UCC researcher to benefit from €11m funding

Photo L-R: Professor David Vaughan, Directorate of Quality and Clinical Care, Health Service Executive, Dr Deirdre Murray Cork University Hospital and UCC and Mr Enda Connolly, Chief Executive, Health Research Board at the launch of the Health Research Board Clinician Scientist awards.

Photo L-R: Professor David Vaughan, Directorate of Quality and Clinical Care, Health Service Executive, Dr Deirdre Murray Cork University Hospital and UCC and Mr Enda Connolly, Chief Executive, Health Research Board at the launch of the Health Research Board Clinician Scientist awards.

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Dr Deirdre Murray, CUH and UCC, is one of 11 clinicians who will benefit from an €11 million investment by the Health Research Board (HRB) into research leadership in hospitals.

 

The HRB investment will allow leading doctors to split their time between clinical practice and research, develop research questions based on clinical issues they encounter with patients, and to translate their research results into practice at the bedside.


Dr Murray, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, will identify robust predictive biomarkers which can quickly identify new-born babies who have suffered brain injury due to an interruption to their blood supply and/or oxygen. There is very strong evidence that early cooling improves the infant's chance of survival and normal outcome. However, predicting which babies should be offered cooling therapy is difficult. This study will evaluate and validate these biomarkers to the point where they can be developed into a bedside test for use immediately after birth.

Mental health, cancer, heart disease, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, obesity, and neonatal care are just some of the areas that will benefit from this investment. The HRB also pay to replace the consultant’s time in the clinic, so that service levels remain the same.

According to Enda Connolly, Chief Executive of the HRB: “The best hospitals in the world have research at their core. The HRB Clinician Scientist Awards is part of our strategic aim to develop a culture of research and innovation in the health services, both for the benefit of patients and the Irish economy.”

“These consultants will not only conduct research on real-world solutions and apply them in practice, but will act as mentors to encourage research career paths in medicine. They will also play a central role in developing research partnerships with academics, health decision makers and industry to ensure new evidence brings change in practice, policy and leads to new medicines, diagnostics and devices.”

A total of 11 clinicians have been selected through a rigorous peer review process. They include: Professor David Cotter, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Beaumont Hospital; Professor Kenneth McDonald, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin and UCD; Professor Michael O’Dwyer, University Hospital Galway and NUIG; Professor Maureen O'Sullivan, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin and TCD ; Professor  Richard Costello, Beaumont Hospital and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; Professor Orla Hardiman, Beaumont Hospital and TCD; Professor Michael Hutchinson, Consultant Neurologist, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin; Professor Joseph Keane, St  James's Hospital, Dublin and TCD; Professor Peter Kelly, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and UCD; Professor John O'Leary, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, St. James's Hospital and TCD.

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