The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has contributed to the autumn series of RTÉ's ‘The Science Squad' and will feature in four different episodes. RCSI's contribution to this programme, which commences this Friday, 6 September at 7.30pm on RTÉ One, is a great opportunity to showcase and raise the profile of the excellent and diverse research at the College.

Presented by Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, Kathriona Devereux and Jonathon McCrea, The Science Squad will air this Friday evening and thereafter weekly for seven weeks. Here is a preview of the series featuring the various RCSI departments:

PROGRAMME 2 - 13 September
Growing Bones - Episode 2 features Professor Fergal O'Brien and his team of researchers, who have developed a new organic material which harnesses the body's own regenerative power to repair damaged bones and cartilage. Fergal's company SurgaColl can demonstrate some great advances in both animal and human health care. The Science Squad will also meet Ireland and Leinster rugby star Gordon D'Arcy who discusses the potential impact of this ground-breaking research in elite sports.

PROGRAMME 4 - 27 September
Do you have what it takes to be a top surgeon? - It has been acknowledged that certain natural abilities and personality characteristics can influence surgeons' performance. At RCSI, new technologies have allowed for a move towards more skills lab training involving simulators, where students can learn skills in a controlled environment, allowing for safer and accelerated learning. An RCSI team including Professor Oscar Traynor tests, presenter, Jonathan's natural suitability to a surgical profession, highlighting both the new technology being used in skills labs and the human factors modules that are transforming surgical training.

PROGRAMME 6 - 18 October
GP Surgery of the Future - New technologies, from the Biomedical Diagnostic Institute in DCU, are now being used in clinical trials at the RCSI Clinical Research Centre in Beaumont Hospital, where Aoibhinn meets Professor Dermot Kenny to find out how these new tests could transform the future of healthcare. These developments allow for simple testing of major diseases, such as cancer, liver disease and cardiovascular conditions, in primary care settings such as the GP office rather than being referred to hospitals for major testing.

PROGRAMME 7 - 27 October
Malaria - Malaria is a huge global public health problem, which claims approximately 1 million lives each year. RCSI has developed a new vaccine that is being trialled in Ireland. In this episode, Kathriona meets Professor Sam McConkey, Head of International Health and Tropical Medicine at RCSI and Principal Investigator on the trial to find out about the development of this potential vaccine, and speaks to some of the volunteers who are involved in the clinical trials.

This promises to be an excellent series. Please slot these times into your diary and tune in to RTÉ One this Friday evening at 7.30pm. You can watch the trailer for The Science Squad at http://vimeo.com/73148805.