A leading researcher has joined University of Galway on a prestigious Wellcome Trust award specialising on the science of cell division and DNA copies, to further understand cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr Mihailo Mirkovic will lead a research programme that looks at how cells divide and split their DNA correctly, and how faulty attachment between the DNA copies causes errors and the consequences these errors have on development. The majority of Wellcome Trust Awards for scientific research in Ireland are held by academics based at University of Galway. Dr Mirkovic will establish a research group within the University’s Centre for Chromosome Biology, which is led by Professor Noel Lowndes and is embedded within the University’s Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation, led by Institute Director Professor Ted Vaughan. President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “We are proud to welcome Dr Mirkovic to the University of Galway. Attracting leading researchers of his calibre strengthens our mission to be a university for the world, defined by excellence, ambition and impact. The Wellcome Trust Career Development Award is among the most prestigious research awards internationally, and it is a testament both to Dr Mirkovic’s achievements and to the vibrant research ecosystem we have built here at Galway.” Professor Walter Gear, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, University of Galway, said: “It is fantastic to see another major Wellcome Trust award coming to Galway. There are relatively few such awards in Ireland, and the fact that the majority are based here at University of Galway speaks volumes about the strength of our scientific community and our growing reputation as a hub for world-class research. Dr Mirkovic’s arrival further elevates that momentum.” Dr Mirkovic’s research will explore how cellular stress and disruptions to RNA processing -the body’s worker molecule that carries out the instructions stored in DNA - drive chromosome instability and adaptive evolution in fungi, work that has broad implications for understanding evolutionary dynamics, the emergence of antifungal resistance and genome maintenance to prevent chromosome abnormalities that can lead to cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Dr Mihailo Mirkovic, Centre for Chromosome Biology, University of Galway, said: “I am honoured to receive the Wellcome Trust Career Development Award and excited to establish my group at the University of Galway. This award would not be possible without the support of my future colleagues from The Centre for Chromosome Biology, my collaborators and my two mentors, Raquel Oliveira and Yves Barral. The Centre for Chromosome Biology provides an outstanding environment for fundamental research, and I look forward to contributing to its scientific community and Irish science in general.” Professor Noel Lowndes, Director of the Centre for Chromosome Biology, University of Galway, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Dr Mirkovic to the Centre for Chromosome Biology. His innovative research vision and track record of excellence make him an exceptional addition to our community of worldclass chromosome and genome researchers. We are immensely grateful to the Wellcome Trust for their ongoing support for our work.” Professor Ted Vaughan, Director of the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation, University of Galway, said: “Dr Mirkovic’s work aligns strongly with our mission to transform biological understanding into impact. We look forward to supporting the growth and success of his research programme at Galway.” Dr Mirkovic’s research programme is supported by a Wellcome Trust Career Development Award, which focuses on mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. The funding enables them to develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing. Originally from Montenegro, Dr Mirkovic has an international research career spanning Serbia, Portugal and Switzerland. He completed his undergraduate and master’s studies in molecular biology and physiology at the University of Belgrade, before undertaking a PhD at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência in Portugal under the supervision of Dr Raquel Oliveira. Ends

The Access Centre at University of Galway is inviting prospective students, parents, guidance counsellors, educators, and community organisations to attend its upcoming Access Programmes Information Evening. The event takes place on Wednesday May 6th at 6pm in the Human Biology Building, University of Galway. Designed for school leavers and mature students who may not have previously considered university, the Access programmes support individuals from low-income backgrounds, those living with long-term disabilities and anyone feels that higher education may be beyond their reach. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the Access and Foundation programmes, learn about the wide range of academic and personal supports available, and hear first-hand from past students who have successfully progressed to university. Through modules such as the Professional Engagement Module (PEM), students benefit from practical workplace experience, with partner organisations including Grant Thornton, Medtronic and the University’s School of Education for those interested in teaching, with participants supported throughout by mentors. Staff from the Access Centre will be available throughout the event to answer questions in an informal and welcoming setting.             Dr Mary Surlis, Senior Academic Manager for Access Programmes at the University, said: “Our Access Programmes are about opening doors and creating opportunities. We work with people who may have faced barriers to education and support them not only academically, but also in building the confidence and self-belief needed to succeed. This information evening is a chance for anyone considering a return to education to explore what’s possible in a supportive and encouraging environment.”             Niamh Burke, former student now working with Medtronic and recently returned as a mentor on the programme, said: “This year felt like a full-circle moment for me. After completing the Access Programme, I went on to study Commerce and a master’s degree, and through my work, I recently returned as a mentor supporting students on the Professional Engagement Module. I would strongly encourage anyone considering university, regardless of their background or circumstances, to get in touch with the Access Centre.” The event forms part of the University’s ongoing commitment to widening participation and ensuring higher education is accessible to all, regardless of background or life circumstances. Further information, including programme details, application forms, and registration is available at: universityofgalway.ie/access/entryroutes/accessandfoundationprogrammes/ Ends

Researchers have found evidence that a therapeutic strategy which makes the brain work more efficiently to learn and recall memories may in fact help to target compromised brain activity in Alzheimer’s disease. The study led by University of Galway focused on nerve cells which routinely limit or restrict activity and messages being sent by the brain, rather than the more conventional approach of therapy for nerve cells which stimulate activity. Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder with clinical symptoms including diminished memory and cognitive function. It is the most prevalent cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are among the top 10 causes of death globally. The study was published in the journal Neuropharmacology and be read here. Professor Andrea Kwakowsky, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and lead researcher at the School of Medicine, University of Galway, said: “Given the ever-increasing burden of Alzheimer’s disease, the urgent need for the identification of novel targets for the development of disease-modifying therapy is clear.” The research team noted how the accumulation of Amyloid beta - protein fragment aggregates known as plaque – are a primary hallmark and suspected cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The Amyloid beta disrupts normal brain signalling and causes burn out and ultimately the death of nerve cells as it leads to the firing or over-activation of the nerve cells in the brain. This symptom of the disease is then compounded by activity in the inhibitory nerve cells, which routinely limit or restrict activity and messages, as they overcompensate for the stimulatory impact in the brain that the disease is having. The scientists highlighted that symptomatic relief from Alzheimer’s provided by these therapies which target the stimulatory nerve cells is only marginal, and the progression or underlying causes of the disease are not addressed. Professor Andrea Kwakowsky said: “Our research is looking at the possibility of a therapy which helps to restore a balance in the brain after nerve cells have reacted to Alzheimer’s. “We know, for sure, that the amino acid, GABA, is involved in many important physiological functions of the brain, including being the primary inhibiting factor for nerve cells. However, in Alzheimer’s disease, this control that it helps to exert in the brain is compromised, contributing to cognitive decline and memory impairment. “Science and medicine has shown that an increase in extracellular GABA can be triggered by the protein Amyloid beta, leading to over-activation of a specific population of GABA receptors in Alzheimer’s disease. “Our research is significant in that it demonstrates that if we block this GABA receptor activity in nerve cells we can reverse Alzheimer-like effects caused by Amyloid beta and improve cognitive performance.” The research was funded by the University of Galway Hardiman Research Scholarship, Alzheimer’s New Zealand, Freemasons New Zealand, Alzheimer’s New Zealand Charitable Trust, Aotearoa Foundation, Brain Research New Zealand, Health Research Council of New Zealand, Centre for Brain Research, the University of Auckland and the University of Otago. The team’s research is expanding on a hypothesis that has emerged in recent years, which shifts the focus of therapeutic treatment to the inhibitory side of signalling imbalance in nerve cells, suggesting that targeting the brain’s vulnerability to overstimulation-induced damage can ultimately reduce the impact and death of nerve cells. Ends