Research Ireland has launched the RINN national research network, a landmark €460 million investment aimed at strengthening Ireland’s research ecosystem and accelerating innovation across strategic sectors including Advanced Therapies, AI, Quantum Technologies, Energy, Semiconductors, Pharma & Biopharma, and Medical Devices.
A key pillar is RINN Advanced Therapies, a national integrated research centre focused on developing, manufacturing, and clinically translating personalised advanced cellular immune therapeutics (ACITs). These next-generation cell and immune-based medicines are expected to play a growing role in treating cancer, autoimmune disease, and other complex conditions. HiTech Health welcomes this significant announcement and looks forward to seeing the continued growth of the ecosystem.
A National Ecosystem For Cell Therapy Innovation
RINN Advanced Therapies brings together a broad consortium of Irish universities, hospitals, research institutes, and national bodies to create an all-island innovation ecosystem. Partners include Trinity College Dublin, University of Galway, UCC, Maynooth University, TU Dublin, RCSI, along with translational partners such as NIBRT and key health system stakeholders.
The centre aims to bridge gaps across the advanced therapies pipeline by connecting discovery, biomanufacturing, regulatory science, and clinical delivery into a coordinated framework.
From Discovery to Patient Impact
The programme focuses on accelerating translation of cell and immune-based treatments into clinical use by integrating:
- Advanced cell therapy design and engineering
- Biomanufacturing and scale-up of personalised therapies
- Clinical translation and patient-centred delivery models
- Regulatory and quality frameworks for novel biologics
This approach aims to enable more personalised therapies with improved outcomes, particularly in oncology and immune-mediated diseases.
Positioning Ireland globally
Advanced therapies are one of the fastest-growing areas in biopharma, driven by progress in cell and gene therapy, immunotherapy, and precision medicine. RINN Advanced Therapies strengthens Ireland’s position by linking research excellence with industrial capability. By aligning academia, healthcare, and biomanufacturing, the network will support a sustainable innovation pipeline that advances both scientific leadership and patient impact.
Looking ahead
Over the coming years, RINN Advanced Therapies will act as a national platform for collaboration, training, and innovation, supporting the next generation of researchers and clinicians while accelerating delivery of transformative therapies. As part of the wider RINN network, it marks a significant step toward a more coordinated, impact-driven research system focused on translating discovery into real health outcomes.