What we do

We are committed to translating academic excellence into commercial success by equipping researchers with the skills, knowledge, and industry exposure needed to move discoveries from the lab to the clinic.

Funding

Providing essential funding for projects with strong commercial potential, ranging from early-stage concepts to more advanced innovations.

Expert advice

Offering expert advice at the earliest stages of development to help researchers shape commercially viable project plans.

Collaboration

Connecting researchers with industry advisors to challenge ideas and build commercial skills through training, mentoring, and leadership development.

Training

Helping biomedical researchers become entrepreneurial scientists and move high-potential research toward licensing, spin-outs, and clinical use.

Our Objectives

The ARC Hub for Therapeutics is a national research initiative that was launched in February 2025 as part of the flagship project of Research Ireland’s Accelerating Research to Commercialisation (ARC) Programme. We are a collaborative and focused effort bringing together experts from universities, industry, government, and investors to accelerate the development of new treatments.

The Hub bridges Ireland’s academic ecosystem with the vital biopharma and biotech sector, accelerating research towards tangible commercial success. We focus on next-generation therapeutics, including small molecules, biologics, immunotherapies, and advanced therapy medicinal products such as gene and cell therapies.

Accelerate Research Translation and Commercial Impact

We drive regional development by accelerating early-stage, cutting-edge research toward commercial impact readiness. This includes enhancing the translation of research to impact by reducing lead time, bureaucracy, and complexity, and by implementing agile project management and funding procedures.

Develop Entrepreneurial Talent

We build a cohort of entrepreneurial scientists and engineers who are equipped with the skills and mindset necessary to identify and realise commercial opportunities emerging from research activities. Our goal is to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship supported by effective structures and processes.

Create a Regional Innovation Ecosystem

We aim to establish a new model for regional innovation and entrepreneurial training that catalyses a step-change in the translation of publicly funded research into real-world impact. This involves creating an ecosystem that effectively connects stakeholders, academic networks, and support structures to optimise research translation and entrepreneurial development.

Our Funders

The ARC Hub for Therapeutics is a €31.63 million investment programme co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union

Funded by

Tá ARC Hub for Therapeutics arna chomhchistiú ag Rialtas na hÉireann agus ag an Aontas Eorpach trí Chlár Réigiúnach an Deiscirt, an Oirthir agus Lár na Tíre 2021-27 de chuid CFRE.

The ARC Hub for Therapeutics is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-2027.

Our Partners

Hosted by Trinity College Dublin, we partner with RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and University College Dublin (UCD) to drive regional development and strengthen Ireland’s biotech innovation ecosystem.

Collaboration is essential to the ARC Hub, we are deeply embedded within Ireland’s national research landscape, working with a wide range of academic and industry partners.

Host

Partners

Host

Partners

Academic Partner Institutions

We collaborate with academic institutions across the country:

Innovation Ecosystem Partners

Our extended network includes:

  • - Local VC & International VC/Venture Builders
  • - Industry Stakeholders
  • - National Institutes and Research Ireland-funded Centres
  • - National Supports for Enterprise, Regulation, and Trials

Our Governance

The Hub operates under an organisational structure designed for exit-led innovation, transparent decision-making, and effective execution.

Academic Lead

The Academic Leadership Team serves as a vital bridge linking Ireland’s leading biomedical research with the global biopharma market. This expert-driven hub of excellence is powered by distinguished researchers who provide credible, evidence-based thought leadership.

With a strong track record spanning scientific, clinical, and commercial expertise, the team is dedicated to transforming academic innovation into real-world commercial success.

Members

Operations Leadership Team

The Operations Leadership Team is the dynamic engine driving the ARC Hub for Therapeutics toward commercial success. Comprising highly experienced professionals across multiple disciplines, the team is dedicated to providing the strategic and administrative foundation needed to accelerate research translation.

Acting as key integrators, they connect entrepreneurial researchers with industry expertise, venture capital networks, and advanced training, transforming scientific breakthroughs into high-value spinouts, licenses, and real-world treatments.

Members

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee provides the strategic backbone and expert oversight for the ARC Hub for Therapeutics. Comprised of highly experienced leaders, including key Co-Principal Investigators and Innovation & Enterprise Officers from partner institutions, this committee is responsible for driving the Hub's high-level execution strategy. The Chair is Prof Vincent Kelly.

Members

Governance Committee

The Governance Board for the ARC Hub for Therapeutics focuses on promoting Therapeutic research awareness through outreach, workshops, and educational programs, fostering public understanding and inspiring future innovators in Ireland. The Chair is Mr Matthew Moran.

Members

Advisory Committee

Provides expert advice and direction, including Industry Experts, the VC Community, and State Agencies. The Chair is the Executive Director, Dr Araz Raoof

Members

Leadership Team

The Operations Team is here to support you at every stage, making sure projects are well managed, move through clear checkpoints, and meet the right standards.

Members

How it Started

The ARC Hub for Therapeutics idea began in 2020, when Life Sciences Case Managers from Trinity College Dublin, UCD, and RCSI worked together with Academic Leads to explore ways to strengthen Ireland’s biotech spinout pipeline. Through discussions with venture capitalists, funding agencies, and a review of international best practices, they identified two key gaps in the system:

· A knowledge gap in industrial drug discovery.

· A funding gap at the earliest stages of development.

    The Challenge

    The ARC Hub was created to address these challenges, providing a collaborative environment to support and accelerate therapeutic innovation. Guided by the shared vision of the Case Managers and Academic Leads, the Hub combines practical experience and academic expertise to shape a new future for drug and treatment development in Ireland.

    Our Location

    The ARC Hub for Therapeutics is hosted by Trinity College Dublin. You can find us at Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute.