News

An annual highlight for APC, our 2023 Symposium was a great success. The APC family gathered from all over the country to immerse ourselves in the latest developments in microbiome science. UCC President Prof John O’Halloran opened the day with a warm welcome and set the tone for a brilliant role of speakers.  APC Director Prof Paul Ross gave an APC Overview highlighting the achievements and impacts of the past year.

It was 20 years ago when we wrote a letter to Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) while both still working in Teagasc asking ‘was there someone we could collaborate on an infant health nutrition programme’.  We got a letter back saying they were really too busy and had none.  Somehow Tony Ryan got hold of this correspondence and the rest is history. 

• Fonterra launches new Microbiome Research Centre in Ireland
• Ireland was selected on the strength of the scientific excellence at APC and UCC
• New probiotics will be investigated to develop solutions with a wide range of health and wellness benefits

Dr Brendan Curran has been appointed as the new Chief Operations Officer at APC Microbiome Ireland (APC), a world-leading SFI funded research centre.

• Research identifies links between gut bacteria, inflammation and brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Findings reveal that Alzheimer’s symptoms can be transferred via the gut microbiota.
• This study represents an important step forward in understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.

Fonterra, the New Zealand-based global dairy producer, and APC Microbiome Ireland (APC), a world-leading SFI Research Centre based at University College Cork (UCC), have announced that they have entered into a new strategic research partnership.

Further 10 prestigious research fellowships at APC Microbiome Ireland on offer

APC Microbiome Ireland (APC), a world-leading SFI research centre, has secured its 5^th prestigious ERC Award in 5 years. Dr Hilary Browne has been awarded  €1.5m under the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant programme to lead a major study at the APC on spore forming gut bacteria as a tool to target harmful pathogens.

New research from APC Microbiome Ireland at University College Cork (UCC) highlights the importance of the gut microbiota in shaping brain development. Published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, a leading international scientific journal, the study shows that disturbing gut microbes early in life has long-lasting impacts on the immune system and the brain.

• Study shows that children who are active outdoors in rural areas with frequent exposure to animals have better regulated immune systems.
• Exposure to different environmental factors during early life is believed to play a crucial role in training the immune system.
• A better understanding of the early life immune system may progress the development of interventions to modulate the immune response to support lifelong health.