The names of Irish researchers who will receive £1 million in funding from the Wellcome Trust for biomedical research during 1999 have been announced. The finance is part of an agreement by which the trust is committed to providing £1 million a year for three years. The Department of Health and Children is matching the money given by Wellcome.
The "New Blood" fellowship awards for young researchers went to Dr Kathleen Quane, of the Department of Medicine, University College, Cork; Dr Owen McManus, of the Department of Clinical Medicine at Trinity College, Dublin and Dr Bernard Mahon, of the Biology Department, NUI St Patrick's College, Maynooth.
The three start-up awards for researchers in their first academic appointment in Ireland who wish to develop research programmes went to Dr Rosemary O'Connor, Dr Ronald Watson and Dr Dermot Kenny. Equipment grants were also made to 13 applicants.
The chairman of the Health Research Board (HRB), Prof Michael Murphy, said the purpose of the "new blood" research fellowship scheme was to strengthen biomedical research in Ireland by providing funds to encourage universities to make appointments to their permanent academic staff.
He urged deans of medical faculties to be particularly conscious of Irish graduates working abroad in promoting the scheme as the fellowship provided them with an opportunity to return to Ireland and establish a research career.
The agreement between Wellcome and the Health Research Board was an "exciting new development in Irish Health Research", he said.
The chief executive of the HRB, Dr Ruth Barrington, said in addition to the new blood, start-up and equipment grants the agreement had enabled the board to expand its own research activities.