Released on: October 2, 2008, 3:24 am

Press Release Author: Mark Dunphy/Dunphy Public Relations

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Thursday, 2 October 2008 – The University of Limerick has
secured a EUR5M technology research contract aimed at significantly reducing MRSA
infection rates in hospitals across the world.

Press Release Body: The trans-European project team plans to use nanotechnology to
develop MRSA-resistant textiles such as hospital gowns and beddings, which can kill
bacteria and be self-sterilising.

Project partners include nine other European agencies, as well as NUI Galway and
Irish companies BeoCare and Cook Medical.

“The spread of drug-resistant germs such as MRSA is a major public health concern”,
stated Dr. Tofail Syed, Project Coordinator.

He commented, “A significant element of the MRSA problem arises from the use of
conventional textiles such as hospital gowns, curtains, beddings and pillow covers.
As a result, hospital sterility has been a major concern in countries like Ireland,
Germany and Belgium. We intend to develop nanotechnology-derived textiles that will
help hospitals in their fight against MRSA.”

In the EU alone, in excess of 3 million people develop an infection arising from
hospital-based infections, resulting in approximately 50,000 deaths per annum. One
in 10 patients entering a European hospital will develop an infection caused by
drug-resistant microbes such as the hospital super bug, MRSA.

Dr. Syed explained, “In Southern and Western Europe, over 40 per cent of hospitals
have significant problems with the MRSA super bug. We are confident of redressing
this statistic through our research and development of MRSA-resistant textiles.”

MRSA-resistant textile is one of the four major health issues that the UL-led
consortium will address in the 3-year research programme funded by the European
Commission under its Framework Programme 7 (Nanotechnology, Materials and
Production).

The other health issues include plaque-resistant cardio-vascular stents, urinary
stents with less stone formation and bone implants that will heal more rapidly than
their conventional equivalents.

According to Mr. Liam Brown, UL Director of Research Support, “The project addresses
four major areas of European healthcare that affect the quality of life of European
citizens and cost European states considerable amount of money. In particular,
cardiovascular disease is the cause of half of deaths in Europe, accounting for in
excess of 2 million deaths per year. Arterial thrombosis contributes significantly
and the project will directly address this issue”.

Mr. Brown, who is also an Enterprise Ireland National Delegate on Framework
Programme 7, added that bone diseases remained a major health concern for Europe due
to the continent’s ageing population.

He said, “Half of all chronic conditions of those aged 65 and over are caused by
osteoarthritis and among the younger population, the occurrence of bone injuries is
increasing because of more leisure activity and accidents. A direct output of the
project will be the stimulating of bone growth by 30%.”

Dr. Edmond Magner, Director of the University of Limerick-based Materials and
Surface Science Institute (MSSI) pointed out that the research programme placed
Ireland at the forefront of European activity in developing nanotechnology-based
solutions to healthcare related problems.

“The awarding of the EUR5m contract to UL is a testament of Ireland’s role as a
leading Research and Development centre for the worldwide Biomedical sector”, he
commented.

Dr. Imelda Lambkin, Enterprise Ireland National Director FP7 Ireland, said she was
delighted that MSSI had been awarded an internationally important contract that
would result in significant health benefits for patients across Europe.

Dr. Lambkin continued, “The EU’s Framework Programme 7, the largest civil research
programme with in excess of €50Billion from 2007-2013, is a major opportunity for
the University of Limerick and the other universities, companies and research actors
to further their research agendas on an international stage.”

-ENDS-

Notes To Editor:
- Images relating to the launch of the EUR5M technology research project are
available from Press 22 at (00353) 61-204222
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on
(00353) 86-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com



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