Researchers from UCC School of Pharmacy were among an international team recognised with the Research Project/Paper of the Year award at the Irish Healthcare Awards, held at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
The award-winning study, Global trends in clozapine utilisation between 2014 and 2024: a longitudinal epidemiological study with data from 75 countries, was led by Dr Ita Fitzgerald, Advanced Specialist Pharmacist at St Patrick's Mental Health Services and Adjunct Clinical Senior Lecturer at UCC School of Pharmacy, with Professor Laura Sahm among the co-authors.
Published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, the study examined international prescribing patterns for clozapine, an important treatment for people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Its findings revealed substantial differences in use across 75 countries, highlighting potential barriers to treatment and providing evidence to inform mental health policy and improve access to care.
Reflecting on the award, Professor Laura Sahm, Professor in Clinical Pharmacy at UCC School of Pharmacy, said:
"I am particularly proud to have been part of a multidisciplinary, international team and to see pharmacist-led research recognised on a national stage. It is a reminder of the important contribution pharmacy can make to mental health research, medicines optimisation, and improving patient care."
The award judges praised the scale and rigour of the international research, highlighting its potential to inform policy and practice and improve access to mental health treatment worldwide.
The research was funded by St Patrick's Mental Health Services, with research support from UCC School of Pharmacy.
Congratulations to the full research team: Ita Fitzgerald, Sarah O'Dwyer, Ciara Ní Dhubhlaing, Siobhan Gee, Laura J. Sahm, Amanda Wheeler, Eoin Hurley, Leena Saastamoinen, Anna Waksmundzka-Walczuk, Grainne Donohue, David Shiers, Veenu Gupta, Jo Howe, Christoph U. Correll and Mikkel Højlund.