In the News..

 University of Galway has been awarded funding for 25 collaborative projects as part of the ENLIGHT European university alliance.  Academics and researchers leading the partnerships will focus on a range of areas including migration; cancer; hydrogen energy; multilingualism; accessible AI transformation; neurotherapies; and pain.  A total of €1.64million was awarded across the alliance to enable University of Galway staff to work with counterparts in 10 European countries across the ENLIGHT alliance, along with external stakeholders. The collaboration projects are all in areas linked to the University’s key research pillars of Innovation for Health, Creativity, Culture and Society, Transformative Data and AI and Sustainable and Resilient Environments.  Alexander Metcalfe, Vice-President for International, University of Galway, said: “ENLIGHT is a hugely positive initiative for University of Galway that has flourished in the last few years. This engagement with our ENLIGHT partners will support our strategic ambitions in education and research by providing diverse international opportunities to our university community and enabling our academics to further strengthen their international networks.  “The focus of this second stage of ENLIGHT funding is on embedding the European University Alliance in each partner institution and in each country. Our 25 funded projects demonstrate that we are doing just that here in the west of Ireland and we look forward to seeing the outputs of these initiatives over the coming years.”  ENLIGHT is an alliance of ten European universities in ten European countries, with the aim of transforming higher education and empowering learners as globally engaged citizens. ENLIGHT is funded under the European University Initiative, part of the European Commission’s flagship strategy for higher education. It is also supported by the Higher Education Authority.  In 2023, the European Commission announced ENLIGHT would be supported with a four-year, €14.4 million investment, with a significant portion of that funding earmarked for academic collaboration, emphasising the alliance’s commitment to supporting scholars.  The collaborative projects are supported through the European Thematic Network initiative, which enables a community of multidisciplinary academic teams from at least three universities in the alliance to join forces around a specific topic with societal relevance and impact. Ends  

University of Galway is inviting prospective students and professionals to take the next step in their academic and career journey at its Postgraduate Open Evening. The event takes place on campus on Tuesday, November 11th from 4–6pm in the Bailey Allen Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn. The evening offers a unique opportunity to explore more than 160 full-time and part-time postgraduate programmes, from taught and research master’s degrees, PhDs, as well as flexible online and blended learning pathways. Attendees will have the chance to meet lecturers, current students and other support staff to learn more about course content, entry requirements, career pathways, funding opportunities and the application process. A highlight of the evening will be the talk - The A–Z of a PhD at University of Galway - at 5pm, providing invaluable guidance for anyone looking to undertake a PhD. Information on scholarships and funding opportunities will also be available, including the €1,500 Taught Master’s Scholarship for EU students who achieve first-class honours in their undergraduate degree, and the Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (MGO) - the Professional Master of Education bursary, which provides €2,000 per year to all student teachers on the two-year programme.             Caroline Duggan, Head of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Recruitment at University of Galway, said: “A postgraduate qualification can open doors, whether you are continuing from undergraduate studies or returning to education to advance your career. Our programmes are designed to equip graduates with specialised knowledge, real-world experience through placements and internships, and the skills to thrive in an ever-changing job market.” University of Galway offers postgraduate programmes across a broad range of disciplines, including Arts and Humanities, Business, Law, Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine, Health Sciences, and Nursing. For more information or to register visit www.universityofgalway.ie/postgraduate-open-day. Ends

Breast cancer research scientists at University of Galway have secured a new five-year €1.4 million project to drive the next generation of cancer care as part of Precision Oncology Ireland.  The research is funded by €700,000 from the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI), which is matched by Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland.  Supported by the Galway University Foundation, the new commitment by NBCRI to breast cancer research at University of Galway builds on the Signature Partnership with the charity which was announced in May 2025. It also reaffirms NBCRI’s focus on a research-informed approach to improving patient outcomes, delivered by cancer research experts.  The Precision Oncology Ireland programme will support research by Professor Róisín Dwyer, Professor Aoife Lowery and Professor Michael Kerin, all of whom are based at the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and the Lambe Institute, linking translational and clinical research.  The new investment will enable translational breast cancer research, including: Investigation of the potential for treatment of advanced breast cancer using short sequences of RNA - the molecule in all cells which carries genetic codes. Identification of biomarkers to predict how patients will respond to treatment, to ensure they only receive beneficial treatments. Increasing understanding of factors that impact the quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy, such as treatment toxicity, anxiety, exercise. The research partnership is part of Precision Oncology Ireland Phase 2 which was formally launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D. Precision Oncology Ireland is a consortium of universities, charities and international companies, collaborating to deliver next generation cancer care in Ireland.  The new commitment, extending to 2030, expands the work progressed in the first iteration of Precision Oncology Ireland, cementing established research collaborations and developing new ones.  Professor Róisín Dwyer, Principal Investigator at University of Galway’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, led the application for the Precision Oncology Ireland research project on behalf of University of Galway and NBCRI.  Professor Dwyer said: “Precision Oncology Ireland-2 provides a unique ecosystem where experts from a broad range of backgrounds come together with a common goal - to improve quality of life and outcomes for cancer patients. “We are delighted to continue our involvement in this impactful consortium and look forward to contributing to development of approaches to ensure patients receive appropriate targeted therapies while minimising side effects.”   Caroline Loughnane, Chairperson of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, said:  “The mission of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute is to raise funds to support world-class breast cancer research at University of Galway. We are delighted to match the funding from Research Ireland to support the Precision Oncology Ireland breast cancer research programme at the Lambe Institute. Partnering with national research consortia and collaborators is critical for sharing knowledge to improve our understanding of breast cancer, with the goal of delivering better treatments for patients.” Ends