Almac and Queens University Belfast showcase Northern Irish ‘oncology hub’ to senior Washington DC delegates

Almac, an international drug development organisation, today opens a high-level, invitation only, Washington DC event – ‘From Science to Society: A Northern Ireland Showcase in Cancer Genomics and Personalized Medicine’ – highlighting the capabilities and exceptional work of Northern Ireland’s established ‘oncology hub’.  The event will be 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 will be presenting ‘Setting the Northern Ireland Context’ and Dr John Niederhuber, Director, National Cancer Institute will be presenting ‘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 today include senior academics, Government sponsored health executives, clinical research and pharmaceutical executives. Moreover, 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”