Precision Medicine Centre
From Discovery to Adoption
The Precision Medicine Centre (PMC) is a co-investment from Invest Northern Ireland, Queen’s University Belfast and the Health & Social Care Research & Development Division of the Public Health Agency
The Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence (PMC) at Queen’s University Belfast is a new clinical laboratory bringing together high-throughput genomics, digital pathology and big data analytics in a fully integrated fashion. The PMC aims to accelerate the translation of potentially relevant diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic findings into clinically actionable information by applying state-of-the-art technology in a clinical laboratory environment. Our partnerships and collaborations with industry, academia and healthcare organisations maximises the potential to capitalise on the value of integrated clinical and biomarker information to improve patient’s outcome.
The PMC extends along 563m2, more than 300m2 of which represent newly refurbished laboratory space. The PMC is a fully-integrated clinical biomarker laboratory, building up on the successful Molecular Pathology programme at QUB where 17 new high-quality clinical and scientific staff have been recruited, and over £2M investment in the latest technology in genomics, digital pathology and laboratory automation are in place. The PMC will operate within a structure of two core interconnected sections – Genomics and Tissue Hybridization & Digital Pathology, linked by a Bioinformatics team and supported by a dedicated management team. The PMC, working in partnership with the successful Northern Ireland Biobank (NIB), is integrated in an existing molecular programme honed by successful research grant funding investment of several million, infrastructure programmes and clinical trials.
Related Reading
1. Salto-Tellez M, Kennedy RD. Drug Discov Today. 2015 Dec;20(12):1451-4
2. Salto-Tellez M, James JA, Hamilton PW. Mol Oncol. 2014 Oct;8(7):1163-8
Tissue Hybridization and Digital Pathology
At the forefront of modern hybridization pathology, digital pathology and artificial intelligence applied to tissues and cells
Genomics
Unlocking a wide range of possibilities for innovative collaborations in large-scale genomics studies, making the translation of science into clinical applications faster than ever before
Clinical Diagnostics
The Precision Medicine Centre hosts a collaborative arrangement between Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust (BHSCT) to provide state of the art molecular diagnostics to cancer patients in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Biobank
The Northern Ireland Biobank (NIB) is a thriving cancer focused regional biobank established to underpin excellence in translational cancer research
Education and Training
Continuous educational activity is created in the PMC not only from the formal QUB taught education programmes but also through short courses, mini workshops as well as in-service tutorials, lectures and invited speaker seminars
Services and Equipment
The Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence at Queen's University Belfast offers high-throughput genomics, digital pathology and big data analytics in a fully integrated fashion
CRUK Accelerator Programme
The Accelerator represents a unique programme, creating critical mass in areas of pivotal importance/relevance to CRUK: Molecular Pathology, Cancer Immunotherapy and Artifical Intelligence/Digital Pathology (AI/DP)
PathLAKE Programme
The PathLAKE consortium includes some of the UK’s leading NHS Trusts and Universities in collaboration with industrial partners at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital pathology innovation
Patient & Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)
ImageDX is a leading UK programme between PMC and Sonrai Analytics, aiming to bring new Digital Pathology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to cancer diagnostics. See how scientists and patients discuss the application of AI in diagnosis, and experience the journey of a tissue sample ahead of analysis.
Precision Medicine Centre of Excellence
Queen’s University Belfast
Health Sciences Building
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7AE
Tel: +44(0)28 9097 2293
Email: pmc@qub.ac.uk