IRC Interdisciplinary Research Workshop for Health: Promoting Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Health Research in H2020
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- Dr Molly Byrne (NUI Galway), Dr John O’Dea (Crospon), Prof Catherine Woods (University of Limerick), Dr. Jim Browne (NUI Galway President), and Prof Sally Wyke, (University of Glasgow)
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- Prof Catherine Woodsand and Prof Sally Wyke.
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- Workshop delegates
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- Dr. Jim Browne in conversation with Dr John O’Dea
NUI Galway hosted the Irish Research Council Interdisciplinary Research Workshop for Health on Friday, 16 September. The workshop attracted over 180 delegates working in health-related research, including academics, researchers, industry, health service providers, and NGOs. The event was a unique networking opportunity featuring expert advice and useful tips from EU project coordinators and partners (Ireland, UK and Germany), National Contact Points, and industry collaborators. Its key aim was to facilitate the creation of long-term interdisciplinary networks for health‐related research, with the target of securing European funding under the upcoming Horizon 2020 Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing Work Programme (2016/2017).
Dr Molly Byrne, School of Psychology, and coordinator of workshop explains: “One of Ireland’s key industrial strengths is in the Med-Tech Sector. With 13 of the world’s top 15 medical device companies based in Ireland, employing over 25,000 people, the economic and societal value of this sector cannot be overstated. Much of this success has been achieved through close collaboration with Irish academic research institutions, bridging the inter-sectoral gap between industry and academia. However, interdisciplinary gaps within health research in Ireland still exist, and with changes to the funding landscape, truly interdisciplinary research is vital to success.”
Expert speakers included John O’Dea, CEO Crospon Medical Devices; Prof Abhay Pandit, Director CURAM Centre for Research in Medical Devices, NUI Galway; Dr Patricia Clarke, Health Research Board; Stephen O’Reilly, Enterprise Ireland; and Dr Adamantios Koumpis, University of Passau, Germany, who has successfully led over 50 commercial and research projects for new technology development, technology adoption and user uptake, at national and European level.