Child Health Research Festival

You're invited to the upcoming Child Health Research Festival 2024, taking place in Trinity College Dublin's historic Front Square from 3-7pm on 25 September 2024.

Find out how Trinity's researchers are improving healthcare for children and adolescents. Get hands on with an exciting evening of interactive exhibits, activities and displays which showcase the latest research into child health. Find out how the body works, how to parent for child development, new therapies for childhood diseases, and how young people's wellbeing can be supported.

Booking not required. Suitable for all the family.

Discover What's On

How Dogs Can Help Children with Cerebral Palsy to Walk

Children with cerebral palsy often need help to walk, but can a furry friend help to make walking more fun and more manageable? Meet mobility assistance dogs in training and try robotic sensors to measure your walking.

The Power of Parents

How important is parenting for development in children? Explore research on timing interaction with your baby, encouraging language development, preparing for school learning and parenting preterm children or children with Down Syndrome.

Characterising Brain Blood Flow in Children

Research has shown marked child-adult differences in brain blood flow at rest and during exercise. Check out your brain at this exhibit where we’ll measure your brain blood flow while having you complete interactive tasks.

Listening to Children’s Voices in Research

Get hands on with activities including Lego Serious Play, drawing and creative collage, as we demonstrate how Trinity's researchers work with children on research projects.

Paediatric Sepsis Awareness

Did you know sepsis is the most common avoidable cause of death in children? Find out more about sepsis, bring a favourite teddy to the Teddy Bear Vaccination Clinic and learn about bacteria or microbes through fun, fluffy collectibles.

Protecting Babies Brains

How does your immune system fight infection and inflammation? What are antibodies, viruses, and bacteria? Find out at our exhibit, visit our Teddy Bear Hospital and administer “Superhero” medicines to help Teddy feel better.

LGBTQI+ Young People: Mental Health and Wellbeing

How are LGBTQI+ young people doing? We’ll present findings from the Being LQBTQI+, the largest study of LGBTQI+ people in Ireland to-date. There will be resources from Belong To, the national LGBTQ+ organisation for young people.

Fighting Fatal Childhood Diseases with Gene Therapies

Gene therapies are helping to treat once fatal childhood conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, cystic fibrosis and congenital heart disease. Discover what genes are and what they are up to in your body through a magical puppet show!

Researcher holds a model of the digestive system

Tummy Troubles - Curing Coeliac Disease

Coeliac disease may occur in 1 in 100 people in Ireland, one of the highest rates of incidence in Europe. Using life size anatomical models, we will show you what causes the symptoms of coeliac disease and explain advances in research.

Making Research Fun for Children

It's important to include children’s voices in research. Join us to learn how to make research fun for children using creative participatory methods and digital techniques. Children will be able to use props and find the fun in research.

Smile Safari - Explore Dental Health

It's all about your teeth! Visit us to find out what is needed to keep teeth safe from cavities and how to protect teeth during sports. Take a fun quiz to test your knowledge and register for high-tech teeth screening.

Innovation in Children and Young People’s Healthcare

What's new in healthcare for children and young people living in Ireland? Learn about innovation in digital health, child protection, sexual health, and healthcare education.

Empowering Children with Intellectual Disability and their Families

Explore blended feeding for children with intellectual disabilities. Discover a typical day in the life of Dylan, whose blended feeding is delivered via a gastrostomy feeding tube. Learn how different foods are delivered via feeding tube.

New Heights in Quality of Cancer Care for Children, Adolescents and Young People

Discover new approaches to treatment for child and adolescent leukaemia which are improving the likelihood of survival and enhancing long-term quality of life for survivors.

Diabetes in Children

1 in 10 people around the world are living with diabetes. Using interactive videos and colourful presentations, we will explain how care is managed for patients with diabetes. People with diabetes will also be on hand to answer questions.

The ADHD Revolution

Discover developments in assessment and treatment for young people with ADHD in Ireland. Use a system to measure your brainwaves (used to study effects of medication), test your memory and impulses with computer games, and more.