UL research director named

Prof Colum Dunne has been announced as the new Director of Research of the Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS) at the University of Limerick.

The appointment was welcomed by Professor Paul Finucane, Head of the GEMS, who noted Prof Dunne’s ‘accomplished record of research and innovation’.

Prof Dunne has most recently been a director of both Glanbia Nutritionals, where he was responsible for research and development, and Westgate Biological, a biotechnology company that develops a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent especially effective against MRSA.

Prior to these positions, Prof Dunne was General Manager of a research centre that investigated the therapeutic potential of functional foods on cancer prevention and therapy.

Speaking on his appointment, Prof Dunne said: “the Graduate Entry Medical School will complement and further integrate the clinical and health-oriented research ongoing at University of Limerick and its teaching hospitals.�

The GEMS at the University of Limerick offers a four-year graduate programme that leads to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

Prof Dunne, originally from Cork City, earned his PhD at University College Cork and has published extensively.

He is the inventor of a number of commercialised patents. - Irish Medical Times