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BrainForecast aims to transform concussion recovery through predictive analytics and personalised rehabilitation A new healthcare innovation that aims to predict which concussion patients are most at risk of prolonged recovery has been unveiled at the 2026 BioInnovate Ireland Symposium in Galway. Developed during the BioInnovate Ireland programme at University of Galway, and supported by Enterprise Ireland, BrainForecast is an AI-powered digital health solution designed to address one of the most significant challenges in concussion care: identifying which patients with mild traumatic brain injury are likely to develop persistent symptoms and require additional support. The innovation was presented by Conor Connolly and Ciaran O'Sullivan, members of the BrainForecast team as part of the annual BioInnovate Symposium.   Public awareness of traumatic brain injury has grown significantly in recent years, particularly through research exploring the long-term impacts of concussion and the links between repetitive head injuries and chronic neurological conditions. However, while sports-related injuries often dominate headlines, the majority of mild traumatic brain injuries occur outside organised sport and affect people of all ages. Conor Connolly, current BioInnovate Fellow said: “Following extensive engagement with clinicians, researchers and international experts, we identified a critical challenge in current care pathways: while most patients recover fully, approximately one in three will experience Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms, affecting their quality of life for months or even years. The goal is to identify high-risk patients earlier, support clinical decision-making and enable more personalised rehabilitation strategies.” BioInnovate is supported under the Innovators’ Initiative Programme Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021-2027. This year marks the 15th year of BioInnovate, an internationally recognised needs-led healthcare innovation programme that contributes to the development of new healthcare technologies, companies and clinical solutions in Ireland and internationally. Dr Sinéad Walsh, Programme Director of BioInnovate Ireland, University of Galway, said: “The BioInnovate process begins by identifying unmet clinical needs and empowering multidisciplinary teams to develop solutions that can transform patient care. BrainForecast is a powerful example of this in action. We congratulate all the Fellows on their remarkable progress and acknowledge the clinical champions, mentors, and all those who have supported and guided them on their journey so far." BrainForecast is one of several innovations presented by the BioInnovate Class of 2026 during the symposium. The projects reflect the breadth of unmet healthcare needs identified through BioInnovate's clinical immersion process, ranging from improving fluid management for heart failure patients and enhancing ostomy care, to reducing postoperative scar tissue formation following knee replacement surgery to improve range of motion and reduce joint stiffness. The symposium theme, From Patient Data to Better Care: Scaling AI in Health Systems, brought together clinicians, entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders and healthcare innovators to explore how emerging technologies are transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Ends

More than 400 students were awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates at University of Galway's 2026 Summer Conferring ceremonies, including 105 new Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates. The ceremonies celebrated academic achievement across a broad range of disciplines and marked the culmination of years of study and research for graduates and their families. The largest cohort was the 182 medical students who were awarded an Honours Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Obstetrics (MB, BCh, BAO). During the conferring ceremony, nine graduates were awarded a total of 15 Final Medical Medals by the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Speaking at the ceremonies, President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “Graduation is one of the most meaningful moments in the university year. It reflects not only the dedication and resilience of our students, but also the commitment of their families and our staff who have supported them throughout their studies. As they move forward, I wish them every success as they take the next steps in their careers and lives.” Ends

University of Galway has celebrated the success of one its oldest ever graduates who was conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy, 77 years after being born in a mother and baby home.  Dr Mary Harney, a human rights defender and advocate, earned her PhD studying with the Irish Centre for Human Rights. Dr Harney said: “It is an absolute milestone. It’s more than that. All I have ever wanted in my life is education. To me it’s the most important thing in the world. “To achieve it at this stage - the final part of the jigsaw puzzle… I started my BA when I was 42, I am 77 now. I have come all this way. I’ve got two masters, an honorary Master in Phil and now the PhD. Now for me, I’d like to say the circle has been complete, but I think there is more. I am hungry for more but I do not know what that more is, yet. Professor Becky Whay, Interim Deputy President and Registrar of University of Galway, officiated at the conferring ceremony and said: “It is a privilege to share a stage and, on behalf of University of Galway, to bestow a doctorate on Mary Harney. She is an inspiration to all of us in the university and a remarkable symbol of the value of education.” Dr Maeve O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer in the Irish Centre for Human Rights and Dr Harney’s PhD supervisor said: “We are so proud of Mary’s achievement. She is an inspiration to all of us in the Irish Centre for Human Rights and to human rights defenders globally.” Professor Siobhán Mullally, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway, said: “Mary completed a brilliant PhD thesis on human rights movement lawyering, following on from a first class honours LLM degree in International Human Rights Law. Her remarkable story, and her combination of scholarship and activism, reflects the very best of what human rights education is about in today's troubled world.”             Asked whether she had any advice for survivors or advocates, Dr Harney said: “Find a support group. If there isn’t one already out there, create one. The power of meeting with disenfranchised people and becoming part of that group as opposed to being apart from it, I think that is one of the most important things. We cannot support just by waving flags and protesting. We have to get out boots on the ground and work together with the people that are going through this very traumatic time in our world and we have to have solidarity on that. We cannot do it if we are all divided.” Dr Harney’s doctoral thesis was on the topic: "Towards Best Practices in the Pedagogy of Human Rights Clinics: Movement Lawyering, its Emotional Impacts on Students and the Question of Teaching Resilience". Described by colleagues in the Irish Centre for Human Rights as the “resister in chief” and a renowned human rights activist and student, Dr Harney holds a BA in Human Ecology and an Honorary Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the College of the Atlantic in Maine, USA. She also has two postgraduate degrees from University of Galway: an MA in Irish Studies and an LLM in International Human Rights. Dr Mary Harney was born in Bessborough Mother and Baby Home, in Cork. Her inspirational life story is featured in the award winning documentary "Testimony’ (2025), which follows the lives of various Irish citizens who were incarcerated in Ireland’s notorious institutions for unmarried women and their children. Testimony was the recipient of the 2025 ICCL Human Rights Film Award. The ceremony took place at University of Galway's 2026 Summer Conferring, where more than 400 students were awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates including 105 new Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates.  Ends