Futures Research celebrates research and innovation at UCC

21 Sep 2023

Researchers and academics at the College of Medicine and Health at University College Cork (UCC) showcased their work at the Futures Research Conference today. #UCCFutures 

The conference theme was ‘Futures’ to reflect the launch of UCC Futures, an ambitious new programme of research prioritisation as part of UCC’s Strategic Plan 2023 - 2028.

The event recognised outstanding UCC research outputs and highlighted world-class research and innovation taking place at UCC with partners across the community, industry and the health system.

The conference explored research from key areas including Future Medicines, Future Ageing and Brain Sciences, Children, Food, Microbiome and Health.

Speakers included:

• Professor Keelin O’Donoghue, Pregnancy Loss Research Group based at the INFANT Centre and the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UCC on ‘Pregnancy Loss & Perinatal Death: Evidence & Impact to inform policy and practice’
• Dr Pauline Frizelle, Senior Lecturer, School of Clinical Therapies on ‘Implementing a targeted selective speech, language and communication Intervention – the case of Happy Talk’,
• Professor Subrata Ghosh, Chair and Head of Medicine UCC on ‘Precision Medicine in Non-Neoplastic Diseases – Opportunities and Challenges’
• Professor Eugene Dempsey, Horgan Chair in Neonatology, INFANT Centre UCC and Consultant Neonatologist at CUMH on ‘Insights into Neonatal Adaptation: The Importance of Crying’
• Professor Caitriona O’Driscoll, Professor and Chair of Pharmaceuticals in the School of Pharmacy UCC on ‘Future Medicines and research collaborations across the University’.

The conference also showcased the research performed by undergraduate and postgraduate students and included oral presentations featuring ten minute ‘Latest Advances’ and three minute ‘Elevator Pitches’.

Professor Helen Whelton, Head of College of Medicine and Health UCC said: “Today’s futures research conference reflects the vision of UCC Futures to inspire, engage and enable our researchers to create the future. It shows how our research is and will transform our approaches to health and healthcare as part of the UCC Futures framework. We work with exceptional researchers. Their pioneering work, their ideas, their innovative proposals transform their research into impact that helps transform human lives, advances economic development and addresses global grand challenges in health and disease. The work we see here today is central also to the development of the Academic Health Sciences System  (AHSS) in the South/South West region, which is a fully coordinated partnership between University College Cork and partners in the healthcare system. AHSS will ensure that advances in research and innovation are translated into direct benefits for patients. The work presented today is core to that ambition. It is inspiring to see this work and how it addresses emerging societal needs and global grand health challenges to secure a better future for us all”.

UCC President Professor John O’Halloran said: “The CoMH Futures Research Conference is an important opportunity to celebrate the research being undertaken by UCC researchers, investigators, postgraduate and undergraduate students. UCC’s research community will come together to showcase their work to find solutions for some of the world’s challenges, driving advances to shape the future of healthcare and promote the good health and well-being for all at all ages.”

Professor John Cryan, Vice President for Research and Innovation at UCC said: “The conference at the College of Medicine and Health is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the exceptional depth of research and innovation in UCC Futures – Future Medicines, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of renowned world-leading scientists, engineers, and clinician investigators at UCC and affiliated hospitals to develop next generation medicines and medical technologies.”

To view the conference programme visit: Comh Futures Research Conference 2023 web (ucc.ie)

Follow the conversation online at #UCCFutures

For more on this story contact:

caroline.seacy@ucc.ie