Professor Patrick Stapleton Delivers His Inaugural Professorial Lecture

13 May 2026

“From Sequence to Bedside: A Genomic Approach to Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Research.”

The College of Medicine and Health was delighted to host the Inaugural Professorial Lecture of Professor Patrick Stapleton, Professor of Medical Microbiology at University College Cork and Consultant Microbiologist at Cork University Hospital, in our Brookfield Health Sciences Centre on Wednesday 13th May 2026.

A recording of Professor Stapleton’s Inaugural Professorial Lecture is available to view online here.  

The Inaugural Professorial Lecture Series provides an important opportunity for the College to celebrate the achievements of recently appointed professors, with each lecture representing a significant milestone in an academic career. The occasion brought together colleagues, collaborators, students, and friends from across the College of Medicine and Health, the HSE South West region, Cork University Hospital, and UCC’s School of Microbiology.

It was especially meaningful to welcome Professor Stapleton’s parents, Mr and Mrs Stapleton, who attended the lecture in person to celebrate this important milestone alongside family, friends, and colleagues. Additional family members and professional collaborators also joined the event online.

The event was opened by Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health and Chief Academic Officer to the HSE South West region, who delivered a warm and personal introduction. Professor Paula O’Leary, Dean of the School of Medicine, also spoke, highlighting Professor Stapleton’s academic journey, research excellence, and significant contributions to the field of medical microbiology.

Professor Stapleton’s lecture, titled “From Sequence to Bedside: A Genomic Approach to Infectious Disease Diagnosis and Research,” explored how genomic sequencing is transforming the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases.

Professor Patrick Stapleton described an approach that identifies all pathogens in a clinical sample within hours. For over a century infectious disease diagnosis has relied on the same fundamental tools, namely growing organisms in the laboratory or looking for specific pathogens by name. A new approach involves sequencing all genetic material in a clinical sample simultaneously, identifying bacteria, viruses, and fungi in a single test while also facilitating real time surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and emerging threats. Drawing on international evidence and a multi-site collaboration between UCC and national and international partners, he outlined how this approach will be implemented at Cork University Hospital and why it represents not just a diagnostic advance but a platform for a new programme of infectious disease research at UCC. 

The lecture offered a compelling insight into the future of infectious disease diagnostics and research, demonstrating the potential for genomic technologies to significantly improve patient care, clinical decision-making, and public health surveillance.

Congratulations to Professor Patrick Stapleton on this important career milestone and on delivering such an engaging and insightful inaugural lecture.