Advanced Therapies

Welcome to the Discipline of Advanced Therapies

As Head of the Discipline, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our home page. Our goal is to increase understanding of the complex biological causes of human diseases and to translate this knowledge into the new treatments that actively modulate disease to restore health.

The work that we do to pursue this goal is founded on the principles of collaboration and innovation. In our research projects and educational courses, we work widely with colleagues across the community of Schools and Colleges within the University of Galway, as well as with other leading third level institutions and industry partners. Our activities are intricately linked with the clinical and clinical research services of the Galway University Hospitals and the HSE West Northwest Health Region. Beyond Ireland, we have a wide and growing network of international collaborators and partnerships at universities, medical centres, research institutes and companies in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia.

The common thread to all of our work is to develop new, more effective therapies that improve the health and quality of life of people suffering from diseases that are currently incurable. We strive to accomplish this through our own, multi-disciplinary research programmes, through teaching and training the next generation of researchers, practioners and innovators, through wide collaboration, and through our direct interactions with patients and the public.

In the remaining sections of the website you will find more specific details about our team, our range of activities, and the disease areas in which we are currently working.

About Us

The research and educational programmes within the Discipline of Advanced Therapies are focused on developing novel human treatments using stem cells, immune cells, cellular components, genetic modifications, biomaterials and medical devices.

Our team of faculty members, researchers, technical scientists, and postgraduate students brings together a wide range of skills and expertise. This includes fundamental science and engineering, modelling of human diseases, immunology, manufacturing and clinical trial design for advanced therapies, clinical pharmacology, and the medical care of complex patients.

The disease areas for which we currently have internationally recognised research and clinical translational programmes include:

• Diabetes and its complications
• Bone and joint disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Blood cancers
• Solid organ cancers
• Disease of the cornea
• Adrenal diseases

The key strength that we bring to the development of the new treatments for disease is the ability to collaboratively develop advanced therapies from a scientific concept to a clinical product that is manufactured to the high standards required for administration to patients. One unique resource that we have established at the University of Galway for this purpose is the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland, Ireland's first licensed facility for the manufacture of cultured cell therapies

A core value of the Discipline is to integrate our research and clinical activities with excellent teaching and training opportunities for diverse learners in the field of advanced therapies. Our range of specialised undergraduate and postgraduate educational activities reflect this value.

We believe that the goal of improving human health through advanced therapies can only be achieved by cooperation among all stakeholders. We welcome interactions with patients and public as well as with professionals from across the spectrum of health research and innovation.

Contact Information

Head of Discipline: Prof. Matthew Griffin

For general enquiries, please contact our administrative office:

Discipline Administrator: Ciara Peters
Email: ciara.peters@universityofgalway.ie
Phone: N/A
Office Location if applicable: Clinical Science Institute, University of Galway, Costello Road, Galway, Ireland