News & Events

Scientific study reveals unexpected links between anti-cancer drugs and antibiotic effectiveness Scientists from University of Galway have uncovered a surprising link between commonly used anti-cancer drugs and antibiotics that could offer a potential new approach to tackling notorious superbug infections. The research team set out to find new ways to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – better known as MRSA infections - using drugs that are currently ineffective due to antibiotic resistance – a growing challenge in healthcare. The study investigated whether a range of anti-cancer drugs could help penicillin-type antibiotics, which are among the most widely used antibiotics, to become effective again. The study was carried out by researchers Dr Aaron Nolan, Sarah Byrne, Dr Merve Zeden and Professor James O’Gara from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences at University of Galway.   The team tested five anti-cancer drugs and revealed that four of them (5-fluorouracil; 5-fluororidine; gemcitabine; and mitomycin C) helped penicillin-type antibiotics to kill MRSA. These drugs interfere with the bacteria’s ability to make DNA, making the bacteria more vulnerable to the antibiotics. A fifth anti-cancer drug which was tested (6-thioguanine) had the opposite effect and reduced the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Although this drug also affects DNA production in MRSA, it works in a different way, which may explain the different effects. Dr Aaron Nolan, Postdoctoral Researcher and lecturer in Microbiology, explained: "We discovered several anti-cancer drugs that helped antibiotics to kill MRSA. But we also identified one anti-cancer drug that interfered with antibiotic effectiveness highlighting the importance of carefully prescribing the most appropriate antibiotic in patients undergoing chemotherapy."  Sarah Byrne, PhD Researcher in Microbiology, said: “The antibiotic resistance crisis is one of the world's most urgent health challenges. These findings are particularly important for patients with cancer who may need treatment for bacterial infections while also taking chemotherapy drugs.” MRSA is a type of S. aureus bacteria that has developed resistance to commonly used antibiotics, making infections more difficult to treat. The findings also suggest that drugs already used to treat cancer could potentially be used alongside antibiotics to help them work against resistant bacteria. Assistant Professor in Microbiology Dr Merve Zeden said: "Our findings suggest that certain drugs originally developed for cancer treatment may have the potential to be repurposed alongside antibiotics. This could offer a new strategy to re-sensitise bacteria that have become resistant to existing treatments." The findings build on the team's ongoing research, which has identified the process of DNA production as a vulnerability in MRSA. By interfering with this process, some of the anti-cancer drugs tested in the study appear to make the bacteria more vulnerable to antibiotics. The discovery opens new avenues for research into combination therapies that pair antibiotics with non-antibiotic drugs. Such approaches could help extend the lifespan of existing antibiotics and provide new options for infections caused by bacteria resistant to traditional antibiotic treatments. Professor of Microbiology at University of Galway, James O'Gara, said: “We are excited by this discovery, which advances our long-term goal of finding new ways to boost the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against superbugs like MRSA. Because this approach relies on existing medications rather than developing completely new drugs, it could provide a faster route towards developing new strategies to improve patient care." The paper is published in mBio, the flagship journal of the American Society for Microbiology, is available at https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01274-26. Ends

 University of Galway will host the 51st Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium on September 4th and 5th 2026.  The Symposium is recognised as Ireland’s largest Surgical Conference and is held in memory of Galway-born Surgeon Sir Peter Freyer, who performed the first successful operation to remove an enlarged prostate in 1900. It comprises research and education sessions across various surgical subspecialties, two keynote addresses and a discussion forum about emergency surgery in Ireland.  The keynote addresses at this year’s event will be delivered by two internationally recognised surgeons from the UK and Ireland. Professor Shafi Ahmed will deliver the Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture - Intelligent: The Evolution of AI Transforming Healthcare, on Friday, September 4th; and Professor Helen Heneghan will deliver the State of the Art Lecture - The Changing Landscape of Obesity Treatment: Personalised Approaches to Optimise Surgery and Outcomes, on Saturday, September 5th.  Professor Shafi Ahmed is a surgeon, educator and healthcare innovator and known for pioneering the use of technology in medicine. He has helped shape the future of surgical training through his work in digital health, virtual reality and medical education and has delivered more than 350 keynote presentations in more than 70 countries. Professor Ahmed is a Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon specialising in colorectal cancer at The Royal London and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals. He is also Professor of Strategic Innovation at Bolton University, Honorary Professor of Practice at UCL Global Business School for Health and Visiting Professor at Imperial College London.  Professor Helen Heneghan is a Consultant Bariatric and General Surgeon at St Vincent’s University Hospital and Professor of Surgery at University College Dublin. A graduate of the University of Galway, she completed her basic surgical training at Galway University Hospital and was awarded a PhD by the University in 2012. She is the Surgical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for Obesity and President and co-founder of the Society for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Ireland.   The 51st Sir Peter Freyer Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium will also host the first telesurgery training event for surgeons and surgical trainees.   Professor Ahmed will unveil for the first time a new global AI platform, designed to change how surgeons learn, develop and navigate their careers. Surgeon.AI is the first global surgical training platform being launched in Ireland and represents a significant milestone for the Irish Medtech and AI Surgical Innovation sectors. The platform brings surgical education, career development and personalised learning into a single AI-powered platform designed to support surgeons from medical school and training through to consultant or attending level. The platform includes a proprietary AI-driven algorithm designed to track how an individual’s surgical knowledge and capabilities develop over time by using artificial intelligence to make high-quality, personalised surgical education more accessible to surgeons around the world.    The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) will provide surgical trainees and surgeons in Galway with the opportunity to remotely operate the Sentire Surgical System located at its Robotic Surgery and Research Centre in Dublin. Supported by University of Galway and Cornerstone Robotics, the workshop will demonstrate the potential of telesurgery to expand access to robotic surgery education and training across Ireland.  Professor Michael Kerin, Professor of Surgery at University of Galway and President of RCSI, who is hosting the event with his colleague Professor Stewart Walsh, Chair of Surgery at University of Galway, said: “We are honoured to welcome Professor Ahmed and Professor Heneghan to the University of Galway. Professor Ahmed’s pioneering work in digital health, virtual reality and healthcare innovation will provide an important perspective on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in medicine. It is also a pleasure to welcome Professor Heneghan back to Galway. As a graduate of the University and a former trainee at Galway University Hospital, she has become a leading clinician in bariatric and metabolic surgery. Her lecture will address one of the most important challenges facing modern healthcare.  “We are particularly proud to host the pioneering telesurgery training workshop, in collaboration with RCSI and Cornerstone Robotics UK, which highlights how innovation and collaboration can expand access to advanced robotic surgery education and training across Ireland.  “Both lectures form the centrepiece of a large programme showcasing some of the finest surgical research this country has to offer. The Conference marks the start of the academic year and has long been a mainstay of the national academic surgical community, underpinned by the contributions of Consultants and Trainees from across every specialty in Irish surgery. We are also delighted to welcome the RCSI Council, who will hold their out-of-town meeting at University of Galway during the event.”   Ends 

Tá sé fógartha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe go bhfuil triúr léachtóirí nua ceaptha i Roinn na Gaeilge. Tá saineolas ar leith tugtha ag an Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill, an Dr Colm Ó Cuaig agus an Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile chuig an Ollscoil sna réimsí seo a leanas: an béaloideas, an Nua-Ghaeilge Mhoch, an Léann Ceilteach agus an teangeolaíocht stairiúil. Cuirfidh na léachtóirí nua leis an teagasc agus leis an taighde i Roinn na Gaeilge agus leis an bpleanáil le haghaidh MA nua sa Ghaeilge, a thabharfaidh deis do mhic léinn ardstaidéar a dhéanamh ar theanga, ar litríocht agus ar chultúr na Gaeilge. Tá tuilleadh eolais faoin MA sa Ghaeilge atá beartaithe ar fáil anseo. Tá an Dr Ailbhe Nic Giolla Chomhaill ceaptha i Roinn na Gaeilge mar Léachtóir le Béaloideas. Bhí sí i gceannas ar Léann na Gaeilge in Ollscoil Luimnigh roimhe seo. Chuir sí PhD i gcrích in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in 2018. Bronnadh Gradam Scoláireachta Fulbright uirthi in 2023-24 chun taighde béaloidis a dhéanamh in Ollscoil Indiana Bloomington sna Stáit Aontaithe. Is í an Dr Nic Giolla Chomhaill údar An Chaora Ghlas agus Scéalta Eile as Seanadh Farracháin (2016). I measc a cuid spéiseanna taighde tá scéalta iontais arna n-insint ag scéalaithe ban in Éirinn agus in Albain le linn an 20ú haois, béaloideas agus éiceolaíocht, imirce agus an traidisiún béil. Tá an Dr Colm Ó Cuaig ina shaineolaí ar an Nua-Ghaeilge Mhoch (1200-1650 CE). Chuir sé PhD sa Nua-Ghaeilge i gcrích in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in 2017 sular thosaigh sé ag obair le hAcadamh Ríoga na hÉireann, áit ar oibrigh sé ar Foclóir Stairiúil na Gaeilge. Tá sé ina chomheagarthóir ar Dúchan: Blúirí ó Fhoclóir Mháirtín Uí Chadhain (2025). I measc a chuid spéiseanna taighde tá digitiú acmhainní Gaeilge agus úsáid na hintleachta saorga i múineadh agus i dtraidisiún lámhscríbhinní na hÉireann. Is saineolaí é an Dr Oisín Ó Muirthile ar na teangacha Ceilteacha agus an teangeolaíocht stairiúil. Bhronn Ollscoil Harvard PhD air as a chuid taighde ar fhorbairt theangeolaíoch na Gaimise-na Caintise (Seiltis), teanga Thaistealaithe na hÉireann. Tá sé ina chomheagarthóir ar Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium (2022 agus 2023). Tá sé ceaptha mar Léachtóir leis an Léann Ceilteach. Beidh múineadh agus taighde ar litríocht na Sean-Ghaeilge (700-900 CE) agus na meánaoise mar chúram air. Dúirt an tOllamh Rióna Ní Fhrighil, Ceann Roinn na Gaeilge in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Cuirfidh na ceapacháin nua seo le leithne ár gcuid taighde agus teagaisc i Roinn na Gaeilge. Leagann an t-earcú seo béim ar thiomantas Ollscoil na Gaillimhe do léann na Gaeilge, idir theanga, litríocht agus chultúr. Cuirimid fáilte ó chroí roimh ár gcomhghleacaithe nua agus táimid ag tnúth le bheith ag obair leo ar thionscadail teagaisc agus taighde a bheas nuálach agus spreagúil.” Cuir aithne ar an triúr léachtóirí nua agus faigh amach faoin taighde agus teagasc atá ar bun acu anseo. Críoch