RESEARCH:DURING THE boom years, Ireland witnessed a blitz of building. As well as the supermarkets and housing estates we were also investing in research infrastructure, constructing and kitting out labs.

We also enticed researchers – many of whom had trained here but had to leave due to under-investment – from around the world back to Ireland. When they came home, they brought not only expertise to the new buildings but also networks of contacts and collaborators.

A decade on, it’s time to build on that biomedical research groundwork. We need to reflect and build on what has been achieved, to strengthen those areas where Irish researchers have demonstrated ability to compete on the international stage – such as gastrointestinal disease and immunology – and to convert good ideas into the products and services that are the economic tangibles of State investment and the foundation of future enterprises, especially indigenous companies.

How can we do this? One way is translational research. This is when basic discoveries are converted into medically relevant products with the potential to deliver economic tangibles.

At Sigmoid, we have first-hand experience and expertise in the translational conduit from concept to clinic. We have used our novel drug delivery technology, SmPillT, to develop a product, CyCol, to provide ulcerative colitis patients with a convenient, effective and safe medication.

Cycol is being tested in a Phase II human clinical study for ulcerative colitis in hospitals around Ireland and in the UK.

This kind of early-stage clinical investigation, where clinical concepts are validated, converted into products and then progressed toward the market, is a key component of the translational approach. From an international perspective, Ireland should have an edge here as the Irish population is considered homogeneous and therefore a good location in which to conduct early stage clinical trials. But to exploit that benefit we need to be innovative in how clinical studies are performed and patients are informed.

One simple step that has the potential to reap significant rewards is the establishment of an extensive electronic patient database.

The establishment of such records for the entire population and maintenance of the database would benefit not only companies and clinicians that are conducting clinical trials, but also would allow patients to access leading edge, research-stage, and innovative products.

The technology to establish and maintain such records is already in place. It was implemented to issue each citizen with a PPS number for social services and tax identification and it has been used for the 1901 and 1911 online census records.

So the social needs and wealth of living citizens and the history of those long dead have been digitised and converted into searchable databases. Is it too much to expect that this could be extended to convert patient records into a secure and searchable database?

Electronic records would work on many levels. The patient would benefit since their records would be complete, regardless if they attend a doctor in Donegal or Dingle. This would mean less risk of misdiagnosis or the wrong treatment being prescribed.

Companies and clinicians would also benefit while conducting clinical trials on products with the potential to significantly enhance future disease management. Therefore, a patient database would assist not only identifying patients, but could also inform them that such trials are ongoing.

A national electronic patient record system would also ensure that Ireland is recognised internationally as a location of choice to conduct translational research, where the efficient recruitment of patients in a timely, private and professional manner has been made possible.

The simple step of creating electronic patient records would attract multinationals to develop networks with academics, clinicians and indigenous companies in an environment where translation will happen. Ireland can be an island where innovation flourishes rather than flounders.

The Irish possess important skills that underpin innovation – namely those of creativity and communication. When combined with existing information and technology capabilities, Ireland can become a creative innovation island where our creativity and communication skills, along with our research infrastructure and skill base are made as efficient as possible, thus positioning the island as an international innovation hub.

Rather than focus on building more buildings, we need to use more effectively and efficiently the resources that the impressive investment in research and development over the past decade has put in place. It is time to reflect, to consolidate, to convert information into knowledge and innovation into tangible products.

It is important that we grasp this opportunity of a lifetime. If we do, the history books will state that capital investment created the genesis of the knowledge economy.

If we don’t, the opportunity of a lifetime will likely pass us by.

Dr Ivan Coulter is founder and chief executive of Irish biotech company Sigmoid Pharma, based at DCU’s Invent Centre. Sigmoid is the recipient of the overall 2010 Irish Times Innovation of the Year Award