University of Galway is opening its doors to students, staff, alumni and the public with a special open day for trips down memory lane at the James Hardiman Library.  The unique opportunity is being offered as the University prepares to say goodbye to the James Hardiman Library, after more than half a century of service.  The open day takes place on Saturday, July 25th and runs from 11am-3pm.  Visitors are also being asked to share the stories that made it so much more than just a building and place for studying and learning.  Anyone who is interested in coming along for a visit full of fond memories, nostalgia and fun can register online in advance at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/alumni-friends/upcomingalumnievents/slan-jameshardimanlibraryopenday/  University of Galway Librarian Monica Crump said: “As we prepare to move from the James Hardiman Library to the new Dr Karen Guinee Library in 2027, we invite University of Galway alumni, former staff and the people of Galway to come and visit the James Hardiman Library one last time on July 25th between 11am and 3pm.   “Come and revisit your favourite seat in the Library, rekindle your memories of browsing the shelves and say one last goodbye to the James Hardiman Library. We’d love to hear your memories of your time in the Library - the late-night study sessions, the friendships and romances that blossomed over shared notes, the stressful deadlines, the eureka moment, the laughter, the procrastination, and the unforgettable moments in between. “Help us honour the library and the role it has played in university life over the last 53 years by joining us on this day of celebration.”  The open day is planned as the University looks ahead to the opening of the new Dr Karen Guinee Library in 2027. The new library is named in honour of Dr Karen Guinee, a gifted and compassionate medicine graduate who completed her education and training as a doctor with distinction. The commemorative naming follows a significant philanthropic gift from the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation, which is also supporting the establishment of a new scholarship for medical students in memory of Dr Guinee.  Ends  

Cuirfear fáilte in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe roimh mhic léinn, an fhoireann, alumni agus an pobal chuig lá oscailte speisialta ina mbeifear ag caitheamh súil siar ar bhóithrín na smaointe sa leabharlann.  Tá an deis uathúil seo againn anois mar go bhfuilimid ag ullmhú le bogadh as Leabharlann Shéamais Uí Argadáin, tar éis breis is leathchéad bliain ar an bhfód.  Beidh an lá oscailte ar siúl Dé Sathairn, an 25 Iúil idir 11am agus 3pm.  Iarrtar ar chuairteoirí freisin a gcuid cuimhní cinn a roinnt linn ar an áit ar chuir siad barr feabhais ar a gcuid oideachais agus ina raibh neart spraoi acu chomh maith.  Is féidir le daoine ar spéis leo teacht ar cuairt agus cuimhneamh ar an bhfoghlaim agus ar an spraoi clárú ar líne roimh ré ag https://www.universityofgalway.ie/alumni-friends/upcomingalumnievents/slan-jameshardimanlibraryopenday/  Dúirt Leabharlannaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Monica Crump: “Agus muid ag ullmhú le bogadh ó Leabharlann Shéamais Uí Argadáin go dtí Leabharlann nua an Dr Karen Guinee in 2027, tugaimid cuireadh d’iar-mhic léinn agus d’iar-chomhaltaí foirne Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chomh maith le muintir na Gaillimhe teacht chuig Leabharlann Shéamais Uí Argadáin den uair dheireanach an 25 Iúil idir 11am agus 3pm.   “Tar ar cuairt an athuair ar an spota ab ansa leat sa Leabharlann, tabhair chun cuimhne laethanta a chaith tú brabhsáil na seilfeanna agus fág slán le Leabharlann Shéamais Uí Argadáin.  Ba bhreá linn dá roinnfeadh sibh bhur gcuimhní cinn linn – na seisiúin staidéir a mhair go dtí amach san oíche, an cairdeas agus na caidrimh ar tháinig bláthú orthu nuair a bhí nótaí lámhscríofa á mbabhtáil, na spriocanna diana, na nóiméid inspioráide, an gáire, an mhoilleadóireacht agus gach eachtra eile a thagann chun cuimhne. “Bí inár dteannta agus ómós á léiriú againn don leabharlann agus don ról a bhí aici i saol na hollscoile le 53 bliain anuas.”  Tá an lá oscailte beartaithe agus an Ollscoil ag súil le hoscailt Leabharlann nua an Dr Karen Guinee in 2027. Ainmníodh an leabharlann nua in ómós an Dr Karen Guinee, céimí leighis cumasach agus cineálta a thug faoina cuid oideachais agus oiliúna mar dhochtúir le díograis agus dúthracht. Cinneadh an Leabharlann a ainmniú in ómós di i ndiaidh dúinn tabhartas flaithiúil daonchairdiúil a fháil ó Fhondúireacht Charthanachta Michael Guinee, atá ag tacú le scoláireacht nua do mhic léinn leighis a bhunú i gcuimhne an Dr Guinee chomh maith.  Críoch

Orbsen Therapeutics reports further clinical progress for single-dose cell therapy being developed to slow diabetic kidney disease Researchers have revealed new evidence that a single stem cell therapy treatment can slow the loss of kidney function in adults who have diabetic kidney disease. The stem cell therapy, ORBCEL-M, was developed by University of Galway spinout company, Orbsen Therapeutics, The new results come from the EU Horizon 2020-funded NEPHSTROM project, which conducted a clinical trial of this therapy as an intravenous infusion in adults with progressive chronic kidney disease due to type 2 diabetes. The early-stage trial involved two groups of patients treated with lower and higher doses of ORBCEL-M as well as a group treated with a placebo infusion. The results for these groups confirmed that a single dose of ORBCEL-M was as safe as the placebo infusion and associated with better preservation of kidney function. Patients taking part in the trial were followed closely for 18 months after receiving the therapy. These promising results could mean more time before kidney failure, more time living independently, and potentially more time before dialysis or transplant becomes necessary for adults with diabetic kidney disease. The project was completed by an international consortium led by University of Galway-including specialised researchers, medical specialists, cell manufacturing facilities and companies from Ireland, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The ORBCEL-M cell therapy is a mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) preparation manufactured from healthy bone marrow which was discovered and developed by Orbsen Therapeutics, a Galway-based clinical-stage cell therapy company which emerged as a spinout from the University of Galway’s Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI). The findings from the trial support plans for a larger clinical trial to test whether a single infusion of ORBCEL-M will slow the rate at which kidney function declines in people with diabetic kidney disease and delays the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation. It is the second positive report following a clinical trial of the therapy. The latest results from the trial can be read in Kidney International Reports here. Steve Elliman, Chief Scientific Officer of Orbsen Therapeutics, said: “Publication of the first NEPHSTROM clinical report was an important milestone for Orbsen and for the NEPHSTROM consortium. Acceptance of the second clinical report adds further independent peer-reviewed support for the programme. “Most importantly, we thank the patients who took part in NEPHSTROM. Every clinical advance begins with patients who are willing to participate in carefully controlled research. These are still early studies, and ORBCEL-M must now be tested in a larger clinical trial. Taken together, the NEPHSTROM publications support the case for that next stage of development.” Matthew Griffin, Professor of Transplant Biology at University of Galway and Consultant Nephrologist at Galway University Hospitals, notes: “While the data are very encouraging, it is important to recognise that the latest results to be published from the NEPHSTROM trial do not prove benefit. Nonetheless, they do strengthen the evidence we need to move toward larger trials. If confirmed in larger studies, that could mean giving people who are at risk of kidney failure due to diabetes more healthy time at home, at work, and with their families.” Chronic kidney disease affects more than 1 in 10 adults in Ireland and is most commonly caused by type 2 diabetes. It is often a silent condition which can progress for years before a person realises anything is wrong. For people with diabetes whose kidney function is worsening despite the best treatments that can be provided, the future can be stark, including a high risk of needing kidney replacement therapies such as dialysis several times a week or kidney transplantation. In the past decade, new medicines have been discovered which have improved treatment for diabetic kidney disease. However, these medicines are taken daily or weekly and some patients still progress towards dialysis or transplant. Orbsen is seeking to test whether a single dose of ORBCEL-M can be added to these medicines to slow the loss of kidney function and keep more people with diabetic kidney disease free of kidney replacement therapy for longer. Orbsen is now seeking funding to advance manufacturing validation, regulatory preparation and the larger clinical trial required to determine whether ORBCEL-M can become a clinically meaningful disease-modifying therapy for progressive diabetic kidney disease. Ends