Acute & Critical Care

Our Acute and Critical Care Research team collaborates closely with the HRB-Clinical Research Facility, the Irish Critical Care Trials Group, and the Irish Critical Care Trials Network to advance treatments for patients with severe, acute illnesses.

We are committed to improving outcomes for critically ill patients in the West and Northwest of Ireland through the development and evaluation of innovative, patient-centred treatments. Our research spans the entire hospital journey of critically ill patients - from the emergency department and intensive care unit (ICU) to the operating theatre, hospital wards, and post-critical care recovery.

Research Focus Areas

• Acute Respiratory Failure - Prof. John Laffey, Dr. Michael Scully
• Acute Kidney Injury - Dr. Bairbre McNicholas
• Sepsis - Prof. John Laffey, Dr. Bairbre McNicholas
• Trauma - Dr. Ciara Hanley

Research Activity & Impact

Our team engages in a wide spectrum of clinical research, from early-phase investigator-initiated studies to large-scale international phase 3 trials. Over the last five years, we have made significant contributions to high-impact global studies, including:

• ICEBERG (AJRCCM, 2025; Prof. Laffey, Country PI)
• REACT SHOCK (J Intens Care, 2025; Dr McNicholas, Country PI)
• VENTIBRAIN (Intens Care Med 2025, Dr Hanley, Site PI)
• INTUBE Study (JAMA 2021 Prof. Laffey, Country PI)
• WEAN SAFE (Lancet RM, 2023; Prof. Laffey, Joint CI)
• TEAM Study (NEJM 2022, Dr McNicholas, Site PI)
• REMAP-CAP (NEJM 2021; JAMA, 2020)
• SOLIDARITY (NEJM, 2020)

We have also led several University of Galway investigator-initiated trials, including:

• CHARTER-Ireland (Joint CIs: Dr. Cosgrave, Prof. Laffey) – A phase 1b/2a trial of inhaled heparin for COVID-19, co-funded by CÚRAM SFI in partnership with Two publications in Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, one in 2024, and one in 2025
• Awake Prone Trial (NCT04347941, CI: Dr. McNicholas) – Initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic; study of awake proning in COVID-19 severe respiratory failure. Published in Lancet Resp Med as part in international Meta-trial in 2021.

Ongoing Collaborative Trials

Our team is actively engaged in several major multicentre clinical trials, including:

• PEGASUS (NCT05492344) - Using lung ultrasound to personalise ventilation in ARDS patients; John Laffey serves as National Coordinator for Ireland, with Galway as the lead site
• REACT-SHOCK (NCT05850962) - Investigating blood Pressure interventions to improve ICU outcomes in shock. Dr McNicholas serves as National Coordinator for Ireland, with Galway as the lead site
• PREVENTION (NCT05014581) - An Italy-Ireland study; A study on the use of vasopressors to prevent cardiovascular collapse during tracheal intubation; Prof. John Laffey serves as National Coordinator for Ireland, with Galway as the lead site
• ESsCAPE (NCT05722938) - A phase 3 trial led by Biotest (Germany) evaluating trimodulin (BT588) in severe community-acquired pneumonia.
• REMAP-CAP (NCT02735707) - Platform trial for patients with community-acquired pneumonia

Translational & Collaborative Research

We also contribute to translational and immunological research, including:

• BEATSEP Study - Investigating long-term immune changes in sepsis survivors, in partnership with the Lung Regenerative Medicine Group and the Beatsep EU Consortium
• COVID-19 Biobank - Led by Dr. McNicholas, this collaborative effort supports research through biological sample collection and analysis, in partnership with Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, and the Lambe Institute

Our Leadership Team

Our programme is led by a multidisciplinary group of clinician-scientists:

• Prof. John Laffey
• Dr. Bairbre McNicholas
• Dr. Ciara Hanley
• Dr. Michael Scully
• Dr. David Cosgrave

Together, we are driving forward evidence-based advancements in critical care, with a strong commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable patients.