In the News..

Researchers have gained a greater understanding of the role inflammation plays in Huntington’s disease progression, to help identify potential therapeutic targets for treatment. The study was led by University of Galway and investigated whether the degree of inflammation in the midcingulate cortex - a part of the brain that plays a role in emotion processing, decision-making and cognitive control - correlates with the degree of cell death and type and severity of symptoms, particularly mood-related symptoms in Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease that causes the progressive death of nerve cells in the brain. It has a broad impact on a person's functional abilities and usually results in movement, cognitive and psychiatric problems. Behavioural and psychiatric symptoms are often named the most burdensome for patients and their families, changing family roles, dynamics and relationships. The study was published in the journal Communications Medicine and can be read here.   Professor Andrea Kwakowsky, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Galway, and lead author, said: “With our society facing an ageing population, Huntington’s disease could become more common, with some patients showing low-grade, late-onset forms of the disease. “Overall, the results present a complex picture of potential inflammation priming - where cells or tissues exposed to an initial inflammatory signal become more persistent - in the Huntington’s disease midcingulate cortex, rather than a highly active inflammatory response within the central nervous system. “This research shows that neuroinflammation-related genes are activated in all Huntington’s disease cases, and are particularly strong in cases with dominant motor symptoms compared to those with mood or mixed symptoms. “The results point to a unique involvement of the midcingulate cortex in motor-specific neuroinflammatory pathology, suggesting it may serve as an early marker of disease progression and merits further study.” The researchers performed critical experiments to determine the degree of inflammation in the midcingulate cortex and its link to Huntington’s disease symptoms, particularly the behavioural and psychiatric symptoms. They also identified novel genes which are involved in neuroinflammatory processes. Prolonged inflammation in the brain can be destructive. The physiological symptoms of Huntington’s disease have been linked to neuroinflammation due to the presence of inflammatory mediators - chemical substances released by immune cells, and reactive glial cells - the brain’s fundamental response to damage. Many cell communication pathways likely interact to propagate neuroinflammation in the brain. Professor Kwakowsky said: “Neuroinflammation is thought to cause cell loss, and cell loss in the cingulate cortex – a brain region that links emotion, cognition, memory and motor function – linked to Huntington’s disease mood symptoms. However, the presence of neuroinflammation in Huntington’s disease of the midcingulate cortex, which manages emotion regulation, has not yet been investigated.” The study was funded by the University of Galway, Aotearoa Foundation, Centre for Brain Research, the University of Auckland, the Health Research Council of New Zealand, Alzheimer’s New Zealand, Freemasons New Zealand, Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, and the Whau Foundation.  Ends

Hedgehog Conservation Ireland and researchers at University of Galway and University of Oxford are calling on people to take part in the inaugural Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count, aimed at helping scientists better understand the status of Ireland’s hedgehog population. From Monday June 8th, members of the public are encouraged to keep an eye out for hedgehogs in their gardens, parks, farms, estates, campuses and public green spaces, and report sightings online. The nationwide citizen science campaign aims to build a clearer picture of where hedgehogs are still thriving across Ireland and where populations may be under pressure. Participants can submit sightings at https://www.irishhedgehogsurvey.com/. Hedgehogs play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by naturally helping to control populations of insects, slugs and other garden pests, making them an important part of Ireland’s biodiversity. The initiative is part of a growing national effort to better understand and protect Ireland’s hedgehogs, whose numbers are believed to be declining due to habitat loss, road traffic, pesticides and changes in land use. Across Europe, hedgehogs are now classified as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List. Recent studies suggest hedgehog populations have declined significantly in parts of western Europe over recent decades, making public reporting initiatives increasingly important for conservation research. Hedgehog Conservation Ireland is led by Elaine O’Riordan, University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, Dr Amy Haigh, Veon Ecology, Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Natural History Museum Denmark and WildCRU, University of Oxford, and Alan Bell, Eco Restoration Trust. Elaine O’Riordan, researcher at University of Galway and lead researcher for the Irish Hedgehog Survey, said: “Public participation is vital because hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, and monitoring them on a large scale would be impossible without community support. People across Ireland can make a real contribution to hedgehog conservation simply by reporting sightings. Every record helps us understand where hedgehogs are living and how populations are changing over time. Gardens and green spaces are becoming increasingly important refuges for wildlife, and we’re encouraging everyone to keep an eye out during the count week.” The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is open to everyone, whether they live in a city, town, village, or rural area. Participants are encouraged to look for hedgehogs at dusk or after dark, when the animals are most active. Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, also known as Dr Hedgehog, hedgehog researcher at WildCRU, University of Oxford and member of Hedgehog Conservation Ireland, said: “If you do not have a garden yourself, you can look for hedgehogs in the local park, or travel to the forest or the countryside. And if you are young and cannot stay up late when the hedgehogs become active, you can also report road-killed hedgehogs - every record counts and helps us build a better understanding of where hedgehogs are found.             “It is very important that we do not disturb the hedgehogs during the count. We do not want to risk any nests being disrupted or stressing the animals. Please wait for hedgehogs to appear naturally on the lawn when they become active at dusk and admire them from a distance.” Organisers hope the event will not only gather valuable scientific data but also encourage more people to connect with local wildlife and make their gardens and communities more hedgehog-friendly by creating safe spaces for nature to thrive. The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is expected to become an annual event. For more information about the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count and how to take part, visit:https://www.hedgehogsireland.com/research-actions/hedgehog-count Ends

 University of Galway report examines “mate crime”, safeguarding, and access to justice A major new research report examining the experiences of disabled people subjected to targeted exploitation and abuse in Ireland has been launched at University of Galway.  The report, Living Independently & Free from Targeted Abuse (LIFT): Understanding Mate Crime and the Experiences of Disabled People, presents findings from a national research project funded by Research Ireland in partnership with the Policing and Community Safety Authority.  The report examines the issue commonly referred to as “mate crime”, where individuals are befriended and manipulated for the purposes of exploitation, coercion, abuse, or criminal activity.  It highlights their experiences including financial exploitation, online targeting, misuse of accommodation, coercive control, sexual exploitation and barriers faced by disabled people when seeking support or reporting concerns. Participants in the research described experiences involving online scams, financial exploitation, grooming, coercion, social isolation and situations where individuals posing as friends gradually exploited trust. A recurring theme across the interviews and focus groups was that many participants did not initially recognise what was happening to them as abuse or exploitation, while others were reluctant to report experiences due to shame, fear of losing friendships or relationships, concerns about not being believed, or worries about Garda and justice system responses. Participants and stakeholders also identified the absence of a specific criminal offence or formal recognition of mate crime in Ireland as contributing to the issue remaining largely hidden. Participants described experiences of exploitation leading to financial hardship, loss of confidence, fear, emotional distress, social isolation, and significant negative impacts on independent living and participation in their community. Stakeholders and participants strongly agreed that the issue remains significantly underreported. Dr Charles O’Mahony, Associate Professor in the School of Law at University of Galway and Principal Investigator of the project, said: “This research highlights that many disabled people in Ireland are experiencing serious forms of exploitation and abuse that frequently remain hidden. What makes this particularly complex is that the abuse often develops within relationships presented as friendship, support, care, or trust. The findings demonstrate the need for better safeguarding responses, better awareness, a more accessible justice system, and greater community understanding of how mate crime can occur.”  Helen Hall, Chief Executive of the Policing and Community Safety Authority, said: “The PCSA is delighted to have funded this innovative project, which illustrates the value of bringing academics, practitioners and people with lived experience together to bring real insight into community safety issues. I hope that this research contributes to improving policing services for those at risk of exploitation and abuse by people they trust, by highlighting the need for greater awareness, improved reporting, and a consistent, effective and multi-agency response to a problem that is often invisible.”  Breda Golden, Head of Safeguarding, Corlann, said: “At Corlann, we see how disabled people can be placed at risk simply because they are seeking connection, support, or community. Disabled people in Ireland are being targeted, exploited, and harmed in ways that are too often dismissed or ignored. Mate crime is not a misunderstanding, it is abuse. We need increased awareness and coordinated safeguarding action so disabled people are no longer left to navigate danger alone. Corlann is proud to support this research.”  The research involved key interviews with stakeholders from disability services, advocacy organisations, safeguarding teams, policing, and the justice sector, alongside a national survey and focus groups with disabled people and people supporting individuals in the community across Ireland.  The report includes recommendations relating to disability awareness training, safeguarding legislation, accessible reporting mechanisms, online safety, and stronger coordination between disability organisations, advocacy groups, community services, and An Garda Síochána.  The launch event included a private screening of a short film developed in collaboration with Blue Teapot Theatre Company titled MateCrime. The film was informed directly by the lived experiences and themes emerging from the research.  Petal Pilley, Director at Blue Teapot Theatre Company, said: “On occasion complex social and world issues can be met by art and in the alchemy of that encounter be distilled into forms that communicate truths with immediacy beyond words. We hope this film is one such encounter.”  The event also featured discussion on safeguarding, disability rights, community safety, and access to justice for disabled people in Ireland.  The full report is available here.  Ends