Personalised medicine is the next great global challenge for the pharmaceutical industry. The vision of the pharmacy of the future is one in which  pharmacies employ disruptive technologies to enable on-demand manufacture of drugs designed to individual needs. For example, multiple medications may be prescribed that treat a patient’s exact age-profile and medical history. These medications could then be 3D printed into one tablet, on-demand at the patient’s local drug supplier.

Many of us will become a victim of crime at some point in our lives, yet many victims chose not to report these crimes to the police. Ultimately, a large number of victims in Ireland are not engaging in the criminal justice system.

In Ireland, only 30% of women and 45% of men over 65 remain disability-free for life (O'Regan et al 2014). Dramatic changes in cells start in our 30s, while in our 40s, health and functionality are impacted by increasing weight gain, decreasing bone density and loss or weakening of muscle. People with low lean tissue or muscle mass are classified as sarcopenic. Conservative estimates predict that the incidence of sarcopenia will increase by 50% over the next 30 years, making it a major public health issue among Ireland’s increasing older population.

Twenty years ago people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) were advised to “take it easy”. Today, there is a growing body of evidence showing that exercise is beneficial for a number of key symptoms like walking and fatigue. The MS research team at University of Limerick is making significant contributions to this U-turn and the team’s research has had direct positive impacts on the health of thousands of people, and on clinical practice and national programmes of care.

Sustained research by Professor Pat O’Connor, University of Limerick on gender equality within the Higher Education Sector in Ireland has influenced public debate on the issue as well as contributing to setting agendas at international level.

With the development of medical devices such as stents and valves to treat patient trauma, the need for invasive surgical procedures has been greatly reduced. This has led to significant reductions in hospitalisation time and improved patient outcomes. Improvements in the X-ray visibility of these devices is critical to allow surgeons ensure exact placement while keeping the patient’s X-ray exposure to a minimum.

This research will significantly improve treatment quality by reducing time required for treatment, repeat procedures and trauma

How do we ensure our government and its policies are informed by the needs of our citizens? How do we encourage our citizens to become active participants in forming the policies which affect their future? These are questions which researchers at the University of Limerick are working to answer. Dr Maura Adshead together with Dr Chris McInerney of the Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Limerick have led the development of innovative practice in the area of policy research and civic engagement.