Vascular Access and Intravenous Therapy

Dr Peter Carr leads a cutting-edge vascular access and infusion therapy research group at the University of Galway's CRFG. With extensive international experience and strong industry links to leading vascular access and infusion therapy companies, Dr Carr's team is at the forefront of innovation in this field. The group comprises PhD scholars and postdoctoral researchers focusing on digital technologies, clinical trials, next-generation vascular access and infusion technology, and venous biology studies to improve patient outcomes in cancer, critical care and in-patient and out-patient care.

Dr Orlaith Hernon, the group's first PhD graduate, investigated the use of digital technologies to teach peripheral intravenous catheter insertion. To date other work includes Caitríona Duggan's PhD research on vascular access for systemic anti-cancer treatment, funded by a Irish Cancer Society. Jiaxin Deng, a Chinese Scholarship Council PhD scholar, is exploring evidence and the mechanism of failure around peripheral intravenous catheter from flushing techniques. Michelle O’ Dowd Lecturer in the School of Nursing at the Atlantic Technological University is leading a programme of research investigating simulation of safer systemic anti-cancer treatment for Oncology nurses and patients. Additionally the team collaborate with University of Galway Cancer, Prof. Leo Quinlan, Prof. Andrew Simpkin, Prof. Derek O'Keefe, Dr Brian Deegan, Dr Kevin Moerman and Bio-Innovate teams.

The team's research spans various areas, including reducing catheter-related infection and thrombosis and have strong links with Enlight partners particularly University of the Basque Country and Upsala University. They collaborate with leading universities outside of Europe in Australia, Canada and Brazil investigating similar programmes of research. Notably, Dr Carr's group leads the European and Irish arm of the AVATAR research group (the most cited vascular access research group in vascular access) and he is the Irish representative for the Global Vascular Access Network (GloVANet). Through these networks and researchers, the University of Galway vascular access and Infusion therapy group intend to make significant strides in improvement of the evidence base for vascular access and infusion therapy practices globally.