University of Galway Secures €11.31 Million for Innovative Medical Projects

The University of Galway has launched three significant research projects aimed at enhancing medical treatments through innovative and ethical approaches. This initiative received funding from the European Commission’s prestigious Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions-Doctoral Network programme (MSCA DN), contributing a total of €11.31 million as part of the Horizon Europe 2020 programme.

This funding aims to support the university’s research endeavors that promise to improve healthcare delivery, making it safer, faster, and more effective. The projects also focus on training researchers to cultivate creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation, bolstering their future employability.

Focus on Ethical and Inclusive Healthcare Solutions

One of the highlighted projects emphasizes sustainability and aims to eliminate the need for animal testing in brain disease research. Another initiative addresses cardiovascular health by investigating ways to enhance the durability and longevity of heart stents. The third project seeks to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within clinical trials, ensuring that underrepresented demographics are adequately represented.

Professor Fidelma Dunne, Director of the Institute for Clinical Trials at the University of Galway, stated, “These projects show how research can make a real difference in people’s lives. University of Galway is proud to be leading the way in creating smarter, safer, and more sustainable healthcare solutions.”

Similarly, Professor Ted Vaughan, Interim Director of the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation, noted that these initiatives exemplify the institute’s mission to accelerate understanding of diseases and foster innovative solutions to health-related challenges. He emphasized the importance of ethical and inclusive innovation that focuses on improving patient outcomes across society.

Details of the Funded Research Projects

The projects funded by the MSCA include:

– Dr Mihai Lomora leads the €4.2 million CerebroMachinesTrain Doctoral Network research project, which aims to develop smarter drug delivery systems for brain diseases. This project utilizes advanced 3D brain models that replicate real brain tissue to test tiny machines designed to deliver medication precisely where needed. This approach not only expedites research but also enhances ethical standards by reducing animal testing.

– Dr William Ronan heads the €2.71 million MEDALLOY research project, which focuses on creating stronger and safer materials for life-saving devices, such as stents and heart valve supports. The goal is to enhance the longevity and reliability of these minimally invasive medical devices.

– Dr Eimear Morrissey oversees the €4.4 million EDICT research project, aimed at advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in clinical trials. This initiative, in collaboration with the Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network, intends to ensure that clinical trials are more inclusive of older adults, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and individuals from lower-income backgrounds. It will develop new tools, methods, and policies to enhance the fairness and effectiveness of clinical trials across Europe.

In addition, a fourth project titled DECADOCS, led by Dr Muireann O’Cinneide in partnership with Goldsmiths, University of London, explores the societal phenomenon of decadence and its relationship with classical antiquity.

The University of Galway researchers involved in these projects are poised to make significant contributions to the medical field and beyond. The funding from the European Commission underscores the commitment to fostering innovation that is not only effective but also ethical and inclusive, paving the way for improved healthcare solutions globally.