In the News..

Researchers have developed an implant that could deliver next generation therapies for ovarian cancer precisely where it is needed while simultaneously monitoring how the disease responds.  The project was carried out by a team at CÚRAM, the Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices based at University of Galway, along with the collaborators from the University of Minnesota, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Wyss Institute.  The research has been set out in the scientific journal Device. It showed how the team developed a flexible, porous implant which is designed to sit inside the peritoneal cavity - the space surrounding the abdominal organs in a woman’s body where ovarian cancer predominantly occurs. The device is designed to connect to an external port through the skin, so it can be replenished with therapeutic agents as often as needed, without requiring further surgery.  Dr Aoibhín Sheedy, PhD graduate with CÚRAM at University of Galway and lead researcher on the project, said: "One of the most frustrating aspects of treating ovarian cancer is that we know localised delivery of therapy works better, but the tools we've had until now weren't built for the job. We designed this implant with ovarian cancer patients in mind. We wanted an implant that can deliver living cell therapies repeatedly, reliably, and with real precision to the tumour site."  Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at late stages, as symptoms such as bloating, pain and pelvic pressure are non-specific and can be overlooked. Treatment often involves surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, but currently targeted treatment and effective methods of detecting reoccurrence of the disease are impossible. There is a critical need for new therapeutic approaches for ovarian cancer.  The implant is made from a flexible biomaterial that conforms naturally to the body's internal contours, its porous membrane allows therapeutic cargo to diffuse gently and evenly into the surrounding tissue, reducing the risk of mechanical complications.  In preclinical studies, the implant remained fully functional for up to 70 days with zero implant-related complications and showed significantly greater control of the tumour over time, compared to conventional treatments. The team have designed this implant to deliver living cell therapies, the most challenging type of therapy to delivery, but it could be used to deliver a range of cell or non-cell based therapies.  Dr Martin Felices, co-senior author Associate Professor in Medicine at the University of Minnesota, said: "The tricky part about working with novel therapies, such as immunotherapies, in the setting of ovarian cancer is that repeated delivery is done with outdated materials that are not designed for this setting. It is also very difficult to sample through these systems. The delivery system, created by Dr Dolan's laboratory, allows for safer repeated delivery of cellular and biologic therapies in the context of the peritoneal cavity. It also allows us to sample the effects of those therapies in the tumour microenvironment in real-time, which is extremely exciting."  A key feature of the implant is its monitoring capability. By applying gentle suction through the same external port, a sample of fluid can be drawn from inside the peritoneal cavity during treatment, without any additional procedure.  Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway Dr Eimear Dolan, and co-lead on the research, said: "What excites us most is the two-way nature of this approach. It doesn't just deliver living cell therapies, it lets us create a picture of what's happening inside the peritoneal space. Clinicians could use this to track how the immune cells are performing, whether the tumour is responding, and then adapt treatment accordingly. That kind of real-time intelligence is something we've never had access to before in this setting."  The researchers envision that the implant would be put in place during initial surgery that patients undergo to remove as much tumour tissue as possible, allowing it to then address any residual disease in the weeks and months that follow. The ultimate aim would be to leave the implant in long-term, to allow for local monitoring of disease recurrence and early retreatment if required.  Professor Melissa Gellar, Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Associate Director of the Clinical Research Masonic Cancer Centre at the University of Minnesota and co-lead on the research, said: “This work represents a shift in how we think about treating ovarian cancer, bringing therapy directly to the disease site while simultaneously learning from the tumour microenvironment in real time which provides important insight to guide precision care."  The research also highlights the exciting possibilities of cross disciplinary research and while further studies are needed before this approach reaches clinical trials, the team of engineers and clinicians believe its versatile design could ultimately benefit patients with other peritoneal cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic disease.  The full paper is available at https://www.cell.com/device/fulltext/S2666-9986(26)00002-5  Ends

Visitors of all ages are invited to discover how creativity can bring mathematics to life at a major exhibition celebrating the connections between mathematics and art, alongside a free Family Day packed with hands-on activities at University of Galway.   The Exhibition of Mathematical Art, Craft, and Design will be on display in the Bailey Allen Hall at University of Galway from the 5th to 8th August and is part of the international Bridges 2026 Conference on Mathematics and the Arts.  The extensive artworks help to visualise different mathematical models and concepts while showing the deep connections of mathematics to art, music, architecture, and culture.   Exhibits include: Handmade paper weaving showing how a simple weaving technique unfolds into complex geometric forms A 3D-printed skeleton holding laser-cut wooden pieces to illustrate a mathematical object that exists beyond familiar geometry Discovering what happens when the famous Telstar football is reassembled into a sphere stitched from 20 white hexagons and 12 black pentagons, rearranged in alternative configurations A painting on silk celebrating five geometric tilings from Spain's Alhambra Palace. The exhibition features more than 200 original artworks by mathematicians, scientists and artists from all over the world, including Neal Bushaw, Amy Wendt, Dana Kolářová, Eleni Vamvakidi and Navah Langmeyer, whose work spans sculpture, quilting, painting, jewellery and digital design, reflecting the many ways mathematics can inspire artistic expression. The full art exhibition catalogue and artist statements can be viewed at:  https://gallery.bridgesmathart.org/exhibitions/bridges-2026-exhibition-of-mathematical-art   Many of the exhibiting artists use craft forms that are beloved of Galway craftspeople, such as crochet, knitting, origami and metalwork. It includes a piece by University of Galway Lecturer Dr Rachel Quinlan which uses origami as a practical way for exploring discrete geometry and wallpaper classification.  Bridges artists will be presenting hands-on activities for visitors at the Bridges Family Day on Saturday August 8th. The free Family Day will include 21 hands-on workshops related to mathematics and arts, a poetry reading, a short film festival and dance workshops in Áras na Mac Léinn.   Visitors can interact with a Giant Pantograph drawing machine made from bike parts and everyday materials; create 2D and 3D origami geometric shapes; explore new musical worlds by playing software versions of non-standard piano keyboard; train your own AI to read numbers and learn about algorithms; and explore mathematical ideas using a card, needle and thread. Details of the 21 workshops can be found at: https://www.bridgesmathart.org/b2026/bridges-2026-free-public-events/bridges-2026-family-day/. Run by the Bridges Organisation in collaboration with local organisers, the conference brings together an interdisciplinary group of mathematicians, scientists, artists, educators, musicians, writers, computer scientists, sculptors, dancers, weavers and model builders.  Local conference organiser, Dr Rachel Quinlan, School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Galway, said: “Having participated and exhibited at the Bridges conferences for several years, it is a big pleasure for me to bring Bridges to University of Galway this year. Bridges celebrates the power of the creative arts to express and communicate mathematical meaning, and the mathematics that is inherent in many widely practised forms of art and craft.” A programme of research talks and paper presentations are part of the four-day conference as well as a mathematical fashion show that will take place on the evening of Friday August 7th in the Bailey Allen Hall.  International speakers include bestselling maths author and stand-up comedian Matt Parker and award-winning author Amy Alznauer. George Hart, President of the Bridges Organisation, said: “The Bridges Conference is an annual meeting where several hundred people who love mathematics and the arts come together to share their ideas, show their work, and get a creativity recharge from similar-minded people. Galway and Ireland is the perfect place for this, with its strong culture of the arts, including music, literature, and dance, and its history of significant mathematicians.“ The Bridges Organisation oversees the annual Bridges conference on mathematical connections in art, music, architecture, and culture. Since 1998, Bridges has travelled to North America, Europe, and Asia, and has attracted participants from over thirty countries.   Ends 

Discussion groups aimed at improving understanding of high blood pressure and supporting better cardiovascular health taking place across Cork, Dublin, Letterkenny, Limerick and Galway University of Galway is calling on members of the public to participate in patient discussion groups across Ireland to help develop a better understanding of blood pressure, hypertension and cardiovascular health. The discussion groups, led by University of Galway and supported by a multidisciplinary team of cardiologists, patients, researchers and community organisations, including the Irish Heart Foundation, Croí and the Irish Kidney Association, will explore these issues by engaging directly with people living with high blood pressure and their families. The goal of the campaign is for University of Galway to lead the development of a plain-language, patient-friendly high blood pressure pathway that reflects European Society of Cardiology Guidelines and spans from management in primary care for the majority through to management in hospital/secondary care for the more complex cases. The language used will be informed by the patient voice and lived experience of those with hypertension. The call for participation forms part of the ongoing work of the Expert Steering Group on Hypertension Management, which made a compelling case to politicians in Leinster House in May for the need to tackle high blood pressure nationally by expanding structured blood pressure screening in primary care and commissioning a regional cardiovascular disease prevention framework with an all-Ireland reach. Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in Ireland, with the Irish Heart Foundation estimating the annual cost to the State is €1.7 billion, approximately half of which comprises direct health service costs. Up to 80% of strokes are preventable through earlier detection and better management of cardiovascular risk factors, particularly high blood pressure. Speaking about the call for patient involvement, Dr Susan Connolly, Consultant Cardiologist and a member of the Expert Steering Group, said: “Patients have a key role to play in improving their cardiovascular health, and that starts with understanding the risks associated with high blood pressure and hypertension. But the language we use to communicate the risk to our patients and how to reduce that risk through managing their blood pressure is equally important. We are encouraging patients to get involved in the development of this pathway to help empower people with a better understanding of these risks.” “As part of the Expert Steering Group’s work, we are calling for a shift towards a more structured, prevention-focused model that supports earlier detection, timely intervention and ongoing management. This will ultimately help patients reduce their risk of serious cardiovascular events before they occur.” Dr Natalie Walsh, Co-Lead of PPI Ignite Network Galway at University of Galway, said: “Patient involvement is central to our work, and we are calling on people to get involved in our discussion groups as we develop the plain-language high blood pressure pathway.” “Our goal is to create a pathway that empowers people to better understand and manage their high blood pressure, helping to prevent avoidable strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications.” Discussion groups will be held across Cork, Dublin, Letterkenny, Limerick and Galway, and will take place in August and September. People interested in taking part are asked to contact ppi@universityofgalway.ie to register their interest by Friday, 31 July. The final pathway and supporting resources are expected to be completed by September 2026. Ends