ULSTER University has announced the creation of its first professor of medicine to be based at its new school of medicine.
It is being created through a £1.2 million donation by drugs company Randox and will provide educational leadership, teaching and training to inspire the doctors and researchers which will come through the university.
The first cohort of students are due to commence study in autumn at UU's Magee campus in Derry.
UU vice-chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said the position would help enhance the university's expertise and research excellence in personalised medicine diagnostics and would contribute to expanding the medical diagnostics sector.
"The university sees the ground breaking Randox professorship as an opportunity to further our long-standing partnership with Randox so that we might together have a unique opportunity to support clinical medicine, enhance the quality of patient care through highly relevant translational research and inspire the next generation of doctors," Prof Bartholomew said.
Randox managing director Dr Peter FitzGerald said the position showed the company’s commitment to critical priorities.
"At this time of rapid and significant change within medicine, it is imperative that industry, academia and medical education are aligned to improve patient outcomes and the efficiency of healthcare services,” Dr FitzGerald said.
Dean at the School of Medicine, Professor Louise Dubras said the professorship would complement the exceptional staff team already in place to teach doctors of the future.
