The Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG), based in RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), have won the ‘Research Laboratory of the Year' award at the annual Irish Laboratory Awards 2017. The award was presented to the team at a ceremony on Thursday, 25 May in the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin.

Speaking on winning the award, Professor O'Brien, Head of TERG and Professor of Bioengineering & Regenerative Medicine in the Department of Anatomy of RCSI said: "I am delighted that our lab has won this award and I am so proud of the whole team. We were up against some really stiff opposition from higher education institutions across Ireland so to come out on top is a great tribute to the collaborative, interdisciplinary, translational nature of our research and the quality of the people in our team." 

Launched in 2013, The Irish Laboratory Awards are the benchmark for those demonstrating excellence, best practice and innovation within Ireland's lab industry. The awards recognise the successes and achievements of Ireland's internationally renowned scientists in areas including innovation, leadership and collaboration and focus on the ongoing work of Irish scientists to grow and develop a sustainable, globally competitive science research.

The RCSI Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG) is a large multidisciplinary research group, which is made up of more than 60 researchers, focused on the development of cell and advanced biomaterial-based strategies for the repair and regeneration of bone, cartilage, cardiovascular, ocular, respiratory and neural tissues. 

It includes Principal Investigators and researchers from a number of departments in RCSI including Anatomy, MCT, Orthopaedic Surgery and the School of Pharmacy as well as partner universities including TCD, DCU, and NUIG. It is also part of both the AMBER and CURAM SFI Research Centres.