In the News..

Scientists at University of Galway have taken part in a first-in-human study on stroke patients using a thin wire fitted with sensors to assess and map the clot they have experienced.  The study involved the use of a guidewire called Clotild, which has been developed by medtech company Sensome. It can navigate arteries through a catheter, with tiny electrical sensors built into its tip, moving through a clot and continuously measuring how well different tissues conduct a small current. Red blood cells, platelets and arterial walls each have distinct electrical "fingerprints" which can be individually identified in real-time by the device’s prediction model.  Some 41 people who had suffered a large vessel occlusion stroke were enrolled in the trial at hospitals in Australia and France to assess the performance of the device and how it reports the clot.  The trial was led by Dr Andrew Cheung of Liverpool Hospital, NSW, Australia and Aymeric Rouchaud, France, with a device developed using clot analysis by Professor Karen Doyle, University of Galway and the Research Ireland funded Rinn Medical Devices Centre.  Professor Karen Doyle said: "This first-in-human study represents an important step forward in how we understand and treat stroke patients. Being able to characterise clot composition in real time, during the procedure itself, has real potential to help clinicians tailor their approach to treating each patient and improve outcomes. It's been a privilege to contribute to the research underpinning this trial, and to see fundamental device research translated into a technology now being tested directly in patients."  Every year, millions of people globally suffer a stroke caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in the brain. The gold standard treatment is a procedure called mechanical thrombectomy, where a tiny device is threaded through blood vessels to physically pull the clot out. Research has shown that removing a clot in a single pass dramatically improves a patient's chances of recovery. While this method can be successful, surgeons go in almost blind, knowing very little about the clot they are about to tackle, what it is made of, or where exactly it ends.  The trial is the first time a potential solution to this issue has been tested in humans.  The possibility of removing a clot in one pass depends partly on clot composition: clots rich in red blood cells behave differently to those packed with platelets. Until now, the only way to find this out was to analyse retrieved clot fragments under a microscope following a procedure - too late to change the surgical strategy.  The results from the trial were unambiguous: not a single patient experienced a vessel perforation or dissection, the most feared complication of guidewire use in the brain.  On performance, Clotild proved remarkably accurate. Its ability to distinguish red-blood-cell-rich clots from platelet-rich ones scored 0.97 and 0.94 respectively on a standard accuracy scale where 1.0 is perfect.  The device was also able to detect the artery wall and the far end of the clot, information a surgeon could use to gauge clot length without injecting contrast dye.  One of the most striking demonstrations came when the team reconstructed a full compositional "map" of a clot based on Clotild's continuous readings as it passed through. The map, showing which sections were red-blood-cell-rich and which were not, matched what histology later revealed about the retrieved clot fragments.  Dr Cheung said: “This trial shows that impedance-based clot characterisation is not only feasible but can be integrated safely into standard procedure. It's the result of a genuinely international effort, and I want to thank our collaborators across Australia, France, USA and Ireland, for their contribution to the device development and data analysis that made these results possible."  Dr Franz Bozsak, CEO of Sensome, said: "Bringing Clotild from concept to first-in-human trial has depended on close collaboration between industry and academic research partners. The expertise contributed by our academic partners across the globe has been invaluable in helping us validate and refine the science behind this technology. This kind of partnership is exactly how we believe medical devices should be developed, grounded in rigorous academic research and tested rapidly in clinical settings."  Professor Doyle added: “As a proof of concept this is compelling. The vision is a future where, before a surgeon even selects a retrieval device, they already know exactly what kind of clot they are dealing with, giving stroke patients a meaningfully better chance of getting it out first time.”  The research paper associated with the trial can be accessed on the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery https://jnis.bmj.com/content/early/2026/04/30/jnis-2025-024772 Ends  

An artist-designed elephant sculpture has been installed at Shannon College of Hotel Management as part of the international mental health initiative, Elephant in the Room. The ‘Elephant for Sarah’ was officially launched in the atrium of Shannon College by Brent Pope, co-founder of the Elephant in the Room initiative, a social movement using public art to spark open, honest conversations about mental health. He addressed the college students about the importance of normalising discussions around mental wellbeing and seeking support. Shannon College of Hotel Management alumna, Maeve O’Keeffe’s niece Sarah died by suicide following a struggle with her mental health. Maeve’s family has donated the ‘Elephant for Sarah’ to the college in her memory. Sarah’s sister, Anna O’Farrell, is channelling her grief into a powerful force for good, raising funds to create a small herd of Elephant in the Room sculptures in memory of her beloved sister. To date, Anna has raised over €86,000 as part of this collaboration with the movement and Shannon College is honoured to receive an elephant in Sarah’s memory. Anna O’Farrell said: "We chose Shannon College because we want every student there to know that they can come and ask for help, and to be open about how they're feeling rather than hide it. That's exactly what Sarah would have wanted for others, because she felt she couldn't do that herself." Brent Pope, Co-founder of Elephant in the Room, said: “Everyone has an ‘Elephant in the Room’, and this initiative is about starting conversations early before they develop into larger issues impacting students’ wellbeing. It’s also about encouraging kindness - we never know what someone else might be going through in their day or life. Many young people only seek mental wellbeing support at a crisis stage, so early intervention is vital. We need to normalise discussions around mental wellbeing and make it a daily priority, just like physical health. “This initiative aims to give young people better tools to navigate life’s challenges, particularly within the learning environment, while fostering a culture of inclusion and care. “We are very grateful to Anna O'Farrell for donating this elephant sculpture to the college in memory of her beloved sister Sarah, through the Elephant for Sarah initiative.” Orla Cullinane, Associate Head of Student Welfare in Shannon College of Hotel Management, said: “Shannon College of Hotel Management is delighted and very honoured to be involved in the Elephant in the Room initiative. “The elephant who will have pride of place in our college atrium will serve as a visible reminder that conversations about mental health should never be hidden or avoided. As a college community, we recognise and sadly have experience of the profound impact of suicide and loss, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive, compassionate environment where every student feels they belong, are supported, and can speak openly without fear of judgement. We hope this initiative encourages our students and staff to check in with one another, seek support when needed, and keep the conversation going.” Founded by Brent Pope and Eoin Byrne in 2021, Elephant in the Room has grown from a grassroots idea into an international initiative. Brightly painted, artist-designed baby elephant sculptures are placed in prominent locations as visible symbols of hope, permission, and care, letting people know they are in a place that supports mental wellbeing and a reminder that it’s okay to talk. Maeve O’Keeffe graduated in 1991 and her daughter Molly Wallace has just started her 4th year at Shannon College of Hotel Management.   Read more about the 'Elephant for Sarah' here:  www.universityofgalway.ie/shannoncollege/student-life/. For more about Elephant in the Room visit: www.elephantintheroom.ie. Ends

New research from University of Galway, Longford Women's Link and Teagasc has identified nine policy priorities to better support women-led innovation in Irish farming and rural areas.  The research is presented in a series of policy briefs, developed as part of the three-year FLIARA project- Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas which was funded under Horizon Europe.  The research led to the development of recommendations across areas including finance, skills, digitalisation, gender inclusion, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), generational renewal, representation, women's empowerment and work-life balance – all of which are focused on supporting women-led innovation in Irish farming and rural areas.  The policy priorities come against a backdrop of persistent gender inequalities in agriculture. According to the European Commission, women account for 31% of beneficiaries of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) but receive just 15% of total CAP payments, while men, who account for 63% of beneficiaries, receive 69% of funding. Farm income statistics also show female-run farms earned an average of €18,700 per worker in 2023, 42% less than male-run farms, with the income gap widening that year.  Maria Walsh, Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North-West, launched the FLIARA Policy Briefs and said: "As the European Parliament's lead negotiator on generational renewal in farming, I see every day how much we need the evidence in front of us if we're serious about building a fairer future for Irish and European agriculture. These policy briefs put women's experience and innovation at the centre of that conversation, and I'm proud to launch a series that gives policymakers like me the tools to act, not just acknowledge the problem."  The policy briefs are published to coincide with the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer, a global initiative highlighting the contribution of women to agrifood systems and the need to address the barriers they face. They will be shared with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Rural and Community Development, as well as Local Action Groups, the Irish Farmers’ Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association and women’s farming organisations  The Irish FLIARA team is led by University of Galway’s Professor Maura Farrell and includes Dr Aisling Murtagh and Louise Weir (University of Galway), Tara Farrell (Longford Women's Link) and Anne Kinsella (Teagasc).  Professor Maura Farrell, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at University of Galway and lead on the FLIARA project, said: “In this year of the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we are delighted to produce a policy brief series that reflects not only the needs of women farmers in Ireland but also what is needed by women engaged in innovation both on and off farms. This series translates the lived experience of the women who took part in FLIARA into clear, actionable recommendations, and we hope it gives policymakers the evidence they need to make Irish and European agriculture a genuinely more inclusive place to work and innovate.” The nine policy issues identified are: Access to Finance at the right level and at the right time is important to the development of women-led rural and farm innovation. Education and Skills Training opportunities should be better tailored to the needs of women-led rural and farm innovation. Women's Empowerment: Greater policy focus is needed to address barriers to equality between men and women and support women's participation in rural and farm innovation. Better Leverage of Digitalisation: Policy should better support women in agriculture and rural areas and use digitalisation to empower them. Improved Gender Inclusion in Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS): Services should better recognise women's needs and the gender-related impacts of AKIS interventions. CAP and Gender: Women should be recognised as equal partners across each element of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-27, to incentivise and recognise their current and future roles and potential. Generational Renewal: Addressing the gender gap is part of the wider challenge of generational renewal and the future sustainability of Irish farming. Strengthening the Voice of Rural and Farm Women: Better representation of women in governance and decision-making is needed to improve gender equality. Work-Life Balance: Policy action is needed to support women balancing work, family and wider life demands.  Dr Aisling Murtagh, co-researcher on the FLIARA project at University of Galway, said: "Women are already driving innovation across Irish farms and rural businesses, often without the recognition or support to let it flourish. These briefs give policymakers a concrete starting point for closing that gap."  The recommendations draw on research and engagement with women farmers, rural innovators and other stakeholders throughout the FLIARA project, including case studies, policy assessment and future foresight research.  Professor Farrell continued: "Combining foresight work, case studies and direct engagement with women farmers, we offer recommendations that are grounded and forward-looking, not a list of problems, but a roadmap for more inclusive agricultural policy.”  The full report and nine policy briefs are available at: Ireland's FLIARA Policy Briefs    Ends