From Local Impact to Global Collaboration: New Edition of the School of Public Health Newsletter Published

14 Apr 2026

Issue 37 of the School of Public Health Newsletter highlights research achievements, international collaboration, student success and major events that took place between May and November 2025.

SoPH News Summer - Autumn 2025 Issue 37

This edition showcases the School’s activities and achievements that reflect the School’s ongoing contribution to public health practice, policy and scholarship in Ireland and internationally.

During this period, staff organised and contributed to a diverse programme of local and national events, including Getting Going with Health Impact Assessment, National PPI Festival events, Health Implementation Hub activities and initiatives focused on strengthening infection prevention and control in long-term care.

Members of the School also participated in major international conferences and research exchanges. These included events hosted by the International Labour Organization in Geneva, the European Congress on Obesity in Málaga, teaching visits to the Karolinska Institutet, and a research exchange with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, alongside conferences in Belfast, Groningen and Paris.

The newsletter also highlights notable student achievements, including MSc students in Infection Prevention and Control presenting their research posters at the Infection Prevention Society Conference in Brighton. The issue also celebrates Nora O’Connor, who received the Best Student Oral Presentation award at the College of Medicine and Health Research Conference.

Across research and development, staff secured a number of successful national and international research grants during this period. These achievements reflect the strength of public health research leadership across early-career, mid-career and senior researchers.

The work featured in this issue demonstrates the broad impact of the School’s research and engagement across areas such as food policy, chronic disease, health services research, climate change, infant health, stroke prevention, substance misuse, health and mental health promotion, suicide prevention and social protection.

The newsletter also reflects strong collaboration with partners including the National Suicide Research Foundation, the Clinical Research Facility at UCC, HSE Public Health and the National Cancer Registry Ireland, supporting the School’s work in teaching, research and community engagement.

A sincere thank you to all contributors who shared their work and updates for this edition. Special thanks are also extended to the newsletter’s editor Sofia Bettella for their dedication and excellent work in bringing this issue together.