Research Newsletter - Issue 74: Funding Success
SFI Frontiers for the Future 2020 (Projects stream) award
Congratulations to Dr Susan Kelleher (School of Chemical Sciences/Biodesign Europe) on being awarded the SFI Frontiers for the Future 2020 (Projects) award to conduct a project entitled “EMMA - Electrospun membranes with micro and nanoscale surface patterns for anti(bio)fouling and antibacterial applications”.
The EMMA project aims to develop a membrane that is inherently antibacterial and anti(bio)fouling as a result of its physical surface structure alone, with no need for external chemicals or stimuli. The membrane will be fabricated by electrospinning polymeric solutions to produce a mesh of microscale fibres. These will be layered and embossed with micro- and nanoscale patterns, which provide both anti(bio)fouling and antibacterial properties as a result of the topography. The membranes will be fully characterised and tested for flux, retention and mechanical capabilities. The project will study the formation of conditioning layers on the structured surfaces and the ability of the membranes to be cleaned and reused. The project will ultimately enable clean water to be produced with reduced use of chemicals, in a sustainable way, and will therefore make a dramatic positive impact on both human health and water bodies.
HSE National Cancer Control Program Award
Congratulations to Prof. Niall Moyna, School of Health and Human Performance, who has been awarded funding from the HSE National Cancer Control Program (NCCP).
Prof. Moyna will undertake a scoping review of physical activity and exercise services related to the cancer continuum (secondary prevention, prehabilitation, during treatment, rehabilitation and for those living with and beyond cancer) to help the NCCP to strategically develop actions for implementation of the National Survivorship Needs Assessment actions and National Cancer Strategy recommendations.
SMART-ER transnational Citizen Science pilots
Congratulations to DCU researchers and staff members who have been awarded funding by the ECIU SMART-ER Virtual Research Institute to carry out transnational Citizen Science projects with European partners across the ECIU network.
Each project is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of researchers driving a citizen-centric approach to knowledge generation.
The awardees are:
· Prof. Fiona Regan, Ruth Clinton, Prof. Susan Hegarty, Anna Hayes and Dr Bernard Degryse (Water Institute) who are coordinating the project entitled ‘Citizen Arenas for improved environmental quality and resource use in SMART-ER cities’. The project aims to raise citizen’s awareness of environmental challenges and alternative resource management options through the use of Citizen Arenas, which act as a platform to connect citizens and academia and to amplify citizen participation by sharing experiences and coming together to solve problems via the implementation of pilot projects related to water, biodiversity, waste, air, climate and energy.
· Prof. Boualem Benatallah, School of Computing, and Prof. Theo Lynn, Business School, who are partners on the project entitled ‘Empowering urban cyclists through citizen science’. The project aims to develop an online platform for cyclists allowing the collection of crowdsourced information on cycling experiences and infrastructure and will support cyclists in improving their daily routine, assist policy-makers with direct community feedback and generate data to inform urban mobility policies, supporting cities in their transition to a low-carbon mobility future.
· Dr Valesca Lima, School of Law and Government, and Aishling Silke, School of Language, Literacy & Early Childhood Education, who are partners on the project entitled ‘Establishing a community on Empowering, Inclusive and Equitable Citizen Science within ECIU’. The project aims to establish a Community of Practice on citizen social science, exploring the potential of CS in addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals and will develop a framework for equitable and diverse participation in CS initiatives across 4-helix stakeholders. The team have also been successful in the recent SMART-ER Seed Programme call for research networks and have been awarded funding to further develop this collaborative CS community for societal transformations.