February University of Galway projects awarded over €6.6 million from Research Ireland

University of Galway is to lead five research projects focused on tackling major societal challenges as part of a €6.6 million funding award from Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland.

Four of the five funding awards went to the Centre for Chromosome Biology at University of Galway, which hosts a highly collaborative network of researchers investigating topics linked to the biology of genomes. All five awards went to scientists in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at the College of Science and Engineering.

The grants are made available through the Frontiers for the Future Programme, which supports high-risk, high-reward research programmes and innovative, collaborative projects with the potential to deliver economic and societal impact.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D. announced a total of €23.6 million Frontiers for the Future funding to support 23 research projects focused on tackling challenges in AI, healthcare, agriculture, energy, and transport.

Announcing the awards, Minister Lawless said: “The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future programme supports the development of world-class research across a range of disciplines. The awardees – spanning 9 research institutions nationwide – have brought forward novel and innovative ideas with strong potential to deliver impactful solutions for major challenges facing society today. The programme itself promotes gender balance and provides opportunities for emerging investigators returning to research. I look forward to seeing the awardees’ progress over the coming years.”

The five funded research projects include:

• Design and synthesis of glycomimetics (structural mimics of carbohydrates) to inhibit disease-promoting proteins associated with cancer and inflammatory diseases (Professor Helen Blanchard, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences)
• Dissecting the unexpected roles of molecular motors and their substrates in preventing the mutations that fuel ageing, cancer and neurodegeneration (Professor Noel Lowndes, Director of the Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences)
• Using sea anemones to understand the evolution and mechanisms underlying development and disease (Dr James Gahan, Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences)
• Exploring how subcellular structures called centrosomes ensure correct cell division after genome damage or during cell aging (Professor Ciaran Morrison, Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences)
• Advanced genetic technologies to discover how our DNA is duplicated and support the development of anti-cancer therapies (Professor Corrado Santocanale, Centre for Chromosome Biology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences)

Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive of Research Ireland, commented: “Our Frontiers for the Future Programme is driven by feedback from the research community and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas. These 23 awards will fund a total of 86 research positions, comprising Postdocs, PhDs, Research Assistants and support staff. I’m very pleased with the opportunities that this targeted investment is creating, and greatly encouraged that crucial research on pressing issues will be facilitated as a result.

The Frontiers for the Future awardees are from University of Galway, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin, Teagasc, Technological University of the Shannon, University College Dublin, University College Cork and University of Limerick.

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