Clinical trial firm Icon has partnered with UCD in a deal that will strengthen ties between the academic research world and industry.

Under the partnership, Icon will become one of UCD’s benefactors in its new science centre and will collaborate with the university on enhancing drug development.

A new two-year post-doctoral fellowship has also been set up, the Icon Newman Fellowship in Genomics.

The role is based in the UCD school of medicine and medical science and the UCD complex and adaptive systems laboratory (CASL), and has already been awarded to Colm J Ryan, a former software developer who holds a PhD in bioinformatics.

“It is important that we continue to develop our scientific capabilities and build a pool of talent that can support our growth plans,” Icon chief executive Ciarán Murray said.

“Bridging the ties between industry and academic research through our partnership with UCD supports both of these objectives.”

UCD president Dr Hugh Brady said the partnership was a model for industry-academia collaborations.