Irish Nobel Prize winner to launch new biomedical science courses at IT

Dr. William C. Campbell will visit IT Sligo on Wednesday to launch three new cross-border programmes in biomedical sciences.

The Donegal man was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2015 for a range of therapies he developed to treat some of the world’s most dangerous parasitic diseases.

Dr Campbell will deliver a lecture to students on his award-winning work and will launch the new cross-border biomedical sciences courses.

The courses are a collaboration between IT Sligo and Ulster University.

It is the first time two universities in the North and Republic have teamed up for distance-learning biomedical sciences programmes.

The School of Biomedical Sciences at Ulster University and the School of Science at IT Sligo have developed three innovative, distance-learning BSc degree programmes in biomedical sciences.

Both universities feel that combining their expertise will meet the needs of students and employers and help them to develop the necessary skill sets to work in the area of biomedical science.

Ulster University President Paddy Nixon said: “Ulster University’s reputation for world- leading biomedical research combined with IT Sligo’s teaching excellence will provide access to a wide range of relevant, innovative courses specially designed to meet the current and future needs of the biomedical sector.”

Dr. Campbell is also due to officially open IT Sligo’s new Aurivo Auditorium, a 280-seat venue for conferences and meetings.

The 85-year-old is the second ever Irish scientist to win a Nobel Prize.

Source: www.independent.ie

Journalist: Amy Nolloy