CoMH Futures Research Conference 2023 showcases Anatomy and Neuroscience Researchers

22 Sep 2023

The UCC College of Medicine and Health held its very successful CoMH Futures Research Conference on Thursday 21st September 2023 in Devere Hall, UCC, organised by a team led by Professor Gerard O'Keeffe, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at College of Medicine and Health UCC.

The theme of the conference was ‘Futures’ reflecting the recent launch of UCC Futures, which is an ambitious new programme of research prioritisation that is a core part of UCC’s new strategic plan. Showcasing the diverse range of fundamental, translational and clinical research in CoMH that is central to UCC Futures and to the Academic Health Sciences System Partnership in the South/South West region, the event attracted a large attendance.

Delegates were welcomed by Professor Gerard O’Keeffe Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at College of Medicine and Health UCC and Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience,  Professor Helen Whelton Head of the College of Medicine and Health, UCC Chief Academic Officer to the S/SW Hospital Group and Professor John O’Halloran President UCC.

Photo: Professor Gerard O'Keeffe, UCC President Professor John O'Halloran, Professor Yvonne Nolan, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience and Dr. Angela Flynn, School of Nursing and Midwifery chatting before the opening of the 2023 CoMH conference

Researchers from all career stages showcased and present their work and with opportunities to make new connections and explore new opportunities for collaboration. Plenary speakers included: Professor Keelin O'Donoghue, Pregnancy loss & Perinatal Death: evidence & impact to inform policy & practice;  Professor Subrata Gosh, Precision Medicine in Non-Neoplastic Diseases - Opportunities and Challenges; Dr Pauline Frizelle Implementing a targeted selective speech, language, and communication intervention - the case of Happy Talk; Professor Eugene Dempsey, Insights into Neonatal Adaptation: The Importance of Crying and Professor Caitriona O’Driscoll, Future Medicines and research collaborations across the University.

10-minute Latest Advances sessions and 3-minute Elevator Pitches were interspersed throughout the day with sessions co-chaired by Dr Angela Flynn & Professor Yvonne Nolan, Dr Karen Matvienko-Sikar & Professor Ken O’Halloran, and by Professor Finbarr Allen & Dr Aoife Fleming, an impressive 23 undergraduate and postgraduate students presented their research work in snappy enlightening presentations. The impressive poster presentations expanded to online poster presentations which featured staff and student poster sections. 

Photo: Professor Yvonne Nolnan introducing speakers a the 'Latest Advances' session

The Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience was very well represented throughout the day: Professor Aideen Sullivan Head of Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience and many other staff and postgraduate students were present at all sessions; postgraduate students Jennifer Sylvie Morael, Joan Omosefe Osayande, Michael Collins, Aaron Barron shared their research in the Elevator Pitch sessions which was co-chaired by Professor Yvonne Nolan, Vice Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Medicine and Health and Professor in Neuroscience. The Department also had a large presence in the poster presentations, and welcome and closing the sessions were introduced by Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience conference organiser Professor Gerard O'Keeffe Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at College of Medicine and Health, with the conference closing presentation by Professor John Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research & Innovation and Chair of Anatomy. 

UCC WorkVivo: Futures Research celebrates research and innovation at UCC 

UCC CoMH Futures Research Conference 2023 Programme

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Photographs Tomás Tyner

News item B. Riedewald