Trinity College Dublin has officially launched the ARC Hub for Therapeutics, a national initiative designed to fast-track biomedical research into real-world therapies and commercial ventures. Hosted in partnership with University College Dublin and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Hub is part of Research Ireland’s Accelerating Research to Commercialisation (ARC) Programme, co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union.

The initiative brings together leading researchers, industry partners, investors, and entrepreneurs to create a scalable model that nurtures both talent and disruptive research. With an initial portfolio of 22 active projects spanning gene and RNA therapies, oncology, small molecules, haemostasis, vaccines, and metabolic diseases, the Hub aims to transform cutting-edge discoveries into new treatments, licences, and spin-outs.

Government leaders emphasised the Hub’s strategic importance for regional innovation and economic growth. Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless described the ARC Hub as a transformative collaboration that leverages Ireland’s higher education sector to generate tangible outcomes, while Enda Hogan of the Southern Regional Assembly highlighted the EU’s role in enabling balanced growth and international competitiveness.

The ARC Hub provides researchers with competitive funding and entrepreneurial training to meet industry standards, ensuring discoveries progress efficiently from laboratory to market. Leadership is shared across Trinity, UCD, and RCSI, combining translational, clinical, and commercial expertise. Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, Research Ireland CEO, noted that the Hub addresses a persistent challenge in connecting research with commercialisation, creating an environment where innovative ideas can thrive.

By uniting academic excellence with industry know-how, the ARC Hub positions Ireland to advance the therapeutics sector and deliver real-world health benefits. It represents a national effort to strengthen Ireland’s role in biomedical innovation, prepare the next generation of entrepreneurial scientists, and accelerate the development of transformative therapies.

Learn more about how the ARC Hub is bridging research.