Minister O’Donovan announces €26 million for 40 research projects

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD, has announced funding of €26 million for 40 research projects.

Funded under the Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme, the projects address key areas such as environmental sustainability, new EV battery technologies, breast cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and currently untreatable childhood neurological disorders.

As a Frontiers for the Future partner, the Children’s Health Foundation is funding two of the 40 projects (childhood epilepsy and cystic fibrosis) and co-funding another project with Research Ireland (bone cancer).

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Donovan said, “I am pleased to announce the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future projects, which support high-risk, high-reward research endeavours. The selected projects, spanning 12 research institutions, bring fresh and innovative ideas that will help boost business and benefit society.”

“I would also like to commend Research Ireland and the Children’s Health Foundation for their great partnership and their focus on advancing children’s health through this funding program. I encourage others to create similar partnerships and collaborations.”

Among the other projects to receive funding are:

• A gene therapy combined with tissue engineering to reduce scarring and help promote nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury
• Understanding the stability of large ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica in response to global warming
• Novel therapies for severe, currently untreatable childhood-neurological disorders
• Alternative Battery Technologies for Electric Vehicles
• Assistance dogs with collar sensors to signal and alert impending seizures patients and their carers
• Studying preserved bog plants to better understand what drought bogs can survive
• Biosensors in 4D food printing that indicate the strength and stability of probiotics

Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Research Ireland, commented: “The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future programme helps to build research capacity, expertise and reputation. This latest round of grants will support a diverse range of research positions and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas. It has been a pleasure having Children’s Health Foundation as a funding partner in that drive to strengthen Ireland’s research pipeline.”

Fionnuala O’Leary, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Health Foundation, commented: “Children’s Health Foundation is a proud partner of Frontiers for the Future programme, and we are delighted to co-fund paediatric research projects that will benefit sick children throughout Ireland. Working with Research Ireland, we are able to leverage the funds our incredible supporters raise to deliver larger grants for research into childhood diseases. This ensures the tireless efforts of our fundraisers can result in kinder and more gentler treatments for sick children. Frontiers for the Future programme plays a key role in enabling us to fund paediatric research with the potential to deliver impact for sick children now and into the future.”

The research will be undertaken in the following research bodies for 2-4 years:

• University College Cork
• Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
• University of Limerick
• University College Dublin
• Trinity College Dublin
• University of Galway
• Technological University Dublin
• Dublin City University
• Tyndall National Institute
• Teagasc
• Maynooth University
• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences