University of Galway has announced new international opportunities for research students as part of the ENLIGHT University Alliance.   The initiative has been unveiled at the mid-year meeting of ENLIGHT, when the alliance of 10 universities in 10 European countries comes together to review the partnership and plan how to build on achievements.  The 2026 gathering has been hosted this week at University of Galway with discussions on education, research collaboration, future development and priorities and securing further support.   Over the course of the three-day meeting, delegations discussed innovative education, research collaboration and how to build a sustainable and lasting alliance that will continue to help shape the future of European higher education.  University of Galway also announces a key milestone with the signing of a Joint PhD agreement by the presidents of the ENLIGHT universities, creating new opportunities for students to gain international experience throughout their research journeys.  University of Galway President Professor David Burn said: “ENLIGHT has been a hugely positive initiative for University of Galway and has grown strongly over the past few years. Our engagement with ENLIGHT partners supports our strategic ambitions in both education and research, while creating valuable international opportunities for our staff and students.  “The discussions in Galway have reinforced the strength of the alliance and the shared commitment across our partner universities to deepen collaboration even further. We are excited about the opportunities ENLIGHT will continue to create for our university community.”  The ENLIGHT alliance is part of the European University Initiative, a flagship programme of the European Commission’s strategy for universities.  In 2023, the European Commission announced a four-year €14.4 million investment in ENLIGHT, supporting continued academic collaboration across the alliance. University of Galway’s involvement in the European University Alliance is also supported nationally by the Higher Education Authority.  Since 2020, ENLIGHT has created more than 100 funded projects, initiatives and networks, while engaging more than 2,500 academics through its Thematic Networks and Incubator Grants. These activities have helped to seed interdisciplinary collaboration across the partner institutions and lay the foundations for long-term cooperation and innovation.  University of Galway is involved in more than 50 of these collaborative projects with ENLIGHT partners, helping to develop new education offerings and strengthen research connections across the alliance.  ENLIGHT also received a strongly positive mid-term review from the European Commission in March, with the alliance recognised for the strong foundations it has built, including its governance structures and its growing integration of education, research and societal engagement.   ENLIGHT places a strong emphasis on creating opportunities for early career researchers and expanding mobility opportunities for staff and students. The alliance is also an important enabler of University of Galway’s strategic ambitions, with the ENLIGHT flagships aligning closely with the University’s strategic priorities.  Ends 

Researchers have gained a greater understanding of the role inflammation plays in Huntington’s disease progression, to help identify potential therapeutic targets for treatment. The study was led by University of Galway and investigated whether the degree of inflammation in the midcingulate cortex - a part of the brain that plays a role in emotion processing, decision-making and cognitive control - correlates with the degree of cell death and type and severity of symptoms, particularly mood-related symptoms in Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes the progressive death of nerve cells in the brain. It has a broad impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, cognitive and psychiatric problems. Behavioural and psychiatric symptoms are often named the most burdensome for patients and their families, changing family roles, dynamics and relationships. The study was published in the journal Communications Medicine and can be read here.   Professor Andrea Kwakowsky, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Galway, and lead author, said: “With our society facing an ageing population, Huntington’s disease could become more common, with some patients showing low-grade, late-onset forms of the disease. “Overall, the results present a complex picture of potential inflammation priming - where cells or tissues exposed to an initial inflammatory signal become more persistent - in the Huntington’s disease midcingulate cortex, rather than a highly active inflammatory response within the central nervous system. “This research shows that neuroinflammation-related genes are activated in all Huntington’s disease cases, and are particularly strong in cases with dominant motor symptoms compared to those with mood or mixed symptoms. “The results point to a unique involvement of the midcingulate cortex in motor-specific neuroinflammatory pathology, suggesting it may serve as an early marker of disease progression and merits further study.” The researchers performed critical experiments to determine the degree of inflammation in the midcingulate cortex and its link to Huntington’s disease symptoms, particularly the behavioural and psychiatric symptoms. They also identified novel genes which are involved in neuroinflammatory processes. Prolonged inflammation in the brain can be destructive. The physiological symptoms of Huntington’s disease have been linked to neuroinflammation due to the presence of inflammatory mediators - chemical substances released by immune cells, and reactive glial cells - the brain’s fundamental response to damage. Many cell communication pathways likely interact to propagate neuroinflammation in the brain. Professor Kwakowsky said: “Neuroinflammation is thought to cause cell loss, and cell loss in the cingulate cortex – a brain region that links emotion, cognition, memory and motor function – linked to Huntington’s disease mood symptoms. However, the presence of neuroinflammation in Huntington’s disease of the midcingulate cortex, which manages emotion regulation, has not yet been investigated.” The study was funded by the University of Galway, Aotearoa Foundation, Centre for Brain Research, the University of Auckland, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Alzheimer’s New Zealand, Freemasons New Zealand, Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, and the Whau Foundation.  Ends

Hedgehog Conservation Ireland and researchers at University of Galway and University of Oxford are calling on people to take part in the inaugural Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count, aimed at helping scientists better understand the status of Ireland’s hedgehog population. From Monday June 8th, members of the public are encouraged to keep an eye out for hedgehogs in their gardens, parks, farms, estates, campuses and public green spaces, and report sightings online. The nationwide citizen science campaign aims to build a clearer picture of where hedgehogs are still thriving across Ireland and where populations may be under pressure. Participants can submit sightings at https://www.irishhedgehogsurvey.com/. Hedgehogs play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by naturally helping to control populations of insects, slugs and other garden pests, making them an important part of Ireland’s biodiversity. The initiative is part of a growing national effort to better understand and protect Ireland’s hedgehogs, whose numbers are believed to be declining due to habitat loss, road traffic, pesticides and changes in land use. Across Europe, hedgehogs are now classified as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List. Recent studies suggest hedgehog populations have declined significantly in parts of western Europe over recent decades, making public reporting initiatives increasingly important for conservation research. Hedgehog Conservation Ireland is led by Elaine O’Riordan, University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, Dr Amy Haigh, Veon Ecology, Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Natural History Museum Denmark and WildCRU, University of Oxford, and Alan Bell, Eco Restoration Trust. Elaine O’Riordan, researcher at University of Galway and lead researcher for the Irish Hedgehog Survey, said: “Public participation is vital because hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, and monitoring them on a large scale would be impossible without community support. People across Ireland can make a real contribution to hedgehog conservation simply by reporting sightings. Every record helps us understand where hedgehogs are living and how populations are changing over time. Gardens and green spaces are becoming increasingly important refuges for wildlife, and we’re encouraging everyone to keep an eye out during the count week.” The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is open to everyone, whether they live in a city, town, village, or rural area. Participants are encouraged to look for hedgehogs at dusk or after dark, when the animals are most active. Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, also known as Dr Hedgehog, hedgehog researcher at WildCRU, University of Oxford and member of Hedgehog Conservation Ireland, said: “If you do not have a garden yourself, you can look for hedgehogs in the local park, or travel to the forest or the countryside. And if you are young and cannot stay up late when the hedgehogs become active, you can also report road-killed hedgehogs - every record counts and helps us build a better understanding of where hedgehogs are found.             “It is very important that we do not disturb the hedgehogs during the count. We do not want to risk any nests being disrupted or stressing the animals. Please wait for hedgehogs to appear naturally on the lawn when they become active at dusk and admire them from a distance.” Organisers hope the event will not only gather valuable scientific data but also encourage more people to connect with local wildlife and make their gardens and communities more hedgehog-friendly by creating safe spaces for nature to thrive. The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is expected to become an annual event. For more information about the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count and how to take part, visit:https://www.hedgehogsireland.com/research-actions/hedgehog-count Ends