The first Molecular Medicine Ireland (MMI) Clinician Scientist Fellowship Programme (CSFP) Annual Meeting took place on Saturday, 11 July 2009 at NUI Galway.

Among the prize winners on the day was Dr Oliver Schubert from the Department of Psychiatry at RCSI, who was awarded third prize in the oral presentation competition.

Molecular Medicine Ireland is a joint venture between RCSI, UCD, NUI Galway, University College Cork, Trinity College to achieve their common objectives in health research. MMI was established to accelerate the translation of scientific research into better quality outcomes for patients and to position Ireland as a centre of excellence in molecular medicine research and education.

Fellows from five institutions including the RCSI, who have a shared agenda in clinical and translational research are participating in the Clinical Scientist Fellowship Programme (CSFP), which is being coordinated by Molecular Medicine Ireland. The objective of the PRTLI-funded Clinician Scientist Fellowship Programme is to train the next generation of clinician scientists with the unique and specialised knowledge essential to fulfil Ireland’s research needs in translational medicine.

"Today is a milestone in the Clinician Scientist Fellowship programme," commented Dr Ruth Barrington, CEO of MMI. "The research presented by the Fellows is at the cutting-edge of science and is of great significance for more effective diagnosis of disease and treatment of patients. The Fellows are contributing to Ireland’s reputation for excellence in clinical and translational research. They are also making Ireland a more attractive place for investment by healthcare industries in research and development."