TOMORROW’S WORLD
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Breakthrough for bowel disease Funding helps UCD fight poverty
A new potential therapeutic approach to UCD has received €1.5 million funding in
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has the first round of Irish Aid’s Programme of
been discovered by scientists at UCD Strategic Cooperation with Higher
Conway Institute. IBD is a chronic Education and Research Institutes 2007-
debilitating disease involving 2011. “With the funding received from
inflammation of the intestine which Irish Aid, UCD will establish a
affects more than 15,000 people in multidisciplinary team of researchers from
Ireland and millions of people across the UCD Conway Institute, the UCD
worldwide. Researchers found they can Geary Institute and the Urban Institute
almost completely reverse the symptoms Ireland at UCD to investigate poverty
of IBD in a disease model using a new reduction in developing countries,” said
class of drugs known as hydroxylase Professor Walsh who is spearheading the
inhibitors. While completing their UCD International Development Studies
investigation, the Irish researchers Initiative. The areas of research include:
became aware of a similar study taking health and HIV Aids; poverty and
place at the University of Colorado, disadvantage; good governance; pro-poor
Denver. The Irish and US research groups growth; education; gender equality; food
Tail
ored
test
s fo
r br
eas
t
will now begin a collaborative and livelihood security; and environment.
can
cer
trea
tme
nt investigation to bring the discovery to “The results of the research will be
the next stage. disseminated across partner universities,
Scientists at the UCD Conway Institute and
governments, international organisations
St V
incent’
s University Hospital have
UCD researchers assist ESA and the wider development community, to
developed a test for newly
The European Space Agency (ESA) help reduce poverty in developing
diagnosed breast cancer
has launched the Columbus nations,” continued Professor Walsh, Chair
patients that could help some
laboratory into orbit on board of International Development Studies at
.
women avoid chemotherapy
Space Shuttle Atlantis to dock the UCD School of Politics & International
“At the moment most
with the International Space Relations.
women undergo long and
Station. The cylindrical
uncomfortable sessions of
module, equipped with flexible Stokes awards bring new research
chemotherapy after their
research facilities, has a 10-year perspectives to UCD
initial breast surgery
, but this projected lifespan. It will enable Research thrives on collaboration and fresh
fer a
new enzyme test can help to of
Earth-based researchers, together with thinking, and UCD this year welcomes a
more tailored solution for patients,”
the space station crew, to conduct number of Stokes professorships funded by
explains Professor Joe Duf
fy from the UCD
thousands of scientific experiments. Science Foundation Ireland. Under the
incent’
s
Conway Institute and St V
A group of UCD researchers, led by Dr programme, world-class scientists of
University Hospital who led the team of
David Browne from the UCD School of international standing are awarded short-
scientists and doctors who developed the
Electric, Electronic & Mechanical term posts to carry out research in Ireland.
test. “This new test may help some
Engineering are at the forefront of co- UCD was awarded nine professorships and
women newly diagnosed with breast
ordinating and driving initiatives which seven lectureships under the scheme.
. It leans
cancer avoid chemotherapy
the ESA is planning for the future use of Among the Stokes professors is Gil Lee
towards the concept of personalised
this laboratory. “With these incredible from Purdue University in the United
treatment.” The findings have been
experimental facilities available, we can States, who is looking at the forces in
tested and validated by a number of
become much more ambitious with our biological molecules and whole cells that
independent groups worldwide, in studies
research,” says Dr Browne. The UCD team are responsible for the diverse structural
involving in excess of 8,000 patients.
is actively supporting ground-based and functional behavior of biological
research which will lead to new near systems. Also joining UCD is Professor
Pictured: Breast cancer cells zero-gravity experiments on Columbus. Matthias Wilm from the European
PAGE EIGHTEEN UCD CONNECTIONS
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