Investigators

Dr O'Halloran's research ranges from basic scientific research to the clinical evaluation and commercialisation of novel medical devices. From a basic science perspective, Dr O'Halloran examines new and improved methods for the measurement of the dielectric properties of biological tissue, with a particular emphasis on reducing measurement confounders. The dielectric repository at NUI Galway is an important and unique platform for the development of novel electromagnetic imaging and therapeutic devices. This research is supported by the European Research Council.

Dr O'Halloran is also involved in the development of several novel medical devices, including a Microwave Imaging system for the early detection of breast cancer (funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council); an Electrical Impedance Imaging system for the diagnosis of kidney disorders in children (funded by Enterprise Ireland); and a therapeutic microwave ablation device. He is currently exploring further applications for the technology, in the areas of cardiovascular and renal imaging. These platforms have been primarily developed for neural, renal and cardiovascular clinical targets. 

Dr O'Halloran has received over 20 national and international research awards, and last year was awarded NUI Galway's Early-Stage Researcher of the Year, Engineers Ireland Chartered Engineer of the Year, and the European Research Council's Starting Investigator Grant. He is a co-proposer of a European COST Action (entitled "MiMED"), and is now leading a network of over 180 medical device researchers from 24 countries, focused on the clinical evaluation and commercialisation of novel medical devices in Europe.

Dr O'Halloran has published more than 30 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and a similar number of international conference papers. In the last 6 months, he has submitted a patent application for a novel medical imaging device, developed at NUI Galway.

In recent years, Dr O'Halloran has been an invited chair and invited speaker at several major electromagnetics and translational medicine conferences/seminars.

www.nuigalway.ie/our-research/people/engineering-and-informatics/martinohalloran/