RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences has today celebrated the formal opening of its newly redeveloped School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences teaching labs, marking a major milestone in health sciences education in Ireland. The opening was officiated by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD.

This strategic investment, including a €1.2 million grant from the Higher Education Authority, has increased the school’s laboratory teaching capacity by 60%, providing a world-class learning environment for up to 140 students, up from 89.

The upgrade also includes the launch of the Kiran Pathak Patient-Centred Care Laboratory, an innovative 88-student space designed to simulate real-world clinical interactions and nurture both technical and interpersonal skills among students.

The investment also sees the enhanced integration of pharmacy technicians and practicing pharmacists into the teaching team, ensuring students gain practical, real-world insights from day one.

The new facilities support the expansion of the school’s undergraduate degree and masters programmes which will increase the pool of graduates who will go on to work in clinical patient facing healthcare settings and the Irish biopharmaceutical industry, making a significant contribution to health and well-being nationally.

Minister James Lawless TD said: “RCSI has been a crucial partner in our efforts to expand training for healthcare professionals in order to ensure our health services have the high-quality graduates they need to serve the people of Ireland. This state-of-the-art facility will be a centre of excellence, preparing the health sciences professionals of the future to hit the ground running.”

RCSI was recently ranked number one globally for Good Health and Well-being (UNSDG 3) in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025. This recognition reflects the university’s transformative approach to health sciences education and research – a vision further realised through this upgraded lab infrastructure.

Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice Chancellor of RCSI, said: “This expanded and upgraded laboratory space reinforces RCSI’s commitment to delivering future-focused, student-centric healthcare education, responsive to the needs of modern health systems. At this lab, our School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences will prepare a new generation of pharmacists and health scientists to thrive in an ever-evolving health system.”

“We are grateful to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and to the Higher Education Authority, for their support and confidence in our capacity to deliver on their priorities for higher education in Ireland,” added Professor Kelly.

The School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI is globally recognised for pioneering research and industry-informed curricula, ranking in the top 200 universities in the world for pharmacy and pharmacology in the 2025 QS Subject rankings.

Funding from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has enabled the school to expand places for its flagship MPharm programme from an intake of 30 to 85 EU students annually. This expansion addresses an identified skills gap by providing a trained workforce to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the population and the expanding scope of practice of the pharmacy profession, as recommended by the Expert Taskforce in 2024.

The school offers cutting-edge programmes including a BSc in Advanced Therapeutic Technologies (ATT) and a Masters in Technologies and Analytics in Precision Medicine, supported by a €7.8m HEA Human Capital Initiative grant. The BSc ATT programme launched in 2022 is on target to grow to a class size of 70 students, with entry via the CAO to support the evolution of the Irish life sciences sector, recognising the growing importance of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, precision medicine and transversal skills.

A significant focus on research underpins the philosophy of the school, with its staff and students participating in research across the translational spectrum from drug discovery and delivery, through to population health and healthcare education research.