A research programme at Trinity College is aiming to develop computers which will predict how drugs will react and move through the human body.

It is hoped the 15-month collaboration between Trinity and the Japanese electronics group, Hitachi, will result in the creation of a `virtual laboratory', allowing drug companies to work out how effective their methods of releasing drugs into the body are.

The programme has won a 224,000 ecu (£175,000) grant from the EU's ESPRIT information technology programme, plus undisclosed investments from Hitachi and pharmaceutical company, Elan.