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  

University of Galway and Ulster University launch All-Island policy brief on strengthening digital mental health supports for young people Cross-border research has examined how digital mental health supports can better meet the needs of young people across the island of Ireland amid rising mental health challenges and limited access to services. The research was developed by the University of Galway and Ulster University through the shared island-funded Atlantic Futures programme, supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Produced as a policy brief, it presents evidence from an Atlantic Futures-hosted all-island policy dialogue event involving policymakers, practitioners, researchers, youth sector representatives and young people. Findings highlight that trust, simplicity and cultural relevance are critical to engagement. Young people, especially marginalised youth, are more likely to use digital mental health tools that are recommended by trusted organisations, peers or adults; are easy to navigate; and reflect their identities, communities and lived experiences. The researchers also found that young people use digital tools mainly for light‑touch emotional regulation, not therapy, and want grounding, distraction, positivity, and short check-in's - not long programmes or clinical content. Additionally, while young people are confident navigating digital spaces, gaps in digital mental health literacy persist largely because the wider digital landscape is fragmented and lacks clear governance, making it difficult to assess the credibility, privacy practices and safety of online platforms, with families further constrained by language, literacy and digital exclusion.A key recommendation is sustained youth participation, highlighting young people stay engaged when treated as equal partners and when they see impact. The briefing calls for long-term, inclusive co-design embedded in policy and service design and development. Project lead, Dr Carmen Kealy, Health Promotion Research Centre, University of Galway, said: “Young people are navigating increasing pressures, and digital supports can genuinely help - but only when they are trustworthy, culturally relevant, and easy to use. Our research shows that young people value clarity, representation, and tools that fit naturally into their daily lives. A coordinated, youth‑centred approach across the island is essential to building a digital mental health ecosystem that feels credible, accessible, and supportive for all young people. Principal Investigator, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, School of Psychology, Ulster University, said: “The briefing forms part of the Atlantic Futures programme, a collaborative all-island initiative supported through the HEA North-South Research Programme under the Shared Island initiative, which seeks to address shared societal challenges through research, innovation and partnership.”The findings conclude that digital mental health supports have significant potential to extend access to care and reduce barriers for young people across the island of Ireland. However, the researchers caution this potential will only be realised when digital solutions are built around trust, cultural relevance, simplicity and meaningful participation. The policy brief calls on policymakers, service providers, educators, youth organisations and technology developers to work collaboratively to create a more coherent and accessible digital mental health ecosystem.The full policy brief can be read here. Ends  

Forbairt an chéad suiteáin dá leithéid in Éirinn a bhuíochas le comhoibriú idir Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe. Osclaíodh taispeántas nua, Iad Siúd a Tháinig Slán: Scéalta ó Stair Institiúidí Thuama agus na hÉireann i Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe. Is é seo an chéad suiteán músaeim atá dírithe go hiomlán ar na hinstitiúidí Máithreacha agus Naíonán agus ar an tionchar a bhí acu ar shochaí na hÉireann.  Tugann an taispeántas léargas ar an gcaoi ar caitheadh le máithreacha singile agus a bpáistí in Éirinn, agus aird ar leith á tabhairt ar institiúid Máithreacha agus Naíonán Thuama agus na fadhbanna oidhreachta atá fós i gceist dóibh siúd a tháinig slán. Agus fócas ar leith sa taispeántas ar an gcion atá déanta ag Catherine Corless ar mhaithe le stair na hÉireann, insítear scéalta 18 nduine a tháinig slán ón institiúid trí thaispeántais fuaime agus amhairc. Tá sraith podchraoltaí curtha i dtoll a chéile freisin a dhéanfaidh éascaíocht don phobal eolas domhain a chur ar scéalta iad siúd a tháinig slán.    Dúirt an staraí Catherine Corless: "Is tionscadal iontach agus ríthábhachtach é seo, cuimhní cinn na ndaoine siúd a tháinig slán as Áras Thuama a bhailiú, scéalta a mbeadh dearmad déanta orthu le himeacht ama murach sin. Foireann dhíograiseach in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe faoi cheannas an Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley atá taobh thiar de Thionscadal Béaloidis Thuama agus cuirfear ar taispeáint anois é i Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe, a bhfuil spás agus am tugtha go fial acu dóibh siúd ar fad a tháinig slán.” Cruthaíodh an taispeántas i gcomhar le Tionscadal Béaloidis Thuama de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, atá á stiúradh acu siúd a tháinig slán, faoi cheannas an Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley agus an Dr John Cunningham. Tá fianaise agus déantáin phearsanta eile á mbailiú acu ó 2018 i leith ó dhaoine a tháinig slán ó na hinstitiúidí, óna dteaghlaigh agus ó dhaoine a raibh tionchar díreach ag an stair seo orthu. Tugtar cuireadh do chuairteoirí blaiseadh a fháil, trí chuntais ó bhéal, grianghraif, cáipéisí agus giuirléidí pearsanta, den taithí a bhí acu siúd a chaith tréimhsí dá saol in institiúid agus den tionchar buan a bhí aige sin ar na glúnta a tháinig ina ndiaidh.  Is é an taispeántas seo an chéad chomhoibriú idir Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe agus Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ó comhaontaíodh meabhrán tuisceana nua chun comhoibriú níos dlúithe idir an dá eagraíocht a éascú.  Dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh David Burn: “Tá sé oiriúnach go mbeidh áit ag Catherine Corless agus acu siúd a tháinig slán as institiúid Máithreachais agus Naíonán Thuama anois taobh le laochra na Gaillimhe inár músaem cathrach. Tá an-áthas orainn a bheith i mbun comhpháirtíochta le Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe ar an tionscadal seo mar go léiríonn sé a thiomanta is atáimid ár n-oidhreacht chultúrtha a shaibhriú trí dhul i bhfeidhm ar an bpobal agus, ar an gcaoi sin, cabhrú linn go léir ceachtanna a fhoghlaim ón tréimhse dhuairc sin inár stair. “Tá Muintearas agus Meas ar phéire de chroíluachanna na hollscoile, áit a mbraithfidh gach duine go bhfuil fáilte rompu, go bhfuil tacaíocht ar fáil dóibh, go bhfuil ceangal acu leis an bpobal agus go bhfuil luach orthu mar chuid dhílis dár bpobal. Meabhraítear dúinn sa taispeántas tiomnaithe seo nach raibh na luachanna sin ann san am a caitheadh agus léiríonn sé a thábhachtaí atá sé go mbeadh deis ag an bpobal foghlaim faoi scéalta na 18 nduine seo a tháinig slán.” Áireofar sa taispeántas i Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe portráidí grianghrafadóireachta díobh siúd a tháinig slán, fianaise phearsanta, taifid fuaime mar aon le cáipéisí cartlainne, agus réada, lena n-áirítear mionsamhail de réir scála d’institiúid Máithreacha agus Naíonán Thuama a chruthaigh Catherine Corless, agus dlaoi ghruaige ón scríbhneoir a tháinig slán, J.P. Rodgers.  Dúirt Stiúrthóir Gníomhach Mhúsaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe, Adam Stoneman: “Tá áthas orainn an taispeántas tábhachtach seo ar institiúid Máithreacha agus Naíonán Thuama, a forbraíodh i ndlúthchomhar le grúpa daoine a tháinig slán trí Thionscadal Béaloidis Thuama, a roinnt leis an bpobal. Tá a bhfuil le rá acu agus a n-eispéiris ríthábhachtach agus muid ag féachaint le teacht ar thuiscint ar an stair chasta seo. Tá músaem in ann a bheith ina ionad machnaimh agus cneasaithe chomh maith le hionad tuisceana, agus is céim thosaigh í an taispeántas seo i dtiomantas fadtéarmach Mhúsaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe agus Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chun feasacht agus tuiscint an phobail maidir le stair institiúideach na hÉireann a chothú.” Beidh an taispeántas ar siúl i Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe ó mhí Iúil go mí Mheán Fómhair 2026 i bhforhalla an mhúsaeim agus tá sé mar aidhm aige cuairteoirí Éireannacha agus idirnáisiúnta a mhealladh. Tabharfaidh 29 grúpa turasóireachta ó na Stáit Aontaithe cuairt ar Ghaillimh le linn na tréimhse sin go sonrach chun an taispeántas a fheiceáil agus chun foghlaim faoi stair na hÉireann.  Beidh clár cainteanna poiblí, ceardlann agus taispeántas ag gabháil leis an taispeántas. Tuilleadh eolais: GalwayCityMuseum.ie. Críoch