Researchers at University of Galway have secured prestigious funding support through the European Research Council (ERC) to progress projects on next-generation 3D printing and hydrogel pain relief therapy. They are among 136 projects across Europe which have been awarded ERC Proof of Concept grants to explore how scientific results can move towards practical application or early commercial use. One project will advance an innovative software platform that enables engineers to design lighter, stronger, and more efficient components optimised for 3D printing - additive manufacturing - across biomedical, automotive and aerospace applications. The new technology offers unprecedented freedom to create complex and lightweight parts as many products are still designed using approaches developed for traditional manufacturing, limiting performance and increasing material waste. The research team will address this gap by developing a new, easy-to-use design approach that brings design and production considerations together in one simple process, helping engineers move quickly from an idea to a part that is ready to print and use in the real world. The 3D printing project is led by Professor Ted Vaughan, Director of the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, alongside Dr Mahtab Vafaeefar, Postdoctoral Researcher in Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway. The second project is Uro-Lieve, a minimally invasive, biodegradable capsaicin hydrogel designed to selectively silence pain fibres as a therapy for relief from symptoms of painful bladder syndrome, known as interstitial cystitis. The new approach avoids the severe burning of current treatments. The research is led by Professor Martin O’ Halloran, Principal Investigator in the College of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences and Executive Director of the BioInnovate Programme at University of Galway. This latest accolade for Professor O’Halloran brings his total ERC awards to eight, making him the most awarded Ireland-based ERC awardee.  The projects are the only two from Ireland to have been recognised with Proof of Concepts awards in this ERC round. Professor Ted Vaughan, University of Galway, said: “The ERC Proof of Concept programme provides a vital bridge between discovery and application, enabling researchers to translate frontier science into real-world impact and we are delighted to build on our research and bring its benefits closer to industry and society. “Too often, we simply ‘print’ conventional designs rather than truly exploiting the capabilities of additive manufacturing. Our goal is to provide intuitive tools that automatically generate high-performance, production-ready designs that are truly functionally tailored to each application, reducing costs, saving material and accelerating innovation.” The software builds on biomimetic principles derived from models developed during Professor Vaughan’s European Research Council Starting Grant, taking inspiration from how nature designs complex structure and translating these insights into industry-ready design tools that will enable lightweight, efficient, and high-performance components across a range of engineering applications. Professor Martin O' Halloran, University of Galway, said: “Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis) is a chronic, underdiagnosed condition marked by persistent bladder pain, urgency, and frequency, with profound impacts on quality of life, mental health, and economic productivity. This proposal introduces Uro-Lieve, a minimally invasive, biodegradable capsaicin hydrogel designed to selectively silence pain fibres while avoiding the severe burning of current treatments. It highlights a major unmet clinical need and the broader structural neglect of women’s pain in research and healthcare.” Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said: “The discoveries emerging from ERC-funded research are very often more than academic breakthroughs. They form the bedrock of future innovation ecosystems across Europe, inspiring new technologies, businesses and societal solutions. I am pleased that the EU is funding a record number of Proof of Concept Grants this year, and I congratulate all the grantees on their success.” The European Research Council Proof of Concept scheme is funded under Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation. It provides grants to existing ERC grant holders to bridge the gap between pioneering research and early-stage commercial or societal application. Ends

Tá Ospidéal na mBéiríní, a bhfuil gradaim buaite aige, á eagrú arís ag mic léinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe don 21ú bliain as a chéile. Bhí breis is 1,200 páiste bunscoile i láthair don imeacht dhá lá seo, áit ar cuireadh ‘cóir leighis’ san ospidéal ar a mbeiríní a bhí ‘tinn’ nó ‘gortaithe’. An Cumann Sláinte a d’eagraigh an t-ospidéal, arb é cumann cothaithe sláinte Ollscoil na Gaillimhe é a fhéachann le gach gné den tsláinte, idir fhisiciúil agus mheabhrach, a chur chun cinn. Bhí isteach is amach le 200 mac léinn leighis, cúraim sláinte agus eolaíochta i láthair ar bhonn deonach agus iad ag feidhmiú mar oibrithe cúraim sláinte chun béiríní na Gaillimhe a dhiagnóisiú agus cóir leighis a chur orthu. Tá súil acu go gcuideoidh an ócáid le páistí a bheith ar a suaimhneas le dochtúirí nó i dtimpeallacht ospidéil.             Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Aoibhe Treacy, mac léinn leighis sa chúigiú bliain in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus comh-iniúchóir an Chumainn Sláinte: “Cumann a fhéachann leis an tsláinte a chur chun cinn atá ionainn, agus an aidhm atá againn an faitíos agus an imní a bhíonn ar roinnt leanaí nuair a bhíonn orthu dul chuig an ospidéal nó ag an dochtúir a laghdú.             “Tionscnamh é seo atá go hiomlán faoi stiúir oibrithe deonacha, idir bhaill an choiste agus dochtúirí na mBéiríní, agus fáilte á cur againn roimh isteach is amach le 1,200 páiste ó mhórcheantar na Gaillimhe. Táimid bródúil as imeacht atá go hiomlán cuimsitheach agus inrochtana a bheith á chur ar fáil againn.” Tá béiríní á dtabhairt chuig an ospidéal ag páistí i gcaitheamh na mblianta agus iad ag samhlú go raibh réimse leathan tinnis ag gabháil dóibh, leithéidí cluasa tinne, boilg bhreoite, lámha nó cosa briste agus gach cineál easláinte neamhghnách agus dúshlánach eile faoin spéir. Labhróidh na páistí le duine de na dochtúirí béiríní tar éis dóibh a theacht i láthair ag Ospidéal na mBéiríní ar an gcampas. Déanann na dochtúirí na ‘hothair’ a scrúdú, tugtar oideas dóibh nó cuirtear ar aghaidh iad le haghaidh obráide nó X-gha. Tá trealamh saincheaptha X-gha agus MRI ar fáil do bhéirín ar bith a dteastaíonn sé uathu.  Beidh na béiríní atá ag teacht chucu féin in ann ábhair leighis a fháil i gCógaslann na mBéiríní, áit a mbeidh torthaí sláintiúla le fáil a bhuíochas le Total Produce agus Fyffes, mar aon le hábhair leighis urraithe ag Cógaslann Matt O’Flaherty. Is iad urraitheoirí an imeachta an Medical Protection Society, Boston Scientific, KSG, Vernon Medical agus Apache Pizza.             Seo mar a labhair Ríona Hughes, Oifigeach na gCumann in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Ceann dár n-imeachtaí for-rochtana móra is ea Ospidéal na mBéiríní arna reáchtáil ag an gCumann Sláinte trína gcothaítear caidreamh leis an bpobal níos leithne agus sonas ar an gcampas. Deis iontach atá ann do mhic léinn, go háirithe mic léinn leighis agus sna heolaíochtaí sláinte, bualadh le páistí agus iad a chur ar a suaimhneas go bhfuil an chóir leighis a theastaíonn óna mbéiríní á fáil acu le go mbeidh siad in ann teacht chucu féin ó na tinnis éagsúla atá ag cur as dóibh. Tarraingíonn imeachtaí cosúil leis an gceann seo aird ar shamhlaíocht, diongbháilteacht agus spiorad comhpháirteachais ár gcuid cumann, agus ar thiomantas na hOllscoile naisc dhaingne a chothú leis an bpobal níos leithne. Comhghairdeas leo siúd ar fad a bhfuil baint acu leis.”

For the 21st year running, University of Galway has opened its doors for its award-winning, student-led, Teddy Bear Hospital. The two-day event saw more than 1,200 “sick and injured” teddy bears admitted to the hospital, accompanied by their minders - 1,200 primary school children. Organised by the Sláinte Society, University of Galway’s health promotion society that focuses on promoting all aspects of physical and mental health, up to 200 medical, healthcare and science students volunteered as front-line healthcare workers to diagnose and treat teddy bears from across Galway. In the process, they hope to help children feel more comfortable around doctors and hospitals.             Aoibhe Treacy, a fifth-year medicine student at University of Galway and co-auditor of Sláinte Society, said: “We are a health promotion society, so we hope to reduce the fear and anxiety experienced by some children when visiting the hospital or going to the doctors.             “We are a fully volunteer-led initiative, both committee and Teddy Doctors, welcoming about 1,200 children from around Galway, and we pride ourselves on ensuring a fully inclusive and accessible event.” Over the years, children have been bringing their teddy bears suffering from an imaginative range of ailments, including sore ears, sick tummies, broken limbs, and all kinds of other weird, wonderful and challenging conditions. Upon arrival at the Teddy Bear Hospital on campus, each child is given an individual consultation with one of the teddy doctors on call. The ‘patients’ are examined by the doctors and receive a ‘pawscription’ and referral to surgery or x-ray, with specially designed X-ray and MRI machines available for any teddy bears that need them. Recuperating teddy bears could avail of medical supplies from the Teddy Bear Pharmacy, stocked with healthy fruit from Total Produce and Fyffes, along with medical supplies sponsored by Matt O’Flaherty Chemist. Sponsorship for the event is provided by the Medical Protection Society, Boston Scientific, KSG, Vernon Medical and Apache Pizza.             Ríona Hughes, University of Galway’s Societies Officer, said: “Teddy Bear Hospital organised by Sláinte Society is one of our flagship society outreach events, which engages with the wider community and brings joy to the campus. It is a wonderful opportunity for students, particularly in medicine and health sciences, to meet children and reassure them that their teddies are getting the treatment they need to recover from their various illnesses. Events like this highlight the imagination, determination and civic spirit of our societies and the University's commitment to forging solid links with the wider community, Congratulations to all involved.” Ends