By Business & Finance 
Dominic Carolan and Dr Reg Shaw
NIBRT announces best ever results in 2014 and appointment of new CEO, while reporting strong growth for the biopharma sector in Ireland.
The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) has published its 2014 annual report, reporting significant growth across industry, research and training activities for the year. NIBRT, located in Dublin, is considered to be unique; it operates as a global independent centre of excellence for training and research in bioprocessing and highlights Ireland’s attraction as a location for the development of leading-edge biopharma operations.
With its strategic research and training support presence, NIBRT has helped IDA Ireland to win a number of significant biopharma investments for Ireland, including Regeneron, Alexion and more recently Bristol-Myers Squibb. Since 2004, there has been €9bn of capital investment committed to new biopharma facilities in Ireland.
The development of biopharmaceuticals has become the fastest growing area of pharmaceutical development, with seven of the top 10 drugs in the world now in production or under development utilising biopharma processes.
In addition, NIBRT also announced that Dr Reg Shaw, an internationally acknowledged pioneer of the life sciences industry who established Ireland’s first ever dedicated biopharma facility with Wyeth in 1999, is stepping down after a two year leadership programme at the helm of NIBRT. Dominic Carolan will become the new CEO of the Institute.
Speaking on the appointment, NIBRT chairman Brendan O’Callaghan said, “We are delighted to welcome Dominic on board and we look forward to working together to continuing NIBRT’s important mission of supporting the growth of the biopharma sector in Ireland and building Ireland’s reputation internationally as a base for talent and know how related to Biotechnology and a preferred location for future investment. Dominic brings a wealth of pharmaceutical experience to NIBRT, including major plant start-ups for both Mallinckrodt and Genzyme in Ireland, and we are confident he will help NIBRT reach its full potential and grow from strength to strength in the years ahead.”
