Researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have been awarded over €3 million in funding by the Health Research Board (HRB) to support their research career development as future leaders in health research.

The funding, part of the HRB’s Emerging Investigator Awards and the Emerging Clinician Scientist Awards schemes, was designed to build a pipeline of future leaders in health and social care research. Of the 13 awards announced, three were granted to RCSI researchers.

The successful RCSI applicants were:

• Dr Mark Murphy, Research Fellow, RCSI Department of Medicine: This project explores the causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the rare disease Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and will look at the possibility of targeting these as potential therapies. Two novel treatments targeting inflammation and cell death or aging cells will be tested, aiming to preserve lung function for patients.
• Professor Imran Sulaiman, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, RCSI Department of Medicine: This study investigates how the lung microbiome contributes to COPD development. By examining lung samples using advanced technologies, the research aims to uncover the role of microorganisms in early-stage COPD and identify new strategies to improve the quality and safety of care for patients with COPD in Ireland.
• Ms Roisin Dolan: This project introduces a novel approach to kidney transplant rejection monitoring using a new technique called a sentinel skin flap (SSF). This small skin patch acts as an early warning system for rejection, enabling faster treatment and potentially reducing reliance on immunosuppressive drugs while reducing damage to the new kidney.

Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, commented: “My congratulations to the RCSI recipients on their remarkable success in such competitive HRB awards. At RCSI, we are proud to be fostering the next generation of research leaders. These projects embody our patient-centered and innovative ethos, and I look forward to seeing the impact they deliver.”

Dr Mairéad O'Driscoll, Chief Executive at the HRB, said: “These awards are part of the HRB’s strategic commitment to build research leadership across academic and clinical environments in Ireland. They will create a critical mass of collaborative investigators who will respond to current and emerging health research needs and bridge a key gap in career transition between postdoctoral and research independence stages.”