University of Galway led research project funded by the Health Research Board    A University of Galway researcher has secured funding from the Health Research Board (HRB) to advance blood pressure treatment using artificial intelligence.  The project led by Dr Conor Judge - An Artificial Intelligence approach to improving blood pressure treatment - is set to revolutionise the management and treatment of hypertension, a critical health issue affecting more than 1.4 billion people around the world. The funding of €700,000 has been awarded under the HRB’s Clinician Scientist Fellowships (CSF) 2023 scheme. The research project will run for four years and aims to address the significant care-gap in hypertension management, which currently requires people with the condition to visit their doctor frequently, thus posing a challenge to both the person with hypertension and the healthcare providers, by exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing treatment decisions. Initially, the project will analyse two extensive clinical trials on blood pressure treatment to train a computer program to make treatment decisions similar to clinical hypertension experts. Following this, safety features will be integrated into the AI program to ensure reliable recommendations, especially in unfamiliar medical scenarios. The project will carry out comprehensive surveys with both clinicians and people being treated for high blood pressure to gauge their perceptions of AI-driven treatment. The final step involves a thorough evaluation of the AI program's efficacy in recommending blood pressure treatments in a real world setting. Dr Conor Judge, a senior lecturer of applied clinical data analytics with University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Consultant Nephrologist at Saolta University Health Care Group said: “Doctor capacity is a crucial factor that limits how well we can control high blood pressure, leading to a significant gap in managing this condition worldwide.”  “The overarching goal is to personalise hypertension management, thereby bridging the existing care-gap and significantly reducing the global burden of hypertension-related complications. The project's findings could potentially set a precedent for employing AI in managing other critical health conditions, marking a significant stride towards integrating AI in routine clinical practice.” The research will be supervised by Professor Martin O'Donnell, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Professor of Neurovascular Medicine at University of Galway, and Consultant Geriatrician at Saolta University Health Care Group. Professor O’Donnell said: “Artificial Intelligence Clinical Decision Support Systems (AICDSS) for Hypertension holds considerable potential to improving hypertension management but require rigorous evaluation before assimilation into routine clinical practice. “This scheme is designed to fund health and social care practitioners who have completed their PhD and are engaged in clinical care delivery. The primary aim is to nurture these professionals into independent clinician researchers with a profound ambition to influence policy and practice through their research endeavours.” Ends  

Beidh comhdháil mhór idirnáisiúnta ar an tsláine acadúil agus taighde ar siúl an tseachtain seo in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe  i gcomhpháirtíocht leis an Líonra Náisiúnta do Shláine Acadúil (NAIN). An aidhm atá ag Comhdháil na hÉireann 2023 ar an tSláine Acadúil agus Taighde deis a thabhairt do mhic léinn, taighdeoirí, acadóirí agus dóibh siúd a oibríonn go gairmiúil san earnáil bualadh lena chéile chun foghlaim óna chéile, smaointe a roinnt, agus dul i mbun machnaimh i dteannta a chéile maidir leis na céimeanna praiticiúla atá riachtanach chun go gcothófar luach na sláine tuilleadh san earnáil ardoideachais. Reáchtálfar an chomhdháil in Óstán Galmont i gCathair na Gaillimhe ón gCéadaoin, an 4 Deireadh Fómhair go dtí Dé hAoine, an 6 Deireadh Fómhair 2023. Is féidir clárú, breathnú ar chlár na comhdhála, agus eolas breise a fháil anseo Seo a leanas roinnt de na téamaí a bheidh idir chaibidil ag an gcomhdháil: dúshláin a bhaineann leis an teicneolaíocht a aithint agus deiseanna tacú leis an tsláine acadúil agus taighde cosúil le ChatGPT, Google Translate, DALL-E, etc; athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar bhealaí chun déileáil le mí-iompar acadúil agus taighde - polasaithe agus cleachtais; agus comhpháirtíochtaí mac léinn a chruthú le go gcuirfí le cultúr sláine acadúil atá faoi stiúir mac léinn. I measc na bpríomhchainteoirí ag an gcomhdháil beidh saineolaithe idirnáisiúnta mór le rá i réimsí na Sláine Acadúla agus Taighde agus san áireamh beidh Elisabeth Bik (California, Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá), Sarah Elaine Eaton (Calgary, Ceanada), Lex Bouter (Amstardam, an Ísiltír), Phil Newton (Swansea, an Bhreatain Bheag), Serge Horbach (Aarhus, an Danmhairg), agus Ann Rogerson (Wollongong, an Astráil).  Tá sé mar aidhm ag an gcomhdháil freisin treoir agus tacaíocht phraiticiúil a chur ar fáil, naisc a dhéanamh idir na téamaí agus ár bpobail chleachtais a neartú tuilleadh. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh: “Is am tráthúil tús bliain acadúil nua chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar bhunphrionsabail an ardoideachais, agus ní mór don tsláine de gach cineál a bheith ina príomhluach d’ollscoileanna. An cúram atá orainn le chéile dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin atá á dtabhairt ag an intleacht shaorga don taighde, don teagasc agus don fhoghaim, agus is fóram thar a bheith feiliúnach an chomhdháil seo don phobal ollscoile teacht le chéile agus breithniú a dhéanamh ar ar féidir linn a dhéanamh chun na caighdeáin is airde sláine a chothabháil agus a chosaint sa chóras oideachais agus cáilíochtaí.” Seo mar a labhair an Dr Billy Kelly, Cathaoirleach an Líonra Náisiúnta do Shláine Acadúil:: “Tá áthas ar an Líonra Náisiúnta do Shláine Acadúil (NAIN) an chomhdháil seo a óstáil i gcomhar le hOllscoil na Gaillimhe. Tá dúshlán á thabhairt do chleachtais reatha teagaisc, foghlama agus measúnaithe i láthair na huaire mar thoradh ar dhul chun cinn na teicneolaíochta agus tá iarmhairtí suntasacha ag na dúshláin sin, idir iarbhír agus féideartha, don tsláine acadúil agus don tsláine taighde araon. Soláthrófar deis ag an gcomhdháil seo foghlaim ó cheannairí idirnáisiúnta agus náisiúnta sa spás seo, agus tabharfaidh na rannpháirtithe leo léargais phraiticiúla agus indéanta mar ábhar plé laistigh dá n-eagraíochtaí agus dá bpobail chleachtais féin.” Críoch

University of Galway is to host a major international conference on academic and research integrity this week, in partnership with the National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN). Academic & Research Integrity Conference Ireland 2023 sets out to offer students, researchers, academics and professional staff in the sector the opportunity to come together to learn from each other, share ideas and think collectively about what practical steps are needed to sustain the value of integrity at the heart of higher education. The conference will take place at the Galmont Hotel in Galway city from Wednesday October 4th to Friday October 6th 2023. Registration, conference programme and further details are available here Some of the themes to be featured at the conference include: identifying technology-related challenges and opportunities for supporting academic and research integrity such as ChatGPT, Google Translate, DALL-E, etc; reviewing approaches to academic and research misconduct - policies and practices; and creating student partnerships to enhance a culture of student-led academic integrity. Keynote speakers at the conference include prominent international experts in the fields of Academic and Research Integrity including: -      Elisabeth Bik, a science integrity volunteer and consultant who has worked at Stanford University and in industry. -      Sarah Elaine Eaton, Associate Professor in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary, Canada and Honorary Associate Professor, Deakin University, Australia -      Lex Bouter, Professor Emeritus of Methodology and Integrity at the Department of Epidemiology and Data Science of the Amsterdam University Medical Centers and the Department of Philosophy of the Faculty of Humanities of the Vrije Universiteit -      Phil Newton, neuroscientist at the Swansea University Medical School -      Serge Horbach from the Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy, Aarhus University. -      Ann Rogerson, Associate Dean (Education) at the Faculty of Business and Law at University of Wollongong, Australia The conference also aims to offer practical guidance and support, and to make connections across the themes and further strengthen our communities of practice. Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, said: “The start of a new academic year is an opportune time to reflect on the core principles of higher education, and integrity, in all its forms, must be a leading value for universities. Together, we face the task of coming to grips with the challenges to research, teaching, and learning posed by generative artificial intelligence, and this conference provides a perfect venue for members of the university community to gather and to consider what we can do to maintain the highest standards of integrity in our education and qualifications.” Dr Billy Kelly, Chair of the National Academic Integrity Network, said: “The National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN) is pleased to co-host this conference with University of Galway. At the current time, advancements in technology challenge current teaching, learning and assessment practices and these challenges have significant actual and potential consequences for both academic and research integrity. The conference will be an opportunity to learn from international and national leaders in this space, with all participants taking away tangible and actionable insights to discuss within their own organisations and communities of practice.” Ends