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Imeacht idirnáisiúnta tábhachtach á reáchtáil i nGaillimh chun todhchaí an Taighde Aigéin AE agus Atlantaigh a mhúnlú Inniu d’fhógair Foras na Mara, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh, le tacaíocht ón Roinn Ardoideachais agus Breisoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta, an clár agus thug siad cead do dhaoine réamhchlárú do Chruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026. Beidh an t-imeacht ar siúl ar an 8-9 Deireadh Fómhair 2026 in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus is Imeacht Gaolmhar le hUachtaránacht na hÉireann ar Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh 2026 é an Cruinniú Mullaigh. I láthair ag Cruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026 beidh straitéisithe, taighdeoirí, déantóirí beartais, nuálaithe agus pobail aigéin aitheanta a bheidh ag díriú ar thodhchaí chlár oibre taighde aigéin an Atlantaigh agus na hEorpa a mhúnlú.  Bunaithe ar an téama "Clár Oibre Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Scileanna Aigéin na hEorpa a Chur Chun Cinn i rith Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar an AE", beidh an Cruinniú Mullaigh ag feidhmiú mar fhóram speisialta do phlé, comhoibriú agus malartú straitéiseach ag uair chinniúnach chomh fada is a bhaineann le beartas aigéin agus comhar idirnáisiúnta Eorpach. Cruthaíonn an tAtlantach nasc eadrainn ar fad, cuireann sé dlús lenár ngeilleagar, múnlaíonn sé ár n-aeráid agus baineann féidearthachtaí go leor leis chomh fada is a bhaineann le todhchaí na hEorpa. Ag tráth ina bhfuil níos mó dúshlán comhshaoil, eacnamaíoch agus geopholaitiúil le sárú, a bhfuil tionchar acu ar an Atlantach, i rith an Chruinnithe Mullaigh díreofar ar roinnt cuspóirí straitéiseacha lena n-áirítear: Tosaíochtaí a shonrú agus an uaillmhian a mhéadú don chéad chaibidil eile de thaighde agus nuálaíocht a bhaineann leis an Aigéan Atlantach; Dlús a chur le cur chun feidhme eolasbhunaithe an Chomhshocraithe Eorpaigh um an Aigéan agus an Ghnímh Eorpaigh um an Aigéan. Dlús a chur le nuálaíocht chun iomaíochas agus ceannaireacht dhomhanda na hEorpa i réimse na heolaíochta agus na teicneolaíochta aigéin a threisiú. Díriú ar cheanglais acmhainne, oiliúna agus scileanna a bheidh ann amach anseo chun tacú le forbairt inbhuanaithe an gheilleagair ghoirm. I láthair ag an gCruinniú Mullaigh beidh ionadaithe sinsearacha ón gCoimisiún Eorpach, rialtais náisiúnta, eagraíochtaí taighde, an tionscal, údaráis réigiúnacha, an tsochaí shibhialta agus tionscnaimh aigéin idirnáisiúnta, rud a chiallóidh go mbeidh deis ar leith ann chun comhar Atlantach a threisiú, comhpháirtíochtaí nua a bhunú agus tosaíochtaí a bheidh ann amach anseo a bhaineann le taighde, nuálaíocht agus rialachas aigéin a mhúnlú. Tráth a bhfuil dúshláin aigéin ag sárú teorainneacha náisiúnta, soláthróidh an Cruinniú Mullaigh ardán ríthábhachtach do chomhar i ndisciplíní, earnálacha agus tíortha difriúla, rud a thacóidh le réitigh roinnte ar dhúshláin roinnte a fhorbairt. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag An Dr Rick Officer, POF Fhoras na Mara: “Tá Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar Chomhairle an AE ag tarlú i rith an dara leath de Dheich mBliana na Náisiún Aontaithe um an Eolaíocht Aigéin ar mhaithe leis an bhForbairt Inbhuanaithe. Tá ról ceannaireachta ag Éire le fada an lá chomh fada is a bhaineann le dlús a chur le taighde ar an Aigéan Atlantach agus tá áthas orainn go mbeidh an Cruinniú ar siul i nGaillimh arís, cruinniú a bhfuil sé mar aidhm leis tosaíochtaí taighde agus beartais aigéin na todhchaí a shocrú. Deis a bheidh sa Chruinniú Mullaigh chun cur leis na comhpháirtíochtaí agus réitigh atá ag teastáil chun déileáil le dúshláin roinnte ionas gur féidir linn a chinntiú go mbeidh an tAigéan Atlantach sláintiúil, athléimneach agus táirgiúil." Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh David Burn, Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: "Ó tharla go bhfuil iarracht á déanamh ag an Eoraip déileáil le dúshláin aigéin atá ag éirí níos casta an t-am ar fad, tá níos mó tábhachta ag baint anois ná riamh le heolas eolaíochta stuama agus le cinnteoireacht atá bunaithe ar fhianaise. Is ardán a bheidh i gCruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026 chun taighde, beartas agus cleachtas a nascadh, a chabhróidh chun bonn eolais a chur ar fáil do thosaíochtaí a bheidh ann amach anseo i gcomhthéacs na hinbhuanaitheachta, na hathléimneachta agus na nuálaíochta aigéin." Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag An Dr Orla Flynn, Uachtarán Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh: "Tá go leor féidearthachtaí ag baint le réigiún an Atlantaigh chomh fada is a bhaineann le dlús a chur le fás eacnamaíoch inbhuanaithe, nuálaíocht agus tairbhe shochaíoch. Ionas gur féidir tairbhe a bhaint as na féidearthachtaí sin beidh gá le hinfheistíocht i ndaoine, scileanna agus comhar mar aon le taighde agus forbairt theicneolaíoch. I láthair ag Cruinniú Mullaigh Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026 beidh saineolaithe éagsúla as ar fud na hEorpa agus réigiún an Atlantaigh trí chéile chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar an tslí is féidir linn cur leis an gcumas, na comhpháirtíochtaí agus na réitigh a bheidh ag teastáil chun tacú le geilleagar gorm inbhuanaithe agus iomaíoch." Suite ar bhord farraige Atlantach na hEorpa, tá cáil idirnáisiúnta ar Ghaillimh mar ionad bairr feabhais don eolaíocht, taighde agus nuálaíocht mhuirí agus aigéin, rud a chiallaíonn nach bhféadfaí áit níos fearr a roghnú chun an Cruinniú seo a eagrú inti. Is ionann an t-imeacht seo agus deis ar leith do cheannairí aigéin chun comhar Atlantach a threisiú agus a chinntiú go mbíonn beartas aigéin i gcroílár chlár iomaíochais, inbhuanaitheachta agus athléimneachta na hEorpa. Thar thréimhse dhá lá, beidh deis ag rannpháirtithe páirt a ghlacadh i gclár spéisiúil a bheidh bunaithe ar spreagaithisc, plé beartais ardleibhéil, plé iomlánach agus malartú líonraithe. I rith an Chruinnithe díreofar ar chuid de na deiseanna agus dúshláin is práinní atá le tabhairt faoi deara san Eoraip agus i réigiún an Atlantaigh go ginearálta, lena n-áirítear pobail chósta a bhfuil teacht aniar iontu, todhchaí gheilleagair an Atlantaigh, breathnóireacht agus nuálaíocht aigéin, aigéin shláintiúla agus tháirgiúla, agus ról na taidhleoireachta eolais, an rialachais agus an athraithe gheopholaitiúill i dtodhchaí an Atlantaigh a mhúnlú. Ag teacht le tiomantas an Chruinnithe Mullaigh do chomhar idirnáisiúnta agus do rannpháirtíocht idirghlúine, mar chuid den chlár déanfar scrúdú freisin ar ról Chomhghuaillíocht Taighde agus Nuálaíochta Aigéin Uile-Atlantaigh mar shamhail do thaidhleoireacht, comhpháirtíocht agus comhoibriú eolaíochta aigéin ar fud imchuach an Atlantaigh. Ag tréimhse chinniúnach chomh fada is a bhaineann le clár aigéin na hEorpa, cabhróidh an léargas agus na moltaí a dhéanfar i rith an Chruinnithe le cur chun feidhme an Chomhshocraithe Eorpaigh um an Aigéan agus an Ghnímh Eorpaigh um an Aigéan, agus cabhróidh siad freisin le bonn eolais a chur ar fáil do thosaíochtaí aigéin na hEorpa amach anseo. Spreagfaidh an Cruinniú Mullaigh uaillmhian chinnteoirí agus pháirtithe leasmhara Eorpacha ionas go ndéanfar infheistíocht níos láidre agus níos spriocdhírithe i dtaighde agus nuálaíocht aigéin faoin gcéad Chreat Airgeadais Ilbhliantúil (CAI) eile agus faoin gcéad Chlár Réime um Thaighde agus um Nuálaíocht (CR10) eile. Réamhchláraigh Anois Cruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh 2026 | Cruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh 2026 Is féidir le daoine agus le heagraíochtaí ar mian leo cur leis an bplé a bhfuil todhchaí aigéin na hEorpa á mhúnlú aige réamhchlárú anois. Chun ionadaíocht chothrom a chinntiú chomh fada is a bhaineann le beartas, taighde, tionscal agus sochaí, leithdháilfear áiteanna trí phróiseas iarratais. Bunaithe ar an leibhéal spéise a bhfuiltear ag súil leis ar fud na hEorpa agus in áiteanna eile níos faide i gcéin, moltar do rannpháirtithe a gcuid iarratas a chur isteach go luath. Críoch

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