October Five University of Galway projects receive funding under Frontiers for the Future Programme

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., has announced five University of Galway research projects.

The projects are funded under the Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme and are part of a €26 million investment for 40 research projects nationwide.

The University of Galway projects include:

• Professor Nicholas Allen, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Dr Kathleen Gorman, Children’s Health Ireland.

The research aims to develop novel therapies for severe, currently untreatable childhood neurological disorders. Award - €638,566.

• Dr Róisín Dwyer, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

The project will focus on breast cancer and aims to decipher how microRNAs sequences function and develop an approach to deliver them directly to tumour tissue, for targeted treatment of patients with advanced disease. Award - €764,657.

• Dr Alexandre de Menezes, College of Science and Engineering.

Dr de Menezes’ project aims to offer novel ways to predict and control nitrous oxide emissions from soil, to support low emissions, sustainable agriculture. Award - €788,421.

• Dr Linda Howard and Dr Siobhan McMahon - College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Research focuses on gene therapy combined with tissue engineering to reduce scarring and help promote nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury. Award - €554,562.

• Dr Angela Carnevale and Dr Tobias Rossmann - College of Science and Engineering.

This project will involve machine learning and explicit computations of zeta functions in algebra. Award - €582,635. 

            Minister O’Donovan said: “I am pleased to announce the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future projects, which support high-risk, high-reward research endeavours. The selected projects, spanning 12 research institutions, bring fresh and innovative ideas that will help boost business and benefit society.

“I would also like to commend Research Ireland and the Children’s Health Foundation for their great partnership and their great partnership and their focus on advancing children’s health through this funding program. I encourage others to create similar partnerships and collaborations.”

            Professor Jim Livesey, Vice-President Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “I would like to congratulation our researchers who have successfully secured funding today through the Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme. These prestigious awards are a testament to the depth and quality of the research expertise across our campus and will provide solutions and opportunities in areas that impact Irish society.”

            Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Research Ireland, said: “The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future programme helps to build research capacity, expertise and reputation. This latest round of grants will support a diverse range of research positions and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas. It has been a pleasure having Children’s Health Foundation as a funding partner in that drive to strengthen Ireland’s research pipeline.”

Ends