news 2024

A new study has revealed that multiple sclerosis could be halted by targeting cells that react to the Epstein-Barr virus. Dr Éanna Fennell, a postdoctoral researcher at University of Limerick, was among the research team involved in this study, who are based at the Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zürich.

Posted on: 18 August 2025 A new comprehensive atlas of cells fills gaps in knowledge on how different cells in the intestine act together to drive coeliac disease, potentially opening new avenues for future therapeutic intervention Coeliac disease is a long-term autoimmune condition that affects about 0.5% to 1% of people.

A new study redefines healthy aging as an environmental, social, and political phenomenon, and calls on public health strategies to expand beyond lifestyle prescriptions to address structural inequalities and governance deficits. The groundbreaking international study of 161,981 participants across 40 countries, published in Nature Medicine today reveals that air pollution, social inequality, and weak democratic institutions substantially accelerate aging.

A new study by researchers at University of Limerick has identified an increased risk of mental health issues for young carers. According to the study, which has just been published in the prestigious The Lancet Public Health journal, over time caring increased young people's risk of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and self-harm.

A comparative study shows that marine worms shattered their genome and rebuilt it in a radically different form when they first emerged from the sea 200 million years ago. The identified "genomic disorder" mechanism, similar to the one observed in cancer development in humans, could shed light on the evolutionary origin of terrestrial biodiversity and contribute to human health.

The discovery will help scientists now explore the important role of "queuosine", a microscopic molecule first discovered in the 1970s, in cancer and human health. An international team of scientists, co-led by researchers at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Florida, has cracked a decades-old mystery in human biology: how our bodies absorb a micronutrient that we rely on for everything from healthy brain function to guarding against cancer.

Study marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance, a global public health threat A new groundbreaking large-scale research study from University of Limerick marks a major milestone in the battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global public health threat that could add a trillion US dollars to worldwide healthcare costs over the next 25 years.

New research from scientists at Trinity College Dublin strongly implies that heatwaves have a major influence on the spread of many diseases - and that many existing predictive models have overlooked this complexity.

Help improve our website & get rewarded. Register your interest and you could win a gift card up to €50! Results from the Irish European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) survey were published today. The survey was carried out by the TobaccoFree Research Institute Ireland at Technological University Dublin for the Department of Health, led by Principal Investigators Professor Luke Clancy and Professor Joan Hanafin.

An international group of scientists has identified a key molecular process that drives a deadly form of childhood brain cancer, potentially offering a much-needed, new therapeutic target. Published in leading international journal Molecular Cell , the new study has revealed how a rare but devastating childhood brain cancer-called Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG)-hijacks the cell's gene control machinery to fuel its growth.

Help improve our website & get rewarded. Register your interest and you could win a gift card up to €50! May 8th marked World Ovarian Cancer Day , a global initiative established in 2013 to unite voices in the fight against ovarian cancer. As we look toward #WOCD2025 under the campaign theme - No Woman Left Behind - TU Dublin-s Research and Innovation community remains committed to advancing life-saving research that empowers and protects women-s health.

New research led by Irish scientists has uncovered how lipid-rich fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites, plays a central role in weakening the body's immune response in advanced ovarian cancer. The findings offer new insights into immune suppression in ovarian cancer and open promising avenues for future immunotherapy approaches Over 70% of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage, often presenting with large volumes of ascites.

New findings suggest the vaccine may reduce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators to bacterial, fungal or viral infections by reprogramming innate immune cells to regulate inflammation Trinity researchers have found that the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine may offer protection beyond its intended, primary target.

New multidisciplinary research led by Prof. Tomás Ryan from Trinity shows that the brain forms memories of cold experiences and uses them to control our metabolism. This newly published study is the first to show that cold memories form in the brain - and map out how they subsequently drive thermoregulation.

The simple act of looking at a piece of visual art can boost your wellbeing, a new research study has found, and this benefit can be gained in a hospital setting as well as an art gallery. Artworks which were included in the review include famous pieces such as The Scream by Edvard Munch, The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, and other pieces of modern and contemporary art.

Steroid hormone levels are also influenced by other lifestyle choices and factors such as biological sex and age, according to new research that has just been published in leading international journal Science Advances. The objective of the research was to expand knowledge and understanding of steroid hormone levels, including corticoids and sex hormones, in healthy women and men over a broad age range.

A new study identifying genetic factors contributing to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) susceptibility could represent an important step in the fight against the disease in cattle, and the zoonotic threat it poses to humans. Researchers at University College Dublin , University of Edinburgh, and ETH Zurich have identified several key genes and pathways involved in the bovine response to Mycobacterium bovis (M.

Professor Emmeline Hill, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and Chief Science Officer at Equinome, and Professor Lisa Katz, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine Credit: Nick Bradshaw/Fotonic New research pinpoints genes associated with a disease seen as a major contributor to poor performance in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Monjaro may not just suppress appetite but could also speed up metabolism. This is according to a new study carried out at St Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) . A randomized controlled trial led by Professor Donal O'Shea , SVUH and UCD School of Medicine , found that there was a strong relationship between the amount of weight lost and increases in metabolic activity caused by daily use of medications based on the hormone Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

Posted 14 February, 2024 Breastfeeding rates amongst women with overweight or obesity can be increased by providing education and support, according to new research. Irish breastfeeding rates are amongst the lowest worldwide, with only 44% of Irish newborns receive breastmilk only on discharge from maternity services, and some groups of women appear more vulnerable than others to not breastfeeding.