The Centre for Biomolecular Environmental and Public Health Research (BEPH) at the Institute of Technology, Sligo, recently welcomed a distinguished research partner to the North West.
Associate Professor Thaddeus Graczyk from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), Baltimore, USA has been working with colleagues in IT Sligo over the last seven years. BEPH is a multidisciplinary research and education centre, committed to leadership in the field of biomolecular environmental health research. Professor Graczyk’s research is focused on the molecular epidemiology of human pathogens, and incorporates state-of-the-art molecular techniques into environmental monitoring of microbiological contaminants that negatively impact on public health worldwide.
Professor Terri Scott, President of IT Sligo, said, ‘I am delighted to acknowledge the achievements and on-going collaboration resulting from this international collaboration. Over the last seven years staff from IT Sligo and John Hopkins have targeted current environmental and public health issues, notably human pathogen dispersal via wastewater discharges and spreading of sewage sludges and farm wastes on agricultural lands. This research is timely given the recent increase in the scale of Cryptosporidium epidemics in Ireland.’
Associate Professor Thaddeus Graczyk’s US laboratory provides training and education for international students from around the world. Staff and students from IT Sligo have already benefitted from visiting his lab in terms of skills and technology transfer.
IT Sligo received research funding from Enterprise Ireland and the EPA, which has enabled the Centre for Biomolecular Environmental and Public Health Research to acquire state-of-the-art equipment and project support to develop and sustain their research programme. The Centre also benefits from the continued support of Local Authorities, the Regional Fishery Boards and other government agencies. Irish project partners include University College Dublin. During this research visit to Ireland, Professor Graczyk will evaluate progress and development of IT students who received training in his laboratory and as a BEPH partner will jointly respond to recently issued research calls.
In 2007, BEPH welcomed its first international PhD student Hui-Wen Cheng, providing links with Tatung University, Taiwan. Several undergraduate students are also involved in research projects with the Centre.
Through research collaboration with Associate Professor Thaddeus Graczyk, a number of significant discoveries have been made, which can be utilised for best environmental management practice to protect human health. These include the assessment of the extent of manmade environmental contamination of the River Shannon, the efficacy of pathogen removal by wastewater treatment processes in the West of Ireland and the quality of drinking water.
For further information on this Centre:
Dr Frances Lucy,
Dept of Environmental Science,
Institute of Technology,
Slig
Phone: 071-9155355
Email: lucy.frances@nullitsligo.ie