Seven Trinity projects scoop Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future funding
Posted on: 26 February 2025
Researchers from Trinity have scooped a combined €6.5 million to lead research projects tackling challenges that range from enhancing the performance of 2D nanomaterials to bioengineering corneas.
The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme funds high-risk, high-reward research programmes and innovative, collaborative research with the potential to deliver economic and societal impact.
The Trinity winners are:
Prof. Jonathan Coleman (School of Physics, and the AMBER Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research), who will lead a project towards high-performance printed devices based on 2D nanosheets via interface and junction engineering.
Prof. Rachel McLoughlin (School of Biochemistry and Immunology), who seeks to harness the power of gamma-delta T cells to target intracellular Staphylococcus aureus infection.
Prof. David Hoey (School of Engineering and AMBER), who will aim to develop new mechano-immuno-modulatory strategies for bone regeneration.
Profs. Lorina Naci (School of Psychology and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, TCIN) and Fiona Wilson (School of Medicine), who will work together to develop tools to assess dementia risk in former professional athletes and protective factors in mid-life.
Dr Silvia D’Angelo (School of Computer Science and Statistics), who will develop new statistical methods for the analysis of longitudinal dietary patterns and their association with health outcomes.
Dr Eva Jimenez-Mateos (School of Medicine, and TCIN), who will investigate how glutamate directly targets microglia and contributes to the pathophysiology of birth asphyxia and the development of paediatric epilepsy.
Dr Mark Ahearne (School of Engineering), who seeks to optimise the mechanical environment for corneal bioengineering.
Prof. Sinéad Ryan, Dean of Research at Trinity College Dublin, said: “I congratulate all the Trinity awardees on securing this Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future funding. This funding programme supports ‘high-risk, high-reward’ research and will be a key enabler for innovative and creative research across a wide range of disciplines at Trinity. I look forward to seeing these projects progress.”
James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, said: “The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future programme supports the development of world-class research across a range of disciplines. The awardees – spanning 9 research institutions nationwide – have brought forward novel and innovative ideas with strong potential to deliver impactful solutions for major challenges facing society today. The programme itself promotes gender balance and provides opportunities for emerging investigators returning to research. I look forward to seeing awardees’ progress over the coming years.”
Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive of Research Ireland, commented: “Our Frontiers for the Future Programme is driven by feedback from the research community and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas. These 23 awards will fund a total of 86 research positions, comprising Postdocs, PhDs, Research Assistants and support staff. I’m very pleased with the opportunities that this targeted investment is creating and greatly encouraged that crucial research on pressing issues will be facilitated as a result.”
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