects locally.
Exploring the issue of sustainable of the opportunity that they had been
water management in Uganda was given through project funding by
The main body of the Water is Life
the subject of a high-level workshop Irish Aid. He also thanked the Medical
research is being carried out by eight
hosted recently in Kampala by DkIT, Missionaries of Mary (MMMs), the
PhD researchers. One year in, each of
in collaboration with Makerere linchpin for the project on the ground,
these updated the meeting on their
University, Kampala, Uganda. for choosing Uganda as one of its
progress which provided the basis for
focus countries.
the group discussion that was
Entitled ‘How can we make a
to follow:
difference - making research real’, Ambassador Kelly spoke about
the workshop, held on 3 November, the long history of co-operation
Sam Kagwisagye Sourcing of sustainable
provided a platform for academic between Ireland and Uganda . He
groundwater supplies
partners, key stakeholders, community also talked about how institutional
Michael Lubwama Sustainable pump
leaders, representatives of non- research work on this project would
technologies
governmental organisations (NGOs) yield transformational results in
Rosemary Nalwanga Solar disinfection of
and high-level officials to exchange the lives of ordinary Ugandans. Dr
harvested rainwater
views and practical experiences related Suzanne Linnane from the Centre for
to local Ugandan water issues. Freshwater Studies and lead Jacent Asiimwe Solar disinfection of
researcher on the ‘Water is Life’ drinking water (health impacts)
Joyce Mpalanyi Magala Social & health
Issue 7
Professor Eli Katunguka, Director project gave an overview of this
of Academic Affairs at Makerere multidisciplinary project which impacts on women & children
University and Irish Ambassador to involves academic partnerships with Mavuto Denis Tembo Adaptation of water
Uganda HE Kevin Kelly opened the DCU, RCSI, UCD, TCD, QUB and NUIM. management to climate change
event. Prof Katunguka emphasised the Through eight PhD projects, ‘Water Richard Asaba Bagonza Gender & water
LINK
need for research to respond to the is Life’ aims to examine various resource management
needs of society. He encouraged the themes around sustainable water Firminus Mugumya Conflict and
project participants to take advantage management. Cooperation in Local Water Governance.
8

9. Research 9
LINK
Environmental gas
As the researchers are drawn from a
variety of academic disciplines, one aim
Issue 7
of the event was to share information
monitoring at DkIT
so that the cross-cutting issues that
inform aspects of all of the research
could be fully dealt with. Participants
brainstormed in groups on enhancing Shahzad Imar, PhD
community engagement, embedding researcher in the
research outputs within community Electrochemistry
projects and maintaining an influence Research Group,
on water policy. The outcomes of these employing modern
sessions are in the process of being electrochemical
distilled so that the future work of techniques to study
Water is Life can be driven by them. modified electrode
systems for sensing
Dr Edel Healy, Head of School of Health applications.
and Science, DkIT, chaired the event.
As chair of the steering committee
that organised this event, Dr Healy was
very keen to make sure that ordinary
Ugandan villagers would be represented
at the workshop. “The workshop theme
refers to making research real. It was
essential that those people who stand Frost & Sullivan1 in its 2009 market • Possess high sensitivities with high
to benefit most in a tangible way research report stated that the dynamic ranges
would be present to represent their “revenue percentage of the agriculture
communities,” she pointed out. and environment market for sensors • Will operate in dual sensing mode so as
in 2008” was 2% each of the global to eliminate environmental factors
Gerald Majjwega, Kibuye community sensors market, with the compound such as temperature.
health worker and Joseph Kabogere, annual growth rate projected to be
Kuvunikidde community health worker 48.5% for wireless sensor systems The group is in early stage discussions
and teacher questioned the presenters up to 2013. The gas sensor market with several key Irish based industrial
closely and offered a vital perspective is currently in a stable growth stage partners in relation to potential
on the desirable outcomes that they with increasing revenues predicted commercial opportunities that may
would like to see stemming from the for the future. More specifically, the arise as the technology is developed.
research. The event concluded with gas detector global market has been The group has over 20 years scientific
group workshops examining themes estimated to be $1,690 million in 2009 experience within the field of
like promotion and measurement with a projected revenue growth rate electrochemistry, in particular, the
of community engagement, how to of 3.3%, with Europe generating the design of chemically modified electrode
embed research in the community and second largest revenues at a value of systems for sensor applications. The
influence of the research on water $507 million (2009) with associated employment of tailor-made materials
policy. predicted revenue of $652.3 million as sensing elements within chemical
by 2016.2 sensors and as surface immobilisation
The workshop was very well matrixes for sensor systems is a key
attended (almost 50 attendees) with The Electrochemistry Research focus of the group. In addition, to the
representatives from the project Group at DKIT is combining the twin group's scientific and technical expertise,
stakeholders, academics from Makerere technologies of electrochemistry the team has in place the required
University , NGOs and Ministry officials. and Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) scientific infrastructure such as, suite of
The organisers were especially pleased devices to develop a Technology modern electrochemical potentiostats
to have Sr Celine Jones from the MMMs Platform for environmental sensor and network analysers for thin film
in Makondo and Sr Helene Delaney, applications. Of particular importance deposition and sensor measurements.
MMM in Hobart, Masaka attend. The is the development of gas detection
workshop was closed by Prof Samuel systems for volatile and toxic gases, For more information please contact
Kyamanywa, Dean of Agriculture, for both the home and workplace Dr Tim McCormac (Head of
Makerere University . environments. It is envisaged this will Electrochemistry Research Group)
enable the development of gas sensors Tel: +353 42 9370459
Extensive media coverage in Uganda which: Email: tim.mccormac@dkit.ie
was given to the event including a slot
• Are in small size and low in cost; 1
Frost & Sullivan 2009 “Sensors for
on the Nine O’ Clock news on national
Agriculture and Environment
television.
• Can be tailored to be gas specific; Monitoring”
More information: www.dkit.ie/
• Give reliable, reversible and 2
Frost and Sullivan 2009 “World Gas
waterislife.
reproducible responses; Sensors, Detectors and Analysers Markets”

10. Research
ICBC carves promising
niche in drug safety
The Ion Channel Biotechnology Centre the achievers and non-achievers. For the cells and is measured at the skin surface.
(ICBC) at Dundalk Institute of Technology have-nots especially, innovation in this However, drugs that are associated with
is an Enterprise Ireland (EI) funded centre new environment will require increasing potentially lethal irregular heart rhythms
focused on commercial applications in efficiencies, de-risking drug development, (arrhythmias) may not show an observable
biotechnology, including drug discovery. more effective collaborations, efficiencies effect in ECGs due to the relatively small
The Centre, funded through EI’s Applied in R&D and operations and appropriate number of episodes that can be picked
Research Enhancement (ARE) Programme, levels of risk management. up. Drugs such as terfenadine (marketed
works with discovery biology groups in as Seldane®) were withdrawn from the
industry and has its own drug discovery Most pressing is the need for early market after extensive use over a period
programme. elimination of bad drug candidates; of several years lead to the conclusion
taking the “kill it quick” approach to drug of an association of the drug with
A multi-disciplinary approach to drug development and spending more time and arrhythmias. Terfenadine had an incidence
development allows the research money at the early stages, reducing the of only one in 28,500 prescriptions and
team to observe effects of potential risk of late-stage costly failures. Companies grepafloxicin (Raxar®) was withdrawn due
drug candidates on whole tissue and and investors alike are beginning to to seven cardiac related deaths and three
electrophysiology studies and feed back understand the importance of laying the cases of arrhythmias out of 2.65 million
this information in an iterative manner to right foundations rather than adopting prescriptions. It should be apparent then
the medicinal chemistry lab. This approach a more familiar approach of ploughing that identifying this level of risk in a clinical
has been tremendously valuable and so far forward with a lead candidate and putting trial involving a few thousand patients
over 60 novel drug candidates have been all resources into a single product which so is unlikely. Most adverse cardiac events
synthesised and patent applications are often historically, has failed. are picked up during post-marketing
underway. This small scale but innovative surveillance or once a drug has been on
approach has garnered a great deal of Cardiac toxicity is most often cited as the market for some time.
interest from the pharmaceutical industry the primary cause of drug withdrawals.
due to the novelty of the drug candidates, When a drug affects the synchronicity In this complex web of molecular
being first in class in many instances. of the heartbeat it can be a life or death interactions, it is no surprise that the ion
situation, as the orchestrated electrical channels of the heart are the key critical
Innovation in the pharmaceutical industry activity of cardiac cells cause the heart mediators of the heart beat and ion
takes many forms. The common belief is muscle to contract and squeeze/pump channels are the targets on which these
that innovation leads to new medicines, blood around the body. This has become drugs act to produce arrhythmias. The
and that this is of utmost importance in such a critical issue for new drugs that the culprit in the vast majority of cases of
the drug industry as we search for cures in regulatory authorities including the Food drug-induced adverse cardiac events is an
major disease areas and seek to improve and Drug Administration (FDA) has set out ion channel that conducts the potassium
the quality of life of patients. It has been guidelines for studies that are required to ion and is encoded by a gene called hERG.
increasingly recognised that the cost of advance a drug into human clinical trials, Blockade of hERG underlies the adverse
this innovation in large multinational and indeed through these trials. events associated with a number of
companies is spiralling, and the outcomes blockbuster drugs that were not designed
Issue 7
of massive R&D programmes is diminishing Understanding the potential of drugs to to impact the heart, including cisapride
rapidly. create such lethal side effects while they (Propulsid), astemizole, grepafloxicin and
are in early development is a difficult terfenadine.
Against this backdrop, Ernst & Young task that requires a deep understanding
in its 2010 report declared for the first of the molecular basis of the heart beat. As a result of the comprehensive
LINK
time that the biotechnology industry is The electrocardiogram (ECG) that we evaluation of new drug candidates
“profitable”, yet a closer assessment of are all familiar with is a measure of the imposed by the regulatory authorities
the figures reveals a massive gap between sum of the action potentials in all heart the design and expense of clinical trials
10

11. 11
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DKIT formally
Issue 7
Issue 7
joins LERO
Third Level Institutions join forces to advance
software research
Dr Tim McCormac,
Head of Research,
DkIT
has also gone up in parallel. The need
for more careful planning at the earliest
stages of drug development is now
proving even more critical, and hERG
safety analysis is a key component of this.
These safety assessments are a critical first
step and a core competence of the ICBC LERO, the Irish Software Engineering McCormac said: “We are delighted
team. Adding to the toolbox of the team Research Centre, recently announced that DKIT is formally joining one of
we have in-licensed technology to assist that Dundalk Institute of Technology Ireland ’s leading research institutes.
in the assessment of toxicity of drugs at (DkIT) and National University of This underlines the international
the earliest stage of development and Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway) have quality of the software engineering
we attempt to derive cardiac side effect entered into a formal collaboration research currently being undertaken
profiles for each of our drug candidates, to further advance the enormous by the researchers at DKIT and we
and for external companies that are strides made in Irish software look forward to playing our part in
interested in this type of service. At ICBC research in recent years. ensuring Ireland ’s work in this area
we understand the molecular basis of the continues to have a global impact.”
cardiac action potential and the role that DkIT and NUI Galway will now
ion channels have to play; we understand formally collaborate on projects, Lero was established in November
the importance of hERG safety analysis. including EU Framework Programme 2005 with support from Science
We use an assay that over-expresses the 7 projects and in software research. Foundation Ireland ’s CSET
hERG ion channel, allowing analysis of (Centre for Science, Engineering
drug effects on this ion channel in relative Lero, which is based in the University and Technology) programme. It
isolation. We have also taken this a step of Limerick (UL), UCD, TCD and DCU, is a collaborative organisation,
further incorporating other ion channels has been working with DkIT and embracing the software engineering
in the heart and have a separate assay for NUI Galway for some time but this is research activities in the University
sodium ion channels (NaV1.5), another the first time that the collaboration of Limerick (UL partner), Dublin City
key mediator of cardiac contractility. We has been formalised, a significant University , Trinity College Dublin
have recently completed the first sweep development for the impact of Irish and University College Dublin.
of studies for Berand Neuropharmacology software research on the world
using Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation stage. Lero focuses on specific domains,
Voucher programme to fund this work especially those where reliability
as a test bed for ICBC services, and as Commenting on the collaboration, is crucial, including automotive,
a benefit to the client who needs to the Director of Lero, Prof Mike aerospace, medical devices,
know what to look for in planning the Hinchey said: “We are very pleased telecommunications and financial
development of new drug candidates. to join with DkIT and NUI Galway services. Lero develop models,
ICBC is the only organisation in Ireland in a formal collaboration to further methods and tools that make it
that offers hERG liability testing and we enhance the profile of Irish software cheaper, faster or easier to produce
hope to become the go-to organisation research on a global basis. It has this crucial software.
for cardiac toxicity profiling of new drug been extremely worthwhile and
candidates. productive to work with these More information: www.lero.ie.
excellent institutions in the past
For further information on the work of and we look forward to exciting
the ICBC visit www.icbc.ie or email mary. developments in the future.”
earle@dkit.ie Head of Research at DkIT Dr Tim

12. News
Case studies Getting a
A series of events and workshops has
already taken place since the Irish
launch of the programme in March
book due helping 2010. One recent workshop held in
Cavan Crystal provided participants
out in spring hand with with five interactive sessions relating
to the topic “Family Business: Sell
succession
or Keep?” The workshop focused
2011 on the financial aspects of family
business succession, specifically tax
Lecturers in higher education in
plans issues/implications and strategic
and financial development plans.
Ireland will soon have another Psychological considerations such as
The Success Through Succession (STS)
valuable resource to support family business values, ownership
programme is proving to be a winner
the teaching of enterprise and readiness and emotional adjustment
with family businesses in the six
entrepreneurship thanks to a book models were also covered.
southern border counties, providing
of cases commissioned under the them with individual succession plans
Accelerating Campus Entrepreneurship The workshop was delivered by the
for the future of their businesses.
(ACE) initiative. STS expert team, the family business
unit at BDO Simpson Xavier and
Eleven companies from diverse
family business practitioners in the
[e] info@elementdesign.ie
Due to be published in spring 2011, the industry sectors including engineering,
compilation will enhance the quality border region. The next workshop
medical devices, construction, crafts,
and quantity of informative teaching will take place in Enniskillen,
transport, food manufacturing and
cases for entrepreneurship (Levels 6-9). County Fermanagh and will focus
textiles were selected to receive 12
All cases are set in the Irish context and on preparing the succession process,
months of support to explore the
are relevant to both commercially and focusing in particular on ‘reactive’
issues involved and then develop
socially oriented ventures. and ‘proactive’ transitions.
and implement their succession
[t] 042 9327943
plan. They were: AmRay Medical,
The cases focus on organisations and Recruitment for the next programme
Crowes Quality Meats, Dunview Ltd,
individuals from diverse industry will begin in spring 2011. If you are
Ferm Engineering, Glenmore Linen,
sectors and are authored by teaching interested in applying for the programme
Matthews Coach Hire, Parkes Garage,
staff, experts and mentors involved please contact: Dr Cecilia Hegarty, STS
Silverstream Gardeners World, Wakely
element design
with growing commercially viable Programme Manager, by email to:
Engineering, Ward Automation and
ventures. cecilia.hegarty@dkit.ie or Tel: + 353 42
Wright Quarry Products.
9370422.
The management and
staff of the Regional
Development Centre would Starting Out or Need a Base for
like to wish all our clients,
your R&D Activities?
colleagues and partners a
very Happy Christmas and a Incubation
The Regional Development Centre has top class
Facilities and Business Supports both on-campus in DkIT
prosperous New Year.
and Off-Campus in Millmount, Drogheda.
For further details contact: Sean MacEntee on
[t] 042 9370400 [e] sean.macentee@dkit.ie [w] www.rdc.ie