Taoiseach Micheál Martin has launched the second phase of a €21 million cross-border medical clinical and research training programme in Galway.
The Taoiseach unveiled the Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) programme at University of Galway during a visit last week.
ICAT aims to train the brightest doctors, vets and dentists across Ireland to become world class clinician scientists.
During this second phase of the project, €21.3 million will be spent to train 42 fellows in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said, “Our Government is deeply committed to research and innovation and its role in the future of healthcare.”
“Investment of this scale and with this strategic outlook will help to position Ireland as a place where top-class researchers and innovators are afforded the opportunity to strive for lasting, impactful change which tackle challenges of our time.”
“The ICAT Programme has proven to be a catalyst for some of the brightest minds in healthcare and I am delighted to see the ambition in phase 2 of the programme.”
The ICAT programme has been awarded to six equal stakeholder partner universities by the Health Research Board (HRB).
They are: University of Galway, Queen’s University Belfast, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Principal Investigator of the ICAT Programme, Prof Conall Dennedy at University of Galway, said that it offers people a chance to become “world class researchers” in parallel with their clinical training.
“It is the vision of the programme to enhance the health of people in Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as animal welfare, embracing the principles of One Health.”
“This large investment by the HRB, six partner universities and associates is critical to futureproofing the health of our nations.”
ICAT supports participant fellows to undertake truly novel research by availing of a large networked pool of experienced supervisors, facilitating an easy mobility of ICAT fellows between Northern Ireland and Ireland
