DCU researchers' success in SFI Prinicpal Investigator programme

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) have announced €47 million in funding for 36 pioneering research initiatives through the SFI Investigator Programme. DCU academics Prof Greg Hughes, Prof Martin Clynes, Dr Niall Barron and Dr Andreas Heise were successful in this programme and received funding for €4.9 million in total for projects of 4-5 years duration.These projects were selected based on their scientific excellence and the potential to impact Ireland’s economic and societal development.

Prof Greg Hughes will investigate Copper diffusion barrier layers for advanced interconnect integration (€691,950). Prof Martin Clynes project worth €1,174,537 aims at Phenotype Engineering using MicroRNAs in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) Cells to Achieve Faster Growth Rate and Extended Culture Lifespan for more Efficient Biopharmaceutical Productio. Dr Niall Barron's research Improving Biopharmaceutical productivity from industrial CHO cell lines by microRNA knockdown was funded for €432,801. Dr Andreas Heise (in collaboration Dr Sally-Ann Cryan, RCSI) will further develop Functional polymers for (nano)medical devices, grant value €1,481,129.