Innovation Partners for Aerobiology & Biomedical Research

Earlier this year Allergy Standards Limited were invited to support Trinity College Dublin's application for a PRTLI (Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions) grant in order to fund the development of the Trinity Biomedical Research Institute. Dr. John McKeon (CEO) and I were delighted to show ASL's support by attending the Higher Education Authority visit to Trinity College Dublin.

This month I learnt some interesting things, not least that fabrics are now being used on roads nowadays. It's true:  A thin layer of polypropylene is applied to the road's surface to improve its cohesiveness. The source of this and other fascinating facts was the Textile Information Course, provided by the Textile Institute, which is based in Manchester and was established in 1925. The Institute has members in over 80 countries and are experts in the areas of textiles, clothing and footwear and this is the first Information Course they have run in several years.

Dr. John Mc Keon (CEO of Allergy Standards Limited) and I were invited to attend the recent Higher Education Authority visit to Trinity College Dublin. TCD have made considerable progress with the development of the Trinity Biomedical Research Institute at a site close to the main College Campus and have applied to the HEA for partial funding of the building development. The cost of building development is in the region of €70 million and is hoped to be completed in late 2010.

The Filtech Conference in Wiesbaden, Germany was held last week from Tuesday 13^th to Thursday 15^th October. Dr. Tim Yeomans from Allergy Standards Limited was among the attendees of this biennial international conference. With over 160 exhibitors and many more delegates, this conference is a must for those involved in the filtering and particle industry. Exhibitors ranged from primary manufacturers of filter media, to those manufacturing finished product filters and producers of cutting edge particle monitors.

Did you realise that certifying products as asthma & allergy friendly^TM ensures that they are future proofed against some upgrades in legislation? We started testing for phthalates in toys with plastic components some years ago and toy manufacturers who certified their toys asthma & allergy friendly^TM have since enjoyed the benefits of not having to play catch up when phthalate testing became mandatory in North America in Feb 2009 (CPSIA, Section 108).

The 13^th EFA meeting entitled the Future of Patient Organisations: was held in Rome in June and ASL attendees included Dr. John McKeon (CEO) and Dr. Tim Yeomans (Senior Scientific Researcher). EFA is a European network of patient organisations that was established to serve the needs and safeguard the rights of patients and their carers.