New Diagnosis System Wins At Enterprise Awards

Dr Fiona Lyng of the Dublin Institute of Technology has been named as this year’s winner of the Enterprise Ireland ‘One to Watch’ award.

Dr Lyng is developing a new system to diagnose cervical cancer together with her colleagues at the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre at the Focas Institute in DIT and collaborators at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital with support from Enterprise Ireland.

The Minister for Research and Innovation Mr Sean Sherlock presented the award to Dr. Lyng at the Enterprise Ireland Applied Research Forum in front of 250 academic researchers gathered to look at ways to increase the amount of commercially valuable research that is transferred from third level institutions into Irish industry.

Presenting the award, Minister Sherlock said: “Dr. Lyng’s system has the potential to revolutionise the diagnosis of cervical cancer. With the support of Enterprise Ireland and DIT Hothouse, plans are in place to commercialise this important technology through a spin-out company. The work is an excellent example of the positive social and economic impact of research outputs.”

Accepting the award, Dr. Lyng, who is currently Centre Manager of the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre, DIT said: “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the team at DIT who are developing this new system to diagnose cervical cancer and our colleagues at the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital. With the support of Enterprise Ireland, DIT Hothouse and our business partner Paul Hands I look forward to making this system available to help the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer worldwide.”

(BMcN)