Researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences will present their work at the 2025 RCSI Research Day today. This event serves as a platform for researchers at all career stages to share their findings with the broader RCSI community.

Research Day offers RCSI scientists the chance to showcase their latest discoveries while underscoring the vital role of research and innovation in advancing human health within the University.

The Research and Innovation Showcase session celebrates exceptional RCSI research contributions and highlights the world-class clinical research being conducted at RCSI.

Selected presentations from undergraduate, early career and postgraduate researchers will explore a range of topics across three themed sessions including education, population health and sustainability; cancer, genetics, immunology and vascular biology; and neuroscience, regenerative medicine, microbiology and clinical research.

Invited speaker

This year the Distinguished Speaker for the John J. Ryan Lecture is Professor David Mooney from the Wyss Institute, Harvard University who will deliver a talk entitled ‘Matrix Viscoelasticity: Control of Cell Fate to Medical Adhesives’.

Professor Mooney is a leader in the fields of biomaterials, mechanotransduction, drug delivery, tissue engineering and immunoengineering. He is interested in understanding how cells sense signals in their environment and how this alters cell behaviour. His laboratory develops biomaterials that exploit these signals to regulate specific cells and their function. They were the first to demonstrate in 3D culture that the mechanical properties of a substrate regulated stem cell fate. His lab also developed the first implantable biomaterial cancer vaccine that contained biochemical cues to recruit and re-educate the immune system to destroy cancer cells.

Recognising achievements

To conclude the day, awards will be presented to researchers for their outstanding achievements in research and innovation, including awards for invention disclosures; public and patient involvement (PPI) and engagement; research impact; and prizes for Research Day presentations and posters.

As part of the Vice Chancellor Innovation Awards, the Clinician Innovation Award will be presented to Professor Robert Byrne, Chair of Cardiovascular Research at RCSI in recognition of his outstanding leadership role in an industry funded, investigated-initiated study titled CYCLOPES. The CYCLOPES study aims to develop a standardised treatment algorithm for coronary calcification with plaque modification using ultrasound guidance to improve procedural and clinical outcomes.

The Commercialisation Innovation Award will be given to Dr Aamir Hameed, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine at RCSI for his endeavours in founding the RCSI spin-out company Pumpinheart to progress a miniaturised heart pump technology for the treatment of heart failure towards first in human studies.

The Industry Engagement Innovation Award will be presented to Dr Chiara de Santi, Lecturer in Immunology in RCSI’s School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences in recognition of her commitment to collaborating with industry and her success in securing funding for an investigator-initiated cystic fibrosis research project with Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Professor Fergal O'Brien, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, commented on the event: “Research Day provides an opportunity to highlight the outstanding research being conducted across RCSI by our academic staff, early career investigators, as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students.

“It serves as a meaningful recognition of the dedication and accomplishments of our researchers, whose work plays a crucial role in enhancing our understanding and treatment of various health challenges.

“Moreover, the event allows us to celebrate our industry spin-out companies and the successful partnerships with industry we have built – key drivers in translating research into impactful, real-world solutions.”