Learn how to carry out medical research & create evidence-based reviews fast with EndNote
WEBINAR: Carry out medical research & create evidence-based reviews in double-quick time with EndNote 2.30pm Friday 2nd May 2014 Register now:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/392444280
Do you or your library users need to conduct online literature searches to gather accurate and up-to-date information about treatments, patient care and safety? Join our free 45-minute webinar at 2.30pm on Friday 2nd May to discover how EndNote makes it easy to search the Internet for medical information, then capture and amalgamate it from multiple sources into one personalised reference library for quick and simple recall. Advanced grouping tools support multiple research projects, while one click formatting and automatic updates make creating, editing and formatting reference lists or subject bibliographies for your reviews a cinch.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Irish scientists to get €47m for new research projects
More than 200 scientists in Ireland are to receive a total
of almost €50 million in funding for new research projects over the next five
years.
The research focuses on a range of areas, including Information
and Communications Technology (ICT), health sciences and energy. The money is coming
from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, through Science Foundation Ireland's Investigators Programme.
The programme aims to
support scientific research that has the potential to bring economic and social
benefits to the country.
A total of 36 projects, involving over 200 Irish-based
researchers were selected and funding for each project will range from €400,000
to €3.1 million. The chosen projects were selected by competitive peer
review by 400 international scientists, on the basis of excellent research with
potential impact.
The successfully
funded projects include research in areas such
as sustainable food production, enhancing communications networks to enable
high quality internet video,
developing innovative wave energy devices, biopharmaceutical production,
cancer detection and investigating the control of epilepsy development.
In total €47m will be
made available to the scientists between now and 2019.
SFI DirectorGeneral Professor Mark Ferguson said the programme would have an indirect
impact on many other research initiatives by allowing for the development of
further research links with industry.
Dementia Facebook app to raise awareness of the illness
Facebook users are being invited to experience what it is like to live with dementia in a bid to raise greater awareness about the disease.
The FaceDementia app, by Alzheimer's Research UK, "takes over" personal Facebook pages, and temporarily erases important memories, mimicking how dementia affects the brain.
People can also watch short videos featuring people affected by dementia explaining what impact the symptoms, simulated by FaceDementia, have had on them or their relative.
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "Facebook's appeal is that it can gather your friends and family and keep them close, with memories and contacts all contained within one space. It also develops a diary of your life since you joined the site and documents your thoughts and musings during that time.
"We wanted to use these Facebook features to illustrate how those thoughts and memories can be confused, or forgotten altogether, as experienced by some of the hundreds of thousands of people living with dementia."
"Stigma around dementia is due in part to a lack of public awareness and understanding, so FaceDementia will be invaluable in helping people better understand the condition."
A design that casts broken arms in a better light
Breaking your arm is no fun, nor
is keeping the ailing limb immobile for weeks on end as it heals. But an
eye-catching prototype design for a 3D-printed cast could at least keep you
cool.
Osteoid, which recently won an A’Design Award, is the brainchild of Turkish designer Deniz Karasahin, and its
open, web-like form was inspired by the geometry of spongy bone.
The plastic cast can be
custom-designed to fit the person who needs it, and its structure is made in
two parts that fit together. The airy design makes it light, and the limb less
prone to becoming itchy and smelly than with conventional casts. It is also
claimed that the prototype is unaffected by water and environmentally friendly.
It’s not the first time someone has thought of a 3D-printed cast, but this design has another trick – it can be
combined with a low-intensity pulsed ultrasound system to deliver ultrasound in
short sessions to the affected area. Some studies suggest that this kind of
stimulation might speed up healing.
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
TCD researchers find possible link between autism and schizophrenia
A group of international scientists, including researchers at Trinity College Dublin, has for the first time identified genetic mutations that suggest that schizophrenia and autism share underlying mechanisms.
The research could help with future understanding of both conditions and may contribute to the development of treatments.
Schizophrenia is partially inherited, but the biological causes and the progression of the disease are not well understood, with a wide range of genetic risk factors identified as possible causes.
This research involved the genetic sequencing and analysis of 171 Irish people from families where at least one member was affected with schizophrenia.
Through this analysis the team was able to identify mutations in genes that were present in those suffering from the condition, but not in their unaffected parents.
The affected genes control epigenetic regulation - the process where experience and environment together decide how the gene operates.
The process is of fundamental importance to how the brain develops and responds to life experiences.
The researchers found that the mutations of the genes occurred more commonly than expected in people with schizophrenia and are likely to affect brain functionality.
The senior author of the study, Trinity Professor in Psychiatry Aiden Corvin, said: "This is a really exciting finding as it suggests that neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism, which hitherto have been seen as different diseases, may involve common underlying disease mechanisms."
"This may have implications in the future for how we conceptualize and treat these conditions."
The research was carried out in collaboration between Trinity College and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (CSHL) in the US.
Cochrane Collaboration in Ireland
Health systems and individuals in Ireland will benefit from the appointment of a new leader for Cochrane Ireland - a venture which will actively promote the use of the best available research evidence to inform decision-making about health.
This new initiative will build on the excellent work achieved already by Cochrane* locally. The initiative is being funded by the Health Research Board and HSC Research & Development Division, Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland and supported by the UK Cochrane Centre.
To progress the initiative, Dr Dónal O’Mathúna**, has just been appointed as Convenor of Cochrane Ireland and Associate Director of the UK Cochrane Centre.
'Cochrane is a highly regarded international organisation with a reputation for producing high-quality credible information to help patients and professionals with both ordinary and difficult health care decisions', says Dr O’Mathúna. 'My aim is to ensure that Cochrane Ireland makes a practical contribution to the health and social care systems across the Island of Ireland'.
*The Cochrane Collaboration is a global independent network of health practitioners, researchers, patient advocates and others, responding to the challenge of making vast amounts of evidence generated through research available in meaningful ways to inform decisions about health.
**Senior Lecturer in Ethics, Decision-Making and Evidence, in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences at Dublin City University. Dónal is also an experienced Cochrane author and trainer. He will take up this new post as a part-time secondment for three years.
Monday, 28 April 2014
NUI Galway Research Project on Cancer-Related Fatigue
The School of Psychology at NUI Galway is currently inviting adults who have completed their treatment for cancer at least six months ago, for a series of focus groups on the experience of cancer-related fatigue in cancer survivors.
The group discussions will offer participants the opportunity to share their experiences with, and thoughts about cancer-related fatigue, in a casual environment and with complete confidentiality. Persistent fatigue is often a common consequence of cancer treatment.
Participant views and personal experiences are extremely valuable and their input will greatly help the researcher in the development of an intervention for individuals who suffer with fatigue after their treatment has ended. They may also benefit from discussing their fatigue with others who also experience persistent fatigue.
The focus groups are part of a PhD research project being carried out at NUI Galway by student Teresa Corbett with Dr Jane Walsh, Dr Brian McGuire and Dr AnnMarie Groarke of the University’s School of Psychology. The study is supported by Cancer Care West and Galway University Foundation.
Can Research Eliminate Cancer?
Prof Gerard Evan of Cambridge university to speak at Dublin event
Ireland has an opportunity to become a forerunner in the
treatment of cancer, according to an expert who will tell an event in Dublin
this week that cancer will be eliminated in our lifetime.
Gerard Evan,
professor of biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, said Ireland had
“a relatively small scientific community but one which is world class”. He said
the international scientific community saw the development of collaborative
centres by the Irish Cancer Society involving
research teams with complementary skills as a “door-opening” initiative.
The first of these
centres, Breast-Predict, was launched in2013, while plans for a
second €7.5 million cancer research group set up jointly by the Irish Cancer
Society and Science Foundation Ireland were announced earlier this month.
Prof Evan, who has
worked in cancer research for the past 15 years, said he had “never been so
excited” at the prospect that current research and treatments would see cancer
eliminated in our lifetime. He said developments in the coming decades would be
such that “I can pretty confidently say that my children will never have to
worry about dying from cancer” .
He added: “Things are
moving so fast now that if you can give someone an extra five years, new drugs
many have developed in that time period.”
Prof Evan is a
speaker at Can Research Eliminate Cancer?, organised
by the Irish Cancer Society, at the Hilton hotel, Charlemont Place, Dublin 2,
at 5pm on Wednesday.
Friday, 25 April 2014
Orbsen Therapeutics In €6M Research Funding Success
Orbsen Therapeutics, a spin-out from NUI Galway’s Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), will partner with the University of Birmingham in the €6 million EU FP7 funded MERLIN project to develop a cell therapy inflammatory liver disease
Orbsen Therapeutics is Irelands leading Cell Therapy biotechnology company and is a spin-out from NUI Galways’ Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI). The EU FP7-funded project known by the acronym “MERLIN” (MEsynchymal stem cells to Reduce Liver INflammation) is led by Professor Phil Newsome, Clinical Director of the Birmingham University Stem Cell Centre. MERLIN will advance Orbsen’s proprietary cell therapy to a Phase 2a clinical trial in patients with inflammatory liver disease.
This MERLIN project will evaluate the Orbsen cell therapy in 4 different research laboratories across Europe and the project will culminate in a Phase 2a clinical trial of the therapy in the crippling inflammatory liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.
‘Green Ribbon’ campaign on discussing mental health in May
A campaign to promote open discussion
about mental health is to begin next month.
Throughout
May, hundreds of local and national events will be organised by See Change, the National
Stigma Reduction Partnership, as
part of the Green Ribbon national calendar of activities.
The movement
is being led by 90 partner organisations, hundreds of volunteers and 50
“campaign ambassadors” with real-life experience of mental health problems,
ready to share their own stories to help others and end stigma.
HSE bans e-cigarettes from 1 May
The Health Service Executive is to ban the use of electronic cigarettes in all health service facilities from the beginning of next month.
The move follows a review of their safety and the impact of e-cigarettes on its smoke-free campus policy.
Electronic cigarettes are battery-powered devices that resemble ordinary cigarettes and deliver nicotine through inhaled vapour.
The HSE said the sale and use of e-cigarette at its facilities, including hospitals, will be banned from 1 May.
It said that as the organisation responsible for health promotion and improvement, it can only recommend "safe and effective products" and strategies for quitting smoking.
It said that there is no conclusive evidence that e-cigarettes are safe for long-term use, or are effective as a smoking cessation aid.
The HSE is also concerned that because the devices resemble ordinary cigarettes, their use may promote or re-normalise smoking, disrupt the environment for non-smokers and make it harder for smokers to quit.
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Models of Maternity Care - Video conference 28th April 2014
Professor Declan Devane, NUIG and UHG will deliver a lecture via video conference on "Models of Maternity Care: Evidence and Next Steps" Monday 28th April
Essence of Midwifery Care Conference: Collaboration in Maternal and Neonatal Care
To celebrate Midwives Week 2014, The Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital in partnership with NMBI will hold the 2014 Essence of Midwifery Care Conference: Collaboration in Maternal and Neonatal Care on Thursday 1 May 2014, in the Chartered Accountants House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
Skin Cancer Development
New skin cancer drug uses body's own 'killer cells' to make tumour cells self-destruct
The therapy uses a drug that binds tumour cells to T-cells - a type of white blood cell key to fighting infections known 'killer cells' - and eliminate them.
Now it is hoped the technique can be used on other tumours, including major killers like lung and prostrate cancer.
Mark Middleton, professor of experimental cancer medicine at Oxford University, presented the results at the American Association for Cancer Research in San Diego, California.
He said: 'I think this is at the high end [of expectations]. A number of phase-1 trials go nowhere but what we see here is a drug that works as predicted and has significant clinical activity. It is very, very exciting.'
SENTINELS OF HEALTH: WHAT ARE T-CELLS?
Rashes and inflammation of the tumours experienced by those in the trial appear to show their immune systems were breaking down cancer skills, said Professor Middleton.
'The one aspect that did surprise us is the extent of tumour inflammation that is possible to achieve from just a single dose of the drug, because we thought it might take several weeks to get going,' he added.
The drug, IMCgp100, operates by binding itself to protein antigens on the surface of the cancer cells.
A further trial is now taking place on more skin cancer patients in the UK and the U.S.
The driving force behind the research is Immunocore, a privately owned, clinical-stage, Oxford-based biotechnology company that focuses on new T-cell receptor-based drugs to treat diseases.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2600331/New-skin-cancer-drug-uses-bodys-killer-cells-make-tumour-cells-self-destruct.html#ixzz2z8PzbZMf
- The drug makes infection-killing T-cells attack the cancer
- T-cells are a type of white blood cell that kill infections
- Some skin cancer sufferers saw their tumours shrink in trial
The therapy uses a drug that binds tumour cells to T-cells - a type of white blood cell key to fighting infections known 'killer cells' - and eliminate them.
Now it is hoped the technique can be used on other tumours, including major killers like lung and prostrate cancer.
A drug that binds tumour cells to T-cells (pictured) - a type of white blood cell key to fighting infections known 'killer cells' - has had some success with skin cancer sufferers
Breakthrough: It is hoped the technique can be used on other tumours, including major killers lung and prostrate cancer. File picture
Mark Middleton, professor of experimental cancer medicine at Oxford University, presented the results at the American Association for Cancer Research in San Diego, California.
He said: 'I think this is at the high end [of expectations]. A number of phase-1 trials go nowhere but what we see here is a drug that works as predicted and has significant clinical activity. It is very, very exciting.'
SENTINELS OF HEALTH: WHAT ARE T-CELLS?
T-cells are a subset of lymphocytes that play a large role in the immune response.
The abbreviation 'T' stands for thymus, the organ in which their final stage of development occurs.
Every effective immune response involves T-cell activation; however, T cells are especially important in the defense against tumor cells and pathogenic organisms inside body cells.
Source: Science Daily
The abbreviation 'T' stands for thymus, the organ in which their final stage of development occurs.
Every effective immune response involves T-cell activation; however, T cells are especially important in the defense against tumor cells and pathogenic organisms inside body cells.
Source: Science Daily
'The one aspect that did surprise us is the extent of tumour inflammation that is possible to achieve from just a single dose of the drug, because we thought it might take several weeks to get going,' he added.
The drug, IMCgp100, operates by binding itself to protein antigens on the surface of the cancer cells.
A further trial is now taking place on more skin cancer patients in the UK and the U.S.
The driving force behind the research is Immunocore, a privately owned, clinical-stage, Oxford-based biotechnology company that focuses on new T-cell receptor-based drugs to treat diseases.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2600331/New-skin-cancer-drug-uses-bodys-killer-cells-make-tumour-cells-self-destruct.html#ixzz2z8PzbZMf
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Journal of Medical Students, Galway
The Journal of Medical Students, Galway (JMSG) is a new student-staff led initiative, launched in the winter of 2014 by medical students at the National University of Ireland, Galway, in collaboration with the Clinical Sciences Institute and Explore Initiative.
The JMSG seeks to exhibit a broad range of original work from the basic sciences, translational, clinical and surgical disciplines of medicine.
Website is www.jmsgalway.com
Frequency: annual (every spring)
Availability: online (via www.jmsgalway.com) and in hardcopy at Clinical Sciences Institute, CSI library, and medical academies.
Thursday, 17 April 2014
UpToDate: Enhanced search results
UpToDate® introduces enhanced search results and an improved user interface
Find answers faster than ever with links to the sections and graphics most likely to answer your clinical questions. UpToDate synthesizes data from over 21 million monthly topic views to analyze search terms and information viewed by clinicians. This analysis enables UpToDate to quickly and accurately display relevant sections and graphics for a given search. Navigating UpToDate is even more intuitive with a redesigned user interface that puts key features like Drug Interactions and Practice Changing UpDates on every page.
Enhancements that improve search and usability include:
- Links to the sections and graphics within a topic that are most likely to answer your clinical question
- Customizability allows you to collapse the search results to see more results per page; this setting will be saved if you are logged in
- The topic outline continues to provide a comprehensive overview of all topic sections and graphics
- Find in Topic now displays your search term immediately upon opening
- Improved user interface facilitates navigation by grouping items together in sections in the header and footer
Learn more about the enhanced search results and updated user interface:
Watch a brief video demonstrating the changes or view a full description.
Watch a brief video demonstrating the changes or view a full description.
Vitamin D levels impact mobility in severely obese
New HRB-funded research shows that severely obese people with low vitamin D levels walk slower and are less active than their counterparts who have healthy vitamin D levels.
The study, led by Dr Tomás Ahern from St. Columcille’s Hospital and St. Vincent’s University Hospital, examined physical functioning and vitamin D levels in 252 severely obese people.
Participants were timed as they walked 500 meters and climbed up and down a single step 50 times. They also provided estimates of their physical activity.
Researchers took a blood sample to measure each participant’s vitamin D levels.The study found the group with the highest vitamin D levels had the fastest walking times and highest amount of self-reported physical activity. This group also had the lowest average Body Mass Index (BMI) of the study participants.
'Increasing vitamin D status should improve quality of life and may decrease the risk of early death severely obese people', Ahern says. 'This could be a simple matter of spending more time outside, since sun exposure can boost the body’s natural vitamin D production'.
Graham Love, Chief Executive of the HRB, says,
‘Research has most impact if the findings are put into practice. This study shows that a simple change in people’s behaviour could have a positive effect on their health. The Health Research Board is committed to investing in research that delivers good evidence for decision-making in relation to health, whether it is at an individual, clinical or national level’.
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Pressure sensors to help prevent pain for amputees
Researchers have developed a new type of pressure sensor - dubbed a "second skin" - which they say could prevent dangerous sores.
The technology is being developed initially for amputees who suffer rubbing against their artificial limbs.
If the Southampton University work is successful the sensors may also be used for others at risk, such as wheelchair-users and those confined to bed.
The sensor is thin and flexible like a small golden postage stamp. It is taped to a liner - essentially a cushioned sock - which is then placed in the socket connecting the stump and the artificial limb.
It sends that information to researchers and clinicians who can monitor the pressure peaks and troughs as the patient walks, and see if any adjustments are needed to prevent discomfort or pain.
Dr Liudi Jiang from the University of Southampton, who is leading the project, says the sensors could act as what she calls a "second skin".
She believes this technology may have many more uses which could prevent pain, infections and even amputations.
"This is a platform technology and we envisage it could be applicable in many other healthcare sectors such as smart shoe insoles for people with diabetes, or wheelchairs or mattresses - wherever the body rubs."
Oxford Handbook - New Edition (2014)
The latest edition of the Oxford Handbook of General Practice (4th, 2014) has now been received by the James Hardiman Library
Also available electronically here
Located at 616 SIM
Also available electronically here
Located at 616 SIM
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
NUI Galway’s 6th International Disability Law Summer School
NUI Galway’s 6th International Disability Law Summer School, the Biggest Worldwide, Opens for Registration
Titled ‘Access to Justice and Political Participation’ the Summer School will run from the 16th to the 20th of June 2014
The 6th International Disability Law Summer School, hosted by NUI Galway’s Centre for Disability Law and Policy, will take place from the 16-20 June 2014. Registration is now open for the biggest such Summer School in the world, with a focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Entitled ‘Access to Justice and Political Participation’, it will focus on facilitating access to justice for all and encouraging political participation. The aim of the five-day Summer School is to equip participants with the insights and skills necessary to help them translate the generalities of the UN Convention into tangible reform for persons with disabilities.
Blood iron tests predict fatal outcomes in general population
Members of the Kidney Health Research Consortium at the Graduate Entry Medical School and University Hospital Limerick: (left to right) Dr Ells Gillis, Darya Yermak, Dr Mohamed Elsayed, Dr Liam Casserly, Prof Austin Stack, Prof Ailish Hannigan, Dr John Ferguson, Dr Hatim Yagoub, and Dr Waleed Mohamed
A new study led by researchers at the Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS), University of Limerick (UL) has found that people with low levels and very high levels of transferrin saturation are at an increased risk of death.
The study — published by Quarterly Journal of Medicine— (click link to view), found that subjects with extremely low transferrin saturation levels (less that 17.5 per cent) were at a 45 per cent higher risk of death. On the other hand, the risk of death was also significantly higher for subjects with very high levels of transferrin saturation above 31.3 per cent.
According to primary author Prof Austin Stack, Foundation Chair of Medicine at UL’s Graduate Entry Medical School and Consultant Nephrologist at University Hospital Limerick, the transferrin saturation ratio is a commonly used blood test to assess the amount of iron in a patient. “Low levels of transferrin saturation ratio generally indicate iron deficiency, while high levels — traditionally greater than 50 per cent — indicate an excess of iron, which can be detrimental to health."
“In this very large population-based study, we found that individuals at both ends of the spectrum — people with very high and very low levels — were at increased risk of death,” added Prof Stack. “This pattern of association was what we call a j-shaped relationship."
Monday, 14 April 2014
Wilderness and High-altitude Medicine
The Library holds a small section which looks at Wilderness Medicine.
The primary textbook on this topic is by Paul S Auerbach
616.98 WIL
NUI Galway staff member and Galway author, Dr. Gerard Flaherty has published an article on High-altitude illness within the 9th edition of The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, located at 616 COL
The primary textbook on this topic is by Paul S Auerbach
616.98 WIL
NUI Galway staff member and Galway author, Dr. Gerard Flaherty has published an article on High-altitude illness within the 9th edition of The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties, located at 616 COL
616 COL
|
Friday, 11 April 2014
Sports Medicine
The Library holds a designated section supporting the role played by Sports Medicine which also features the treatment of sports injuries.
This section is located at 617.1027
A selection includes -
Oxford Handboook of Sport and Exercise Medicine - 617.1027 OXF
Bull's Handbook of Sports Injuries - 617.1027 BUL
Sports Injuries: Diagnosis & Management - 617.1027 NOR
This section is located at 617.1027
A selection includes -
Oxford Handboook of Sport and Exercise Medicine - 617.1027 OXF
Bull's Handbook of Sports Injuries - 617.1027 BUL
Sports Injuries: Diagnosis & Management - 617.1027 NOR
Hi-Tech Goggles 'Detect Cancer Cells'
Click on title above to view video
A US trial of hi-tech goggles could reduce the need for secondary operations for cancer patients.
Surgeons are not always able to tell if they have removed all the cancerous tissues and many patients face a follow-up operation to remove more.
The goggles create an augmented reality, showing cancerous cells as glowing. This technology has been developed by Dr. Samuel Achilefu who works on new methods to detect and visualise diseases
Link to BBC/Technology
Surgeons are not always able to tell if they have removed all the cancerous tissues and many patients face a follow-up operation to remove more.
The goggles create an augmented reality, showing cancerous cells as glowing. This technology has been developed by Dr. Samuel Achilefu who works on new methods to detect and visualise diseases
Link to BBC/Technology
Link to BBC/Technology
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Embryo Research - European Union
Initiative to ban EU embryo research funding
A hearing is taking place in the European Parliament in Brussels on an initiative to oblige the EU to ban funding for any research that "presuppose the destruction of human embryos".Enterprise Ireland teams up with Mayo Clinic to develop new medical technologies
Back row (l-r): Dr Jim Browne, NUI Galway President; An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny; Dr Mark Bruzzi, Director of BioInnovate Ireland and Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering, NUI Galway. Front row (l-r): Jeff Bolton, Vice-President, Mayo Clinic; and Dr Keith O'Neill, Director of Life Sciences Commercialisation, Enterprise Ireland.
Early stage medical treatments and devices - invented at
the Mayo Clinic in the US - are to be developed into ready for market products
by Irish academic institutions under a new agreement to be signed this morning.
For the past 150 years, the non-profit Mayo Clinic in the
US has been a world leader in medical treatment and research. But according to the clinic, developing a good idea from
early stage basic research into a ready for market product is expensive and difficult
to fund in the US.
The Taoiseach will today (10th April) witness the signing of an agreement that will see the Mayo Clinic partner with Enterprise Ireland, which has an established commercialisation fund and expertise in the area.
The clinic will hand over 20 promising ideas for new
medical technologies and Enterprise Ireland will provide €12m in funding and
experts in universities and academic institutions here to develop them for
market.
The first project - a device for treating acute
pancreatitis - is already being developed at NUI Galway.
Acute pancreatitis is an increasingly prevalent condition worldwide with substantial hospitalisation costs, but with no widely accepted therapies or practises for proactive management of the disease. Associated healthcare costs are estimated at €3 billion in the US alone.
Professor Vijay Singh
at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota developed the device and conducted
the initial laboratory testing NUI Galway’s expertise in medical device
development presented an opportunity to clinically develop and validate the
proposed therapy towards a human clinical study.
NUI Galway President
Dr Jim Browne said “This exciting agreement builds on the many links between
NUI Galway and the Mayo Clinic. It’s a significant endorsement of NUI Galway’s
acknowledged strength as a centre for medical device development and
commercialisation. I would hope that the support of Enterprise Ireland, ACT
Capital and Aisling Venture Capital for this agreement will pave the way for
further investment in biomedicine, a priority for NUI Galway, in Galway, one of
five global medtech hubs.”
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
NUI Galway Researching Chronic Pain In Children
Researchers with the School of Psychology at NUI Galway are currently inviting children aged from 7-12 years who have experienced chronic or recurrent pain for a period of three months or more, and their parents, to help develop an effective pain management programme for young children which will be computer-based and accessed online.
Group sessions will be run at a number of locations across Ireland including Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast. Children with any type of chronic or persistent pain including abdominal pain, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, headache and combined or widespread pains, are invited to participate.
Children and their parents will use art materials to think, draw or write about ideas or topics which they think are important for children and parents dealing with chronic pain
NUI Galway PhD student and group facilitator, Angeline Traynor said: “Chronic pain is increasingly prevalent in young people and can have a significant impact on the day-to-day quality of life. The most common types of chronic pain in children are abdominal pain, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, headache and combined or widespread pains.”
This programme is part of a PhD research project being carried out at NUI Galway by PhD student Angeline Traynor with Dr. Brian McGuire of the university’s School of Psychology and the Centre for Pain Research. The study is supported by Galway University Foundation.
For information on participating, please contact Angeline Traynor at a.traynor2@nuigalway.ie or 086 0378562 or go directly to www.helpkidswithpain.com
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