News

Dr. Joseph Walsh, Lero principal investigator at IT Tralee and TJ O’Connor, Hospital Manager, Bon Secours Hospital Tralee

The Institute of Tralee (IT Tralee), which has been named as the latest member of Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre, has announced a new €400,000 research programme.

The programme is one of a number of initiatives marking a collaboration between IT Tralee and Bon Secours Hospital Tralee (BSHT) to develop new activities in teaching, research and education. Today also saw the signing of a formal agreement between IT Tralee and Bon Secours Hospital Tralee to mark this enhanced partnership arrangement.

John Halligan T.D., Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development has called on Ireland’s researchers and companies to seize the opportunities presented in the €30 Billion final work programme of Horizon 2020 at the national launch in Dublin today (Wednesday 18th October 2017).

Over 700 people from Irish companies and research performing organisations packed the O’Reilly Hall, UCD in Dublin for the national launch of the Horizon 2020 work programme 2018-2020, hosted by Enterprise Ireland and co-sponsored by InterTrade Ireland.

Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC), a Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) funded research centre was recently awarded the Pharma Research Centre of the Year at the Pharma Industry Awards 2017 for the third consecutive year.

A team of Irish scientists has discovered that applying pressure to a protein found in egg whites and tears can generate electricity. The researchers from the Bernal Institute at UL observed that crystals of lysozyme, a model protein that is abundant in egg whites of birds as well as in the tears, saliva and milk of mammals can generate electricity when pressed. Their report is published today (October 2) in the journal, Applied Physics Letters (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4997446).

President of UL, Prof Des Fitzgerald and Professor Niall O'Higgins attending the 10 year celebrations.

The Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS) at University of Limerick celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday, September 30.

GEMS, the first medical school established since the formation of the Irish state, has graduated 640 doctors who are now working in Ireland and all over the world.

Since its foundation, research undertaken at GEMS has been at the cutting edge of medical advances globally.

Professor Brian Fitzgerald; John Halligan T.D., Dr Ann Ledwith

Lero – the Irish Software SFI Research Centre and the University of Limerick (UL) have announced a new programme which will allow employees study for the equivalent of a PhD without having to give up their jobs.  The initiative, which is a first for the software industry in Ireland, aims to have up to 80 people studying for a professional doctorate over the next four years.

Eamon Ryan, BNest founder, Gert O’Rourke, Nexus Innovation Centre, Mary Shire, Vice President Research UL

BNest, the only dedicated social enterprise start-up programme within the Mid-West is once again partnering with Nexus Innovation Centre to deliver this unique programme, aimed at supporting those driving social enterprise activities in the region. The BNest Programme is specifically aimed at emerging social enterprises. This year’s programme sees 11 participants joining Nexus for a six month programme designed to merge the best of Nexus commercial practices with the additional needs of social entrepreneurship.

(l-r) Dr Todd Kagawa, Dr. Brian Noonan, Dr Jakki Cooney

Cala Medical limited, formed in February this year, is a spin out from the University of Limerick and based at the Nexus Innovation Centre. The company have designed and patented a unique device containing a specific immobilized enzyme which treats the excessive inflammatory response in the blood of sepsis patients.

Two UL researchers have received prestigious SFI Investigator Awards at a cermemony in Dublin today, 21st September. Minister for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development, John Halligan TD announced an investment of €43 million in 26 research projects through the SFI Investigators Programme. The research projects will support 94 research positions over the next five years.

In his project Professor James Gleeson and his team in the University of Limerick will develop new mathematical models to help revolutionise the understanding of how information spreads online.

Dr. Markus Helfert, Dr. Marija Bezbradica and Dr. Hugh Doyle

Lero researchers are to head a new €3.8 million EU programme designed to enable European high street and online retailers counter the competitive threat posed by foreign global players such as Amazon and eBay. Lero, the Irish Software Research Centre, which is headquartered at UL, is supported by Science Foundation Ireland.