The Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network (CALIN) is a 4-year Ireland-Wales INTERREG operation funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Territorial programme. CALIN connects businesses with world-leading Higher Education Institutions to advance life science product and service development.

1. The Celtic Advanced Life Science
Innovation Network, CALIN
The Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network
(CALIN) is a 4 year Ireland-Wales INTERREG operation
funded by the European Regional Development Fund
through the Ireland Wales Territorial programme.
CALIN has been granted €9.3m which is further financed
by €2.6m from participating institutes in order to offer
businesses in Ireland and Wales:
• Access to a network of universities, health-boards and
multi-national companies
• Access to scientific expertise and guidance from leading
professionals
• Life science business support and technology workshops
to stimulate business networking
• Information on life science grants and support for which
businesses may be eligible
• Opportunities to get involved with collaborative R&D
projects
Connecting Your Business to the Knowledge &
Technology Resources You Need.
CALIN connects businesses with world-leading Higher
Education Institutions to advance life science product and
service development. Through open access to a unique
partnership between six world-class universities in Wales
and Ireland, and global businesses such as Unilever and GE
Healthcare, businesses will have access to technological
infrastructure, scientific expertise, and a network of leading
life science innovators to support the development of new
products, processes and services or progress existing products
to market.
The six HEIs involved in CALIN are:
• Swansea University (Lead)
• Bangor University
• Cardiff University
• University College Dublin
• Tyndall National Institute - Cork
• National University of Ireland Galway
Providing Access to Cutting Edge Technology and
Expertise across the Border
CALIN can provide SMEs access to the knowledge and R&D
capability they need to develop new products, or progress
existing products to market. Research carried out through
CALIN will be centred around life science focusing on three
key areas:
• Precision Medicine (diagnostics, devices & therapeutics)
• Regenerative Medicine
• Bio-Compatibility & Safety Evaluation.

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The Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network, CALINResearch, Development and Innovation Support for Ireland and Wales
Providing Assistance
By joining CALIN, life science businesses will become part of the
wider CALIN network, opening up opportunities to engage with
universities, health-boards and multi-national companies. CALIN
can provide these businesses with:
• Research and development diagnostics
• Discussions with leading academic professionals and scientific
and clinical experts
• Access to routes to market
• Networking and Knowledge Transfer Opportunities through
CALIN events
As well as accessing the expertise and infrastructure of a
cross-border network, companies within CALIN will have the
opportunity to embark on R&D projects to actively improve
and develop products and services.
Delivering Projects
Companies who embark on collaborative research projects
within CALIN will be linked with two Universities, one in Ireland
and one in Wales, with each institute offering different expertise
and capabilities and providing access to cutting edge equipment
and a technological infrastructure. These projects can last from
2 months to 3 years.
Short-term projects (2-6 months) – Short-term projects can give
businesses the opportunity to provide proof of concept for their
companies’ products and services.
Follow-on projects (6-12months) – Following successful delivery
of short-term studies, research and development progresses to a
follow-on study. These R&D projects will be an extension of the
short-term studies, involving the same SME and HE partners,
delivering against the SMEs innovation plan.
Long-term projects (3 years) – Long-term studies are designed to
provide a route for taking an early stage product idea to market
over a period of 3 years. Each project will involve a designated
researcher, sponsored by CALIN, who will move between
the SME and university partners to deliver specific project
components. In addition, the individual will be exposed to,
and trained in, the SME partner’s commercial environment.
This will allow them to understand the commercial challenges of
the SME and apply these to the project to enhance the success of
its delivery.
Innovation, Growth and Jobs for Ireland and Wales
During the CALIN project a cross-border transfer of knowledge
will advance technical and economic growth creating new
products, processes and services benefiting the consumer far
beyond the length of the CALIN project. Under the project,
long-term cross-border links with industrial partners will be
established and will remain in place for the project duration and
beyond, bridging the innovation gap.
Furthermore, CALIN will enhance the long-term growth potential
of Irish and Welsh SMEs by providing the confidence to invest in
new R&D ideas, creating high skill jobs and safeguarded existing
jobs in the sector. This is essential to enhance the international
status and global competiveness of the Irish and Welsh
regions, strengthening the local economies through growth in
productivity.
Long-Term Impact
of CALIN
Why CALIN is Important for
Life Science Businesses
Research, Development and Innovation
Globally the life science sector is rapidly expanding; however,
the private sector, particularly SMEs, find it difficult to invest
adequately in R&D due to a limited access to skills, expertise
and resources. To compete within the global market, a dynamic
culture of collaboration between research centres of excellence
and SMEs is essential.
Wales and Ireland are home to a number higher education
institutions (HEIs) actively contributing to new and innovative
research. CALIN presents an important opportunity linking HEI
centres of excellence in Ireland and Wales with the local SME
community, strengthening SMEs capacity for R&D, technological
development and innovation and ensuring the successful
movement of both new and current R&D projects out of the
lab and into the hands of the consumer.

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The Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network, CALINResearch, Development and Innovation Support for Ireland and Wales
Key Stakeholders
CALIN University Partners
Swansea University
• Swansea University Medical School
Bangor University
• School of Chemistry
Cardiff University
• School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
• School of Biosciences
University College Dublin
• Centre for BioNano Interactions (CBNI)
National University of Ireland Galway
• Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI)
Tyndall National Institute
CALIN Stakeholders
INTERREG
Welsh Government
Irish Government
Multinational Companies
• GE Healthcare
• Unilever
Welsh Health-boards
Irish Health Boards
CALIN provides a platform for industry in Ireland and Wales to drive innovation in advanced life sciences in order to
achieve novel healthcare solutions combining Clinical Need & Commercial Opportunity.
The aims of CALIN can be summarised in four key points:
• To build a network of world-leading HEIs working in partnership with healthcare providers, local SMEs and multinational industries,
producing an Academic, Business and Clinical ecosystem
• To promote a cross-border collaborative approach to industry-driven innovation by sharing technologies and promoting knowledge
exchange & transfer
• To create new life science products, processes and services to improve healthcare
• Create linkage with supply chains spanning Ireland and Wales
Aims
Clinical
Partners
Business
Partners
Academic
Partners
CALIN will provide a unique opportunity for businesses to work with
institutes across both Ireland and Wales. This pool of world-class
expertise will promote exciting business opportunities by enabling
engagement with a broad knowledge network offering combined
research and innovation expertise. This is an exciting initiative,
promising great benefits to the health and life science
commercial sectors of both countries.
Dr Stephen Barnwell,
European Open Innovation Manager, Unilever

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The Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network, CALINResearch, Development and Innovation Support for Ireland and Wales
CALIN Themes: Precision Medicine
Precision Medicine (Diagnostics and Therapeutics)
Precision Medicine is a disease treatment or prevention
strategy that considers which approaches will be effective
for which patients based on their genetic, environmental, and
lifestyle factors. Targeting patients or groups of patients more
accurately for prevention or treatment of a particular disease
can spare expense and side-effects. This approach is in contrast
to treatments and prevention strategies developed for the
average individual but broadly delivered regardless of patient
differences.
Despite cutting edge technology being prevalent throughout
the UK health service, integration of novel technologies
for future service delivery and enhancement is still under
development. This is due to an inadequate supply of clinical
samples, skills shortages and an increased regulatory burden
that presents a major barrier for market entry and international
trade across the health care system.
CALIN presents the opportunity for appropriate R&D to
stimulate innovation and provides skilled personnel to
implement formal appraisal and adoption processes
overcoming the current challenges.
Precision Medicine within CALIN
Within this theme, CALIN can support clinical, scientific
or translational research, with a view to generating new
technologies and processes that can be transferred into clinical
practice as guidelines, drugs, diagnostic tests or medical devices.
CALIN partners host a range of expertise and facilities enabling
the development of precision medicine diagnostics and
therapeutics including wearable or minimally invasive devices,
antibody drug conjugates and targeted personalised medicine.
Precision Medicine
Diagnostics – Devices
• Wearable / Minimally invasive devices
• Ultra-sensitive / Multiplex diagnostics &
sensors
• Electrochemical systems
• Microneedles
• Microfluidic diagnostic devices
Therapeutics
• Drug discovery
• Antibody drug conjugates
• Novel payloads & delivery
• Targeting for personalised medicine
• Chemical synthesis & GMP suite
• High content screening
Key Enabling Technologies
KETs
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Advanced Materials
• Biotechnology
• Micro and Nano Electronics
• Nanotechnology
• Photonics
The KETs provide the basis for innovation in technology
platforms and applications.
Technology Platforms
• Advanced Sensors
• Electronic Integration
• Lab on Chip Systems
• Pharmacokinetics
• Photonic Integration
• Safety screening
• Stem Cell Technology
• Systems Biology
• Tissue Engineering
• Wireless and Inertial Sensing
Application Areas
• Biocompatibility and safety evaluation
• Connected Health
• Diagnostics
• Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Innovations
• Therapeutic Systems
All projects supported by CALIN are centred around life science, with a focus on Precision Medicine (diagnostics, devices &
therapeutics), Regenerative Medicine and Bio-Compatibility & Safety Evaluation.
Underpinning these areas of research are
6 Key Enabling Technologies (KETs):

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The Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network, CALINResearch, Development and Innovation Support for Ireland and Wales
Biocompatibility and Safety Evaluation
• Nanotoxicology
• Genotoxicology
• Biocompatibility screening
• Protein corona evaluation
• Transcriptomics
• High content imaging/screening
• Biological barriers (brain, lung, skin, liver)
CALIN Themes: Biocompatibility
Biocompatibility and Safety Evaluation
Biocompatibility and Safety Evaluation relates to the interaction of a living system or tissue with materials that are safe and
biologically compatible. The nature of materials used in medical devices and any associated drugs have the potential for causing
adverse reactions eliciting a local or systemic response. Identifying potential reactions is crucial for the safe and sustainable
development of life-science materials and technologies.
Furthermore, the level of industrial and research sectors
working in the field of nano-biology are rapidly expanding.
However, the development of accurate and informative
safety evaluation protocols is far slower. CALIN can provide
the expertise and technology for developing products and
services that ensure safe and sustainable nanomaterial and
nanotechnology innovations.
Biocompatibility and Safety Evaluation within CALIN
Research within this CALIN theme covers areas including nano-
safety and toxicology screening, including biocompatibility
testing and the implementation and improvement of new safety
evaluation programs and protocols.
Regenerative NanoMedicine
• Cell / Tissue / Vascular repair
• Tissue engineering & Scaffolds
• Sorting methods
• Stem cells
• 3D printing
• Orthopaedics
• Plastics & reconstruction
CALIN Themes: Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine refers to the process of replacing or regenerating previously irreparable human cells, tissues or organs with
a means of restoring or establishing their normal function. This field encompasses a range of disciplines including tissue engineering,
gene therapy, molecular biology and biomedical engineering techniques.
Significant support is required to grow the existing regenerative medicine sector and capture external opportunities, which is
currently very limited in scope, but is a high value area for growth.
Ireland and Wales have world-leading regenerative medicine research capabilities developing within academia and industry; but
routes to commercialisation are not always clear. CALIN can support the translation of regenerative medicine-related academic
research into commercial products and provide a clear route to market for new products and services within the theme.
Regenerative Medicine within CALIN
CALIN can offer a range of facilities to enable businesses to
carry out their research and development needs in order to
produce regenerative medicine products and processes.
CALIN aims to enable the development of commercially viable
and clinically effective regenerative medicine applications that
are safe and reproducible at an economically acceptable cost.
CALIN expertise in this area include cell and tissue repair, tissue
engineering and plastics and reconstruction.

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The Celtic Advanced Life Science Innovation Network, CALINResearch, Development and Innovation Support for Ireland and Wales
CALIN University Leads
Prof Kenneth Dawson
University College Dublin
CALIN@cbni.ucd.ie
Dr Paul Galvin
Tyndall National Institute
CALIN@tyndall.ie
Dr Chris Gwenin
Bangor University
CALIN@bangor.ac.uk
Prof Arwyn Jones
Cardiff University
CALIN@cardiff.ac.uk
Prof Kenneth A. Dawson is the Director of the Centre for BioNano Interactions (CBNI) and Chair of Physical Chemistry at
University College Dublin. His research focuses on the interactions between nanoparticles and living systems to develop novel
ways of using the nanoscale in precision therapeutics, diagnostics and other advanced convergent technologies. Prof Dawson
has extensive experience in leading international research teams & projects at the interface between nanomaterials and
biology and has participated in several European regulatory bodies for nanotechnology.
Dr Paul Galvin was appointed as Head of the Life Sciences Interface Group in Tyndall in 2009, and as Head of the ICT for
Health Strategic Programmes in Tyndall in 2014, involving collaborations with leading academic researchers, global leaders in
the medtech and pharma industries, and clinical experts. He is currently Interim Chair of the Medical Devices Working Group
for the European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine, leader of the Working Group on Health Monitoring Sensors within
the European Sensor Systems Cluster, and is a member of the ESTHER (Emerging and Strategic Technologies for HEalthcaRe)
Task Force working with the European Com-mission and Medtech Europe towards a new ‘Industry Driven Initiative’ for
stimulating innovation in Healthcare in Europe. Dr Galvin has led several multidisciplinary national and international research
projects which leverage nano and ICT solutions for innovative healthtech solutions, and he also has an extensive track record
of multidisciplinary research which has been funded by national, EC and industry programmes.
Dr Chris Gwenin manages the Applied Research in Chemistry and Health team, with high value research at the interface of
biology and chemistry working with both industry and academia. Thus far, Dr Gwenin has filed 10 patents, secured £4.6M in
funding and acts as the School of Chemistry’s health and safety officer. Dr Gwenin has formed a spin-out company which has
attracted prestigious High Potential Starts support and is now part of the Accelerated Growth Program. He also serves on the
World Health Organisation international sensors steering group.
Arwyn Tomos Jones is Professor of Membrane Traffic and Drug Delivery at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences at Cardiff University. His research remit is focused on cell biology, cancer, targeted therapeutics and cellular delivery
of bio-pharmaceuticals across a range of biological barriers. For this he has experience of working with a number of drug
delivery vectors including peptide, protein (antibodies), polymer and liposomal formulations. In this field he is internationally
recognised, and has active collaborations, and EU funding, with academics across Europe and the pharmaceutical sector.
Prof Frank Barry is Professor of Cellular Therapy at the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), National University of
Ireland Galway. Here he directs a large group of researchers who focus on the development of new repair strategies in stem
cell technology in orthopaedics. He has contributed to the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by developing
innovative and successful cellular therapies for the treatment of acute joint injury and arthritic disease. Frank Barry was the
recipient of the 2012 Marshall Urist Award for excellence in tissue regeneration research from the Orthopaedic Research
Society. He is currently the coordinator of the EU-funded ADIPOA2 clinical programme in cellular therapy for osteoarthritis.
Prof Frank Barry
NUI Galway
CALIN@nuigalway.ie
The research expertise and capacity of the CALIN partners provides businesses with access
to broad and flexible combinations of leading experts and state of the art R&D facilities. This
unique partnership will promote the movement of products and services out of the lab and into
the market, having a real impact on human health and well-being. We at CBNI are delighted to
be part of this project, working with the academic, clinical and industry partners in both Ireland
and Wales.
Prof Kenneth Dawson,
CALIN Principle Investigator
This initiative will strengthen our combined research base and create strong commercial
foundations for life sciences both regionally and globally. A key focus will be to support
partnerships that will last beyond the term of the programme and create a legacy for the
future wealth generation of network-linked SMEs.
Professor Shareen Doak, CALIN Director
Swansea University
CALIN Directors
Prof Shareen H. Doak is internationally recognised as an expert in genetic toxicology and the molecular biology
of prostate cancer progression. Lead of the In Vitro Toxicology Group at Swansea University Medical School (SUMS), she
established nanosafety research within the group, an area that now has significant international standing, impacting regulatory
practice world-wide.
Prof Shareen Doak, CALIN Director
Swansea University
CALIN@swansea.ac.uk
Prof Steve Conlan, CALIN Strategic Director
Swansea University
CALIN@swansea.ac.uk
Prof Conlan leads Reproductive Biology and Gynaecological Oncology research at Swansea University Medical School,
investigating female health issues including endometrial (womb) and ovarian cancers, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),
endometriosis and in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The team develop antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), nanoparticles drug delivery
systems and exosomes for cancer treatment, biomarkers and nanosensors for disease diagnosis/monitoring, and investigate
epigenetic/transcription disease mechanisms.

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Research, Development and Innovation Support for Ireland and Wales
Dr Gareth Healey
Project Manager
gareth.healey@calin.wales
Tel: +44 (0) 1792 606474
Toby Williams
Business and Contract
Manager
toby.williams@calin.wales
Tel: +44 (0) 1792 604610
Terry Connolly
Assistant Project Manager
terry.connolly@calin.ie
Tel: +353 (0) 17 162415
Dr Betul
Hekimoglu-Balkan
Project Outreach
Coordinator
betul.hekimoglu@calin.ie
Tel: +353 (0)1 716 2415
Dr Gareth Healey is a Project Manager
with extensive experience from academic,
industry and government research institutes.
Specialising in nanomedicine and advanced
therapeutic development, he has been
extensively involved in the development of
novel therapeutics for asthma, infectious
diseases and cancer throughout his career,
and successfully delivered several multi-
institution, international projects.
Toby Williams is a business manager with
valuable experience across sales, marketing
and administration in the private sector.
He has a track record of supporting the
development of SMEs having acquired
an acumen from a business development
background assisting the development of
sales and marketing activities. Toby has also
supported business and industry in raising
finances and enhancing recruitment and
commercialisation.
Terry Connolly holds an MSc in Chemistry from
Trinity College Dublin, where he carried out
research on self-organisation in porous polymer
membranes. He is a relationship manager with
11 years experience working in organisations
promoting progressive social, political, and
scientific change. Following a career in Brussels,
he returned to Ireland in 2016 to use his
networks, knowledge, and project management
skills, gained from working on European
campaigns, to help develop Irish SME’s.
Dr Betul Hekimoglu-Balkan is a project
outreach coordinator with a PhD degree
and post-doctoral research experience
in life sciences and an M.Sc. degree in
Science Communication. With her in-depth
understanding of the research environment
and skills to communicate complex scientific
information to various stakeholders, she
successfully performs at the science-society
interface.
Invitation to business
CALIN has the funding and framework to assist and support
SMEs in Ireland and Wales in developing and promoting new
or current research in the life science sector, so if you’re a life
science SME in these regions contact our team today.
• Be informed about developments in the sector that are
relevant to your business
• Be kept informed about grants and supports for which
you may be eligible
• Gain access to network of contacts specific to the life
sciences sector
• Identify potential strategic partners or alliances that could be
of mutual benefit
• Be seen as part of the growing life science sectors in Wales
and Ireland.
Get in Touch
To find out more about opportunities for business engagement
with CALIN please contact info@calin.ie or info@calin.wales
or register your interest online at http://www.calin.wales/
or http://www.calin.ie/
Expression
of Interest
1 2 3
Company
Enrolment
Welcome
to CALIN
CALIN Project Team