University College Cork

Four Kildare students among 82 recipients of Johnson & Johnson’s WiSTEM2D Undergraduate Awards, recognizing outstanding female students in STEM2D disciplines. The awards, marking a 33% increase in recipients, highlight the program’s impact and Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to promoting female excellence in STEM.

The SafeBoosC-III trial group includes medical professionals from various hospitals across Europe, Turkey, China, India, and the United States.

ObSERVE Phase II Aerial Project recorded 39,400 sightings of 24 seabird species and 2,200 sightings of 17 cetacean species. Common seabirds included northern gannets, black-legged kittiwakes, northern fulmars, and common guillemots. Cetaceans sighted included common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise, and minke whales, with rare sightings of killer whales and beaked whales. The project highlighted seabird hotspots in the Irish Sea and southwest coastal waters, and cetacean hotspots in the Celtic Sea and west coast. Avian flu caused mortality of up to 3,000 northern gannets. The findings will inform future regulation and sustainable management of Ireland’s maritime area.

The gut microbiome's role in neurological diseases is increasingly recognized, with potential implications for treatment and diagnosis. Research highlights connections between gut health and conditions like Parkinson’s, ALS, ADHD, and autism, though rigorous validation is still needed. Emerging therapies aim to modulate the gut microbiome to mitigate symptoms, with ongoing trials showing promise.

Third-level students focused on ovarian cancer research, examining drug treatments, resistance to therapies, and the role of exercise and nutrition. Saoirse Doyle studied HER2-targeting drugs, Alex Neuroth assessed the impact of physical activity and nutrition on CRS-HIPEC patients, and Emily Carvalho investigated ZEB protein's role in drug resistance and cell behavior.

New study finds 80% of pregnant women become iron deficient by third trimester, advocating for routine iron checks during pregnancy for maternal and fetal safety, despite current US guidelines not recommending regular checks.

Researchers at INFANT, UCC, and CUH demonstrated that the 'Milk Ladder' method allows home-based reintroduction of cow's milk to children with milk allergies, significantly reducing hospital visits and increasing successful milk reintroduction by nearly 4 times compared to traditional avoidance methods.

AI is transforming drug production, discovery, and clinical trials, reducing time and costs. It impacts manufacturing, molecular design, and predictive modeling, but faces challenges like data bias and ethical concerns.