The Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre is a partnership between the
Institute of Technology, Tralee
The Institute of Technology, Tralee (IT Tralee; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Thrá Lí) was an institute of technology, located in Tralee, Ireland. It was established in 1977 as the Regional Technical College, Tralee. In January 2021, itse ...
(ITT) and
Limerick Institute of Technology
The Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT; ga, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Luimnigh) was an institute of technology, located in Limerick, Ireland. The institute had five campuses that were located in Limerick, Thurles, Clonmel, as well as a r ...
(LIT,) and is co-located between these research institutes in Ireland. Shannon ABC applies bioprocessing to a variety of different source materials to derive added value from them in the area of biological products (e.g.
anti-oxidant
Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. This can lead to polymerization and other chain reactions. They are frequently added to industrial products, such as fuels and lubricants, ...
s,
anti-microbial
An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Antimicrobial medicines can be grouped according to the microorganisms they act primarily against. For example, antibiotics are used against bacteria, and antifungals a ...
s, immunomodulators, value added food, waste optimisation, etc.)
Background
Shannon ABC was established through core funding from
Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland is an Irish state economic development agency focused on helping Irish-owned business deliver new export sales. The aim of Enterprise Ireland is .
History
Enterprise Ireland was established by the Industrial Development (E ...
as an Applied Research Enhancement Centre and continues to enjoy support from this organisation as well as:
:*
Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset for the people of Ireland. It operates independently under the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
Hi ...
:*
Higher Education Authority
__NOTOC__
The Higher Education Authority (HEA), officially An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas, is the statutory body providing policy advice for higher education in Ireland.
Description and functions
The HEA was established under the Higher Educati ...
:*
:*Technological Sector Research Strand I & III
:*Food Institutional Research Measure
:*Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
Shannon ABC has a large multidisciplinary team of research scientists, highly experienced in the commercial application of science through industry collaboration. In addition to the identification of bioactive molecules through bioprocessing, Shannon ABC also provides a contract research facility to companies who wish to optimise scientific processes within their company.
In July 2010 Shannon ABC formed a strategic life sciences cluster with th
Pharmaceutical & Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre(PMBRC) and the Ion Channel Biotechnology Centre (ICBC). This cluster was developed with the intention of providing further expertise to industry while taking advantage of complementary capabilities in the centres.
Industry collaboration
The key aim of Shannon ABC is to assist in the continued prosperity of industry by offering access to wide-ranging expertise and know how, state of the art equipment and facilities and access to a wide variety of national and international funding programmes.
Shannon ABC provides biotechnology services on a range of levels. Companies can use Enterprise Ireland funded schemes (such as Innovation Vouchers and Innovation Partnerships) to carry out research, or they can fund the work themselves as contract research.
Industry partners include those from a range of industries, including: Food, Agriculture, Marine, Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Cosmetics, etc.
Research
Funding from Enterprise Ireland for the initial period of existence of Shannon ABC provided for the development of niche expertise areas of the Centre, as well as providing for a critical mass of experienced, commercially focused researchers. Initial waste streams that were mined included spent yeast, horse chestnut waste and fish waste. A further area of expertise includes investigation of raw materials, such as seaweed, for a variety of bioactive compounds.
From these core activities the Centre has developed a bioactivity screening process applicable to any natural waste process or product. In the absence of bioactivity, competencies within the Centre can be used to recommend other ways to add value to waste processes.
Bioactive compounds
A key research, development and innovation area for Shannon ABC are bioactive molecules. Bioactive molecules are those derived from biological origin that exhibit an active effect, and can include
anti-oxidants, immunomodulatory compounds,
anti microbials,
prebiotics
Prebiotics are compounds in food that induce the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The most common example is in the gastrointestinal tract, where prebiotics can alter the composition of organisms in the ...
, etc. Bioactive molecules are extracted by traditional solvent extraction techniques or by super critical fluid extraction. Activity can then be screened for and molecules of interest identified.
References
External links
Applied Biotechnology Centre website
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Research institutes in the Republic of Ireland
Education in the Republic of Ireland
Biotechnology organizations