Donegal’s own Nobel Prize winner Professor William C Campbell was in attendance at the virtual launch of a new research suite named in his honour at LYIT today.
The new student research suite on the Letterkenny campus will accommodate the growing numbers of research students pursuing Masters by Research and PhD Degrees at the institute.
The official opening was carried out online by Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris, and LYIT President Paul Hannigan.
Joe McHugh, TD for Donegal was also in attendance and said: “I was delighted to attend the virtual official opening of the Professor William C. Campbell Postgraduate Research Suite this evening, where Professor Campbell joined in live on the event.”
This project has delivered a high quality completely accessible suite of 340m2 providing state-of-the-art individual accommodation for 60 research students across two floors. It also provides 60 individual lockers, a privacy booth, and 2 x 8 person meeting rooms with video conferencing facilities.
Deputy McHugh said: “Congratulations to Paul Hannigan and all the team at LYIT for their work on this impressive research suite, and for their huge ambitions and continuous dedication towards Tecnological University designation for LYIT.”
Professor Bill Campbell, from Ramelton, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2015 for his development of a cure for River Blindness, caused by a parisitic worm, while working with pharmaceutical company MSD. Professor Campbell’s treatment has saved the sight of hundreds of millions of people in Africa, Latin America and Yemen.
Deputy McHugh added: “It was lovely to see Professor Bill Campbell again this evening, and to hear his passion and drive in his work over the years, and having this Research Suite named after him is a lovely and fitting tribute to him.
“I have been working very closely with Anne Campbell, Jean Winston and the Ramelton Group in securing funding from various sources for the bronze statue for Bill, which was to be revealed to coincide with his 90th Birthday in June but delayed due to Covid19 restrictions.
“I look forward to seeing this completed project, and further celebration of Professor Campbell very soon,” concluded McHugh.