11 UCD research projects have been funded under the Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, today announced a total of €26 million for 40 research projects across 11 institutions.
Minister O’Donovan said: “I am pleased to announce the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future projects, which support high-risk, high-reward research endeavours. The selected projects, spanning 11 research institutions, bring fresh and innovative ideas that will help boost business and benefit society.
“I would also like to commend Research Ireland and the Children’s Health Foundation for their great partnership and their focus on advancing children’s health through this funding program. I encourage others to create similar partnerships and collaborations.”
Children’s Health Foundation will fund two of the 40 projects, and co-fund research led by Associate Professor at UCD Fiona Freeman (pictured), that focuses on treating bone cancer among children, teenagers and young adults.
Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Research Ireland, commented: “The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future programme helps to build research capacity, expertise and reputation. This latest round of grants will support a diverse range of research positions and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas. It has been a pleasure having Children’s Health Foundation as a funding partner in that drive to strengthen Ireland’s research pipeline.”
Fionnuala O’Leary, Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Health Foundation, commented: “Children’s Health Foundation is a proud partner of Frontiers for the Future programme, and we are delighted to co-fund paediatric research projects that will benefit sick children throughout Ireland. Working with Research Ireland, we are able to leverage the funds our incredible supporters raise, to deliver larger grants for research into childhood diseases. This ensures the tireless efforts of our fundraisers can result in kinder and more gentler treatments for sick children. Frontiers for the Future programme plays a key role in enabling us to fund paediatric research with the potential to deliver impact for sick children now and into the future.”
UCD projects:
Dr Rebecca Henry, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Fellow: Investigation of the role of the GDF-15/GFRAL signalling axis in mediating neuroprotective effects in the presence of co-morbid diet-induced obesity and TBI
Dr Áine Byrne, UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics: Bridging the gap for mathematical models of gap junctions
Prof Cormac Murphy, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Fellow: Mapping the biochemical steps of microbial PFOA metabolism
Associate Prof Niamh O'Sullivan, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Fellow: Developing novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disease
Dr Gary Brennan, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Fellow: Long non-coding RNA-mediated cellular dysfunction in acquired and genetic epilepsies
Associate Prof Eoghan McGarrigle, UCD School of Chemistry: BendZymes – Novel Catalysts for Glyco Applications
Associate Prof Vikram Pakrashi, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering / Dr Michelle Carey, UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics: Energy Harvesting for Monitoring Built Infrastructure : HarMonI
Dr Dearbhaile Dooley, UCD School of Medicine, Conway Fellow: Targeting Inflammatory Signaling between Microglia and Astroglia in spinal cord injury.
Dr Marina Rubini, UCD School of Chemistry: Site-specific chemical modifications of human Interferon-gamma for improved therapeutics
Associate Prof Fiona Freeman, Ad Astra Fellow at UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and Conway Fellow / Dr Scheryll Alken, Children’s Health Ireland: Conjugated STING-agonist nanoparticles as novel therapeutic add-on to enhance the therapeutic response of chemotherapy for the treatment of osteosarcoma.
Dr Leila Negahdar, UCD School of Chemistry: Programming catalytic surface reactions with dynamic kinetic oscillations
For further information on all funded projects please visit gov.ie
Pictured left-right: Fionnuala O’Leary, Chief Executive Officer at Children’s Health Foundation; Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society at Research Ireland; Minister Patrick O'Donovan TD and Dr Fiona Freeman, UCD, whose research project focuses on treating bone cancer among children, teenagers and young adults.