The latest Business updates from the science industry


Payload for ESA PLATO Mission to be Developed in Ireland by Heather Hobbs


A €3.4 million contract from German space company OHB System AG to design, develop and deliver the PayLoad Interface Unit (PLIU) for the European Space Agency (ESA) PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission that will be launched in 2026, was awarded to Realtime Technologies earlier this year.


The company and its Réaltra Division in Dublin will design and build the PLIU, the largest space electronics hardware contribution and the largest ever single contract awarded to an Irish company for an ESA Science mission. The PLIU will provide the thermal control system for the telescopes on the PLATO spacecraft to help underpin the mission’s objective of understanding how our Universe was formed and whether life exists outside of our own solar system.


The contract will also support an increase in high-quality employment in design, engineering and manufacturing roles in north Dublin and in the supply chain companies located around Ireland.


John Halligan TD, Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, who announced the contract award, said: “I am delighted to be here today to announce the signing of this signifi cant contract between OHB System AG and Réaltra to provide the PayLoad Interface Unit for ESA’s PLATO mission. The awarding of this contract is a signifi cant achievement for Réaltra and demonstrates how Irish space companies can succeed in the delivery of cutting-edge space technologies. The world-class activities in Réaltra are building the reputation of Ireland’s space technology sector in the global marketplace and creating high- value jobs in Irish companies in line with the Irish Government’s strategy for growing the space sector.


every success in the continued growth of its space activities.” 48725pr@reply-direct.com


Analytical Instruments Advance Chemistry at London Research Hub


forward, but also to direct future instrument development in line with scientifi c needs.


Maria Angeles Diaz, Sales VP/GM, EMEA and India Laboratory Solution Sales from Agilent Technologies (L) and Professor Alice Gast, President of Imperial College London (R) cut the ribbon on the new Agilent Measurement Suite. (Credit: Fergus Burnett)


A suite of analytical instruments enabling precise chemical measurement has been opened at Imperial College London’s (ICL) Molecular Sciences Research Hub based on the new campus at White City. The Agilent Measurement Suite (AMS), a collaboration between Agilent and ICL will help researchers tackle problems in areas ranging from health and environment to energy and fundamental biology. It will also serve as demonstration lab and showcase for potential customers and collaborators. The partnership is expected to drive research


At the opening event (6 March) , Imperial’s President, Professor Alice Gast, said: “We are creating an ecosystem of multidisciplinary research and innovation here at White City, with buildings like this and the Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub, but also a culture of making with facilities like the Invention Rooms. “I am pleased to welcome Agilent into this ecosystem and look forward to seeing the collaboration push forward research on societal challenges, from understanding disease on a molecular level to developing clean sources of energy. The Academic Director of the AMS, Professor Tony Cass from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial, gave an overview of some of the areas of research already lined up for the new instruments, including investigations into the human ‘microbiomes’ – the communities of bacteria that live in different areas of our bodies – and exploration of environmental questions, such as arsenic concentrations in drinking water globally and the prevalence of pesticides on fruit, along with fundamental research into proteins and chemical imaging of molecules. Jack Wenstrand, Agilent’s director of University Relations and External Research, said: “Agilent’s products and the collaborative engagement of our technical staff will accelerate academic research at Imperial as we explore measurement needs of the future.”


48728pr@reply-direct.com MRA’s to Support US-UK Trade Post-BREXIT


Support for a continuing fl ow of trade between the UK and US was penned on 14th February by Deputy US Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney and Ambassador Kim Darroch, United Kingdom (UK) Ambassador to the United States, who signed two mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) covering telecom equipment, electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) for information and communications technology products, pharmaceutical good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections and marine equipment.


The MRAs with the UK replicate substantive provisions of existing MRAs between the United States and the European Union for these sectors and will ensure that US-UK trade in these product sectors is


not disrupted when the UK leaves the European Union. US exports to the UK of products covered by these agreements exceeded $5 billion in 2018.


As part of the US-UK Trade and Investment Working Group, the United States and the United Kingdom are working to ensure commercial continuity for UK and US businesses, workers and consumers as the UK leaves the EU. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notifi ed Congress on 16 October, 2018 of the Trump Administration’s intent to enter into trade negotiations with the UK once it leaves the EU.


48727pr@reply-direct.com


Medicine Network Continues to Build Interest


The Pharmacogenetics and Stratifi ed Medicine Network, a Liverpool University and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) led UK initiative dedicated to developing collaborative partnerships between academic researchers, healthcare professionals, industry partners, regulatory bodies and patient groups, has announced that its membership has now exceeded 1,000 individual members.


Founded in 2010 by Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, the David Weatherall Chair of Medicine and NHS Chair of Pharmacogenetics at the University, the network is striving to synergise research into personalised/precision medicine across the UK and internationally, to support its adoption into the clinic.


The network hosted its 6th annual Open Meeting in March, which attracted more than 250 delegates from across academia, healthcare sector, industry, regulators, patients and others.


Feedback after the meeting was said to be hugely positive with many commenting that this was now the go-to meeting for personalised medicine. Over the last fi ve years, the event has developed an excellent reputation for the quality of speakers and diversity of attendees. In particular, the meeting is attracting more clinical representation, which will help in supporting the NHS Long Term Plan.


The Network also holds workshops, usually at the Liverpool in London campus, in collaboration with key organisations such as NHS England and MHRA which is infl uencing policy and driving the personalised medicine agenda nationally and internationally.


Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, said: “I am pleased that the value of the Network in helping the implementation of personalised medicine has been recognised by way of increased global membership year-on-year. This increase has culminated in this milestone being achieved and makes the Network one of the largest of its kind in the world.”


Professor Sir Pirmohamed is also a non-executive director of NHS England and Director of the MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science and Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine.


Further information can be found at www.Istmed.ac.uk email info@istmed.ac.uk


48720pr@reply-direct.com


I wish Réaltra and Realtime


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