CÚRAM researchers recently took part in the launch of an international, €15 million, 20-partner project titled iPSpine (Induced pluripotent stem cell-based therapy for spinal regeneration) held in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Research in Medical Devices based at NUI Galway will participate in the five-year project which falls under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme to fund research that improves knowledge, testing, and exploitation platforms that address the future of advanced therapies in Europe. The project is being coordinated by Professor Marianna Tryfonidou at Utrecht University. The iPSpine research project aims to address chronic lower back pain, which is the leading cause of disability and morbidity worldwide. It impacts more than 700 million people globally of all ages, each year. Lower back pain is a major cause of reduced activity and work absence and imposes an economic burden of nearly €240 billion every year in the EU. IPSpine will use state-of-the art technology to design a novel therapy for lower back pain that will be closer to clinical translation after completion of the project in 2023. The treatment will use advanced stem cells and smart biomaterials that can be injected into the degenerated discs in the spine to help re-populate regions that have deteriorated, with the goal of returning spinal function. Professor Abhay Pandit who is the lead of one of the work packages in iPSpine and the Scientific Director at CÚRAM in NUI Galway, said: “The iPSPine research project addresses a critical patient need. Partnering in this unique consortium provides CÚRAM the opportunity to see our therapeutic design contribution through to implementation stage. This will enable an accelerated translation of our research to therapy and produce real solutions for those who urgently need it.” Professor Marianna Tryfonidou, head of the research project at Utrecht University, said: “The success of this innovative project will be possible by mobilization of our unique consortium. The network is rich in diverse expertise that ranges from the basic science to the development and implementation of a working treatment for chronic lower back pain. I am delighted and ready to kick-off the project and begin working with this talented network.” The iPSpine consortium includes 20 partners across Europe, the United States of America, and China. Their expertise includes Fundamental Science, Therapeutic Design and Final Implementation. Follow the iPSpine research project on Twitter @iPSpine -Ends-

Over 70 students were recognised by NUI Galway today (Thursday, 21 March) at a special ceremony when they were conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh. A number of students were conferred with Masters and Doctor of Medicine degrees. Professor James P. O’Gara, a Personal Professor of Microbiology at NUI Galway, was also conferred with a Doctor of Science for Published Work at today’s ceremony. All Colleges of the University were represented at the ceremony, with graduands from the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, the College of Business, Public Policy and Law; the College of Engineering and Informatics; the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; and the College of Science. NUI Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “I would like to congratulate each graduate on their achievement in earning their doctoral degrees on what is a milestone day in their lives, marking the culmination of their talent, effort and commitment over many years. NUI Galway is proud of our record of developing graduates as leaders who will create the future and make a positive impact in the world - and for the world - nationally and internationally.  It is the mission of this university to make the world a better place through our teaching, research and impact and we do this tangibly through the increased number of PhDs graduating in recent years.” The next conferring to take place at NUI Galway will be the summer conferring on Tuesday, 11 June. -Ends-

20 bliain ag ceiliúradh céimithe ar fud na cruinne D'fhógair OÉ Gaillimh buaiteoirí Ghradaim Alumni 2019 agus bronnfar na gradaim orthu ag an 20ú Mórfhéasta Alumni Dé Sathairn, an 13 Aibreán 2019. Tugann Gradaim Alumni OÉ Gaillimh aitheantas d’fheabhas agus d’éachtaí breis is 100,000 céimí de chuid na hOllscoile atá scaipthe ar fud an domhain. Agus clár na nGradam seo fiche bliain ar an bhfód, tá gradaim bronnta ar bhreis is 100 céimí den scoth a bhfuil tionchar suntasach acu ina réimsí féin, agus a bhfuil a n-alma mater fíorbhrodúil astu.  I measc na ndaoine mór le rá ar bronnadh gradam Alumni orthu tá Uachtarán na hÉireann, Micheál D. Ó hUigínn, na craoltóirí, Seán O'Rourke agus Gráinne Seoige, na ceannairí gnó, Tara McCarthy (Bord Bia), Adrian Jones (Goldman Sachs) agus Aedhmar Hynes (Text 100), daoine ón saol poiblí cosúil le Pat Rabbitte, Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste) agus Máire Whelan (an tArd-Aighne), agus pearsaí spóirt cosúil leis an imreoir rugbaí idirnáisiúnta, Ciarán FitzGerald agus Olive Loughnane (a bhfuil bonn Oilimpeach buaite aici). Léiríonn buaiteoirí na bliana seo an tionchar domhanda atá ag OÉ Gaillimh agus ag a alumni agus an Ollscoil ag ceiliúradh 20 bliain de na gradaim bhliantúla seo.  Seo a leanas buaiteoirí na seacht ngradam alumni atá le bronnadh ag Mórfhéasta 2019: Gradam Alumni do na Dána, an Litríocht agus an Léann Ceilteach – urraithe ag Deloitte An tIriseoir & comhfhreagraí Londan le RTÉ, Fiona Mitchell – BA 1993 Gradam Alumni don Ghnó agus an Tráchtáil – urraithe ag Banc na hÉireann An fiontraí eitlíochta, Dómhnal Slattery - BComm 1988 Gradam Alumni don Dlí, Beartas Poiblí agus an Rialtas – urraithe ag Ronan Daly Jermyn An t-abhcóide sinsearach agus saineolaí dlí, Grainne McMorrow - BA 1980, LLB 1983 Gradam Alumni don Innealtóireacht, an Eolaíocht agus an Teicneolaíocht – urraithe ag Merc Partners An t-eolaí ailse, an Dr John Lyons - BSc 1979 Gradam Alumni don Leigheas, an tAltranas agus na hEolaíochtaí Sláinte – urraithe ag Medtronic An máinlia agus oideachasóir cliniciúil, an Dr Ronan Waldron - MB BCh BAO 1976, MMedSc 1984 Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge – urraithe ag OÉ Gaillimh An t-iriseoir agus craoltóir, Póilín Ní Chiaráin - BA 1965 Gradam Alumni don Rannpháirtíocht sa Spórt – urraithe ag Banc na hÉireann An ceannródaí leighis spóirt, an Dr Mick Molloy - MB BCh BAO 1968 Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, nuair a fógraíodh buaiteoirí na nGradam: “Is é an misean atá ag ollscoileanna an domhan a fheabhsú trínár dteagasc, taighde agus tionchar. Tugann clár na nGradam Alumni aitheantas d’alumni a dhéanann difríocht dhearfach ar fud an domhain agus atá ina gceannairí ina réimsí roghnaithe. Tríd a gcuid iarrachtaí déantar ár misean a léiriú. Táim thar a bheith sásta i mbliana gur féidir linn aitheantas a thabhairt do ghrúpa éagsúil alumni atá ag dul i bhfeidhm go dearfach ar an domhan mór – agus ar son an domhain mhóir – go náisiúnta agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Tréaslaím le gach duine ar a bhfuil gradam le bronnadh agus táim ag súil le fáilte ar ais a chur rompu chuig a n-alma mater don Mhórfhéasta i mí an Aibreáin.” Chun breis eolais a fháil agus chun áit a chur in áirithe téigh i dteagmháil leis an Oifig Alumni ar 091 494310 nó seol ríomhphost chuig alumni@nuigalway.ie. Áirithintí ar líne ag www.guf.ie CRÍOCH