An international team of scientists have detailed a new technique to repair and restore function to injury-ravaged nerve tissue.  The research team at CÚRAM, the Taighde Éireann-Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices based at University of Galway, along with colleagues from Queen Mary University of London and the Mayo Clinic in the US, have published findings of the study in the prestigious journal Cell Biomaterials.  The scientists set out to discover whether new methods to fix damaged nerve tissue could be identified, as the injury can cause irreversible loss of motor and sensory function, chronic pain and long-term disability for patients.  The team reviewed current approaches for repair of nerve tissue, including autografts which are made from a patient’s own nerve tissue; artificial nerve guides or scaffolds, which guide the growth of new nerve tissue; and gene therapy, which would essentially enable new growth.  The research led to the development a collagen-based, neural guidance conduit that embeds and releases specific proteins which promote the survival and development of neurons at the site of injury to promote nerve regeneration.  Dr Secil Demir, scientist with CÚRAM and lead author on the study, said: “Repairing nerve tissue presents a significant technical challenge. Our process was a case of putting together the pieces of a puzzle, based on data generated from years of previous research, to really understand how nerve tissue regenerates and what exactly what is missing at the injury site, that prevents its repair and regeneration. Then we considered all of the current treatment approaches to see if we could address some of the limitations to treating these injuries.”  The treatment system uses proteins which assist with neuronal survival, growth and blood vessel development.  Dr Demir said: “Collaboration with colleagues at the Mayo Clinic in reviewing data from previous studies led us to a combination of the geneserythropoietin (EPO) gene and nerve growth factor (NGF) a protein that promotes the survival and development of neurons. We were able to figure out the best ratio of EPO and NGF to accelerate nerve regeneration and improve functional recovery in larger nerve injuries.”  The model developed by the research team in the lab enables continuous, targeted release of protein within the repair zone, re-engaging key regenerative pathways, offering a clinically translatable strategy to improve peripheral nerve repair.  The research is the first time a non-viral, gene-functionalised collagen conduit, containing optimal ratios of these specific proteins has been used to achieve nerve and blood vessel activation in a large injury.  Professor Abhay Pandit, senior author and Scientific Director of CÚRAM, said: “Integration of this protein-delivery strategy into a clinically validated collagen conduit, addresses some of the core limitations of traditional neural guidance conduits, including limited translation beyond short-gap injuries. These findings align with the growing body of work on biomaterial systems that help regenerate complex tissue and we are excited to look at the next stage of this research.”  The full article is available at here.  Ends

University of Galway receives highest number of research awards from Environmental Protection Agency University of Galway has received the highest number of successful research awards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that aim to address urgent challenges in climate and environmental challenges. Eight projects were awarded a total of €2.4 million for innovative, policy-relevant research to identify knowledge gaps and support the development of vital research capacity in strategically important areas that are relevant to environmental and climate policy. Aengus Parsons, Acting Vice-President for Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: “Our researchers are to be commended for their vision and dedication to addressing the urgent environmental challenges of our times. We thank the Environmental Protection Agency for this support, which strengthens our commitment to research and innovation around sustainable and resilient environments. I look forward to seeing these projects progress to impacts across climate policy, coastal risk, air quality, emissions reduction, peatland resilience, the bioeconomy, and water quality.” The eight research projects awarded funding are: Dr Edelle Doherty leads the €158,470 Seasonal WAC (Low-Flow statistics for Assimilative Capacity Assessments) project, which is developing a better way to measure how river levels change between wetter winters and drier summers in Ireland as the climate changes. The project’s aim is to help the EPA set fair but protective pollution limits for wastewater discharges; protecting rivers during dry summer periods while making smarter use of higher river flows in winter.Dr Doherty is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering, College of Science and Engineering. Professor David Styles leads the €329,420 BIO-INSIGHT (BIOeconomy INdicators for foresight) project, which will evaluate the sustainability of production systems that utilise biological resources in a cascading and circular way to maximise value. A decision support tool will generate key performance indicators for a range of biomaterials and bioenergy produced from the biorefining of wet wastes and cascading uses of wood. David Styles is a Professor in Agri-sustainability in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Science and Engineering.   Dr Féidhlim McGowan leads the €163,663 LE CHÉILE (Local Examples of Cooperation and Harnessing Experimental Insights to Lower Emissions) project, which will generate evidence on how to foster effective collective action between individuals and between groups to achieve climate mitigation targets. Dr McGowan is a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, College of Business, Public Policy and Law. Professor Jurgita Ovadnevaite along with project co-lead Dr Damien Martin will lead the €470,108 SEASON (SourcEs And Sinks Of methane) The project will identify methane sources, sinks and ‘hot spots’ in Ireland by deploying and further developing state of the art emissions verification system that consists of the operational network of precise measurements, a top-down inversion model, and satellite data.Professor Ovadnevaite is Director of the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, College of Science and Engineering. Dr Martin is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, College of Science and Engineering.   Dr Vaios Moschos leads the €329,990 AEROTREND (Air pollutant Evolution and Regulatory Outcomes through TRend EvaluatioN and Diagnostics) project, which will bring together air-quality data from monitoring stations and satellites to show how pollutants like soot and ozone are changing across Ireland, where they come from, and how well regulations are working.Dr Moschos is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, College of Science and Engineering.   Dr Liz Coleman and Professor Karyn Morrissey will lead the €330,221 INPACT (Investigating National Policy Impacts on Atmospheric Climate) project, which will assess the impact of historical policy interventions on Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric composition and climate indicators. This project will help to identify effective policy pathways to facilitate emission reduction and provide interactive data tools to work towards future climate targets and commitments.Dr Coleman is from the Centre for Climate and Air Pollution Studies, College of Science and Engineering and will work on this project with a cross-disciplinary team that includes Professor Karyn Morrissey, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, College of Business, Public Policy and Law, and Dr Andy Donald, a Research Fellow at the Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics. Dr Saeed Hamood Alsamhi leads the €494,999 project SMART-Sinks (Dataspace for Empowered Monitoring of Peatland Stability and Climate Resilience in Ireland), which supports evidence-based peatland restoration, ecosystems, and climate resilience in Ireland. The project is an AI-powered environmental dataspace designed to protect and enhance Ireland’s peatlands. SMART-Sinks integrates data from satellite imagery, in-situ sensors, climate models, and land-use records into a FAIR-compliant platform to enable real-time monitoring of peatland vitality and carbon flux dynamics. The decision-support system will provide early warning alerts and restoration scenario simulations for policymakers and land managers. Dr Saeed Hamood Alsamhi is a Senior Research Fellow, Data Science Institute, Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics. Dr Indiana Agnieszka Olbert leads the €164,910 JointFloods (Joint probability of multi-driver floods along Ireland’s coastline) Implementing flood adaptation measures requires good understanding of the dynamics of compound coastal-fluvial floods and future flood risks. The JointFloods project aims to develop a set of tools and resources for a risk assessment associated with compound floods and provide an in-depth understanding of mechanisms of floods around the coast of Ireland. The outputs of this project can be used to inform national-to-local level adaptation planning and facilitate informed decision-making for flood risk management. Dr Indiana Agnieszka Olbert is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering. Dr Eimear Cotter, EPA deputy director general said: "We face complex challenges in becoming a resilient, competitive and sustainable society. Research, such as that funded through the EPA research call, will play a vital role in supporting robust policy and decision-making while ensuring the protection of our environment and climate. The projects announced today will support targeted, policy‑relevant research and build connections with policy-makers and practitioners, and ultimately support more effective action. I congratulate the successful teams and look forward to seeing the positive impacts of their work." The EPA is partnering with Met Éireann and the Office of Public Works to co‑fund several of the research projects. Ends  

Researchers at University of Galway are joining forces with conservationists and the community as part of a mission to save Ireland’s hedgehogs. The group has launched a new initiative, Hedgehog Conservation Ireland, which aims to develop a nationwide conservation strategy to protect the much-loved animals. The initiative brings together researchers, wildlife rescuers and community supporters to stop population declines and ensure hedgehogs can thrive across Ireland. It is led by Elaine O’Riordan, University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, Dr Amy Haigh, Veon Ecology, Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Natural History Museum Denmark and WildCRU, University of Oxford, and Alan Bell, Eco Restoration Trust. Hedgehog numbers have plummeted across Western Europe, and the species is now listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Populations are estimated to have fallen by 16-33% across their range due to habitat loss, road traffic and pesticides. Long-term monitoring in Britain shows declines of up to 75% in some rural areas, although urban populations appear more stable, highlighting the critical role that gardens, parks, and other managed green spaces play in hedgehog survival. Elaine O’Riordan, a researcher with University of Galway's School of Natural Sciences and lead of the Irish Hedgehog Survey, said: “Since 2021, the Irish Hedgehog Survey has collected over 10,000 records from the public, helping researchers track population trends and understand where hedgehogs live. The Irish public clearly love hedgehogs and want to support them, and I encourage everyone to sign up as a hedgehog helper to learn how they can make a difference at home, at work, or at school. “Everyone can help by taking simple steps to make their garden hedgehog-friendly. For example, leave some areas a little wild, create a small hole in your fence to let hedgehogs pass through, avoid using slug pellets, and cover open drains.” To learn more and become a hedgehog helper, visit https://www.hedgehogsireland.com/ Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, also known as Dr Hedgehog, from WildCRU at the University of Oxford, said: “The European hedgehog is declining rapidly. We are causing this decline! The good news is that there is still time to make amends! If we work together to monitor the population and provide accessible, hedgehog friendly gardens, we can save the hedgehogs.” Dr Rasmussen will also chair a stakeholder workshop in Clontarf. Co Dublin, on February 20th to discuss Ireland’s new hedgehog conservation strategy. Further workshop details are available at https://www.hedgehogsireland.com/ . Ends