University of Galway, Galway University Hospitals, LIfT BioSciences and Hooke Bio awarded funding from the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund   Clinical researchers are set to launch immune-cell therapy clinical trials aimed at tackling treatment resistance in solid tumour, supported by a €11.9 million grant from the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The project is being spearheaded by a consortium from LIfT BiSciences, University of Galway, Galway University Hospitals and Hooke Bio. The funding award, announced by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D., is the largest single grant awarded by the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund to date, with €5.9 million in direct funding going to University of Galway. The consortium will launch the first-in-human clinical trials of a ground-breaking neutrophil-based cancer immune-cell therapy developed by LIfT BioSciences, a client of Údarás na Gaeltachta with an Irish base in An Spidéal, Co. Galway. Neutrophils are part of the first line of defence in the body’s immune response. The trial will focus on patients with metastatic cervical and head and neck cancer who have exhausted all standard treatments, including checkpoint inhibitors. Trials, which will be conducted at Galway University Hospitals, are expected to begin in 2026. The grant will support the clinical development of LIfT BioSciences’ next-generation cell therapy designed to overcome resistance in solid tumours, known as Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs). University of Galway will contribute its deep expertise in oncology and cell therapy clinical trials, as well as in translating laboratory research into clinical applications, including predictive biomarkers. Hooke Bio will provide advanced analytical tools to optimise and assess how patients respond to this novel therapy. The study will first establish the safe and effective dose of immune-cell cancer therapy and then combine this treatment with other immune-based therapies to overcome resistance to these cancer treatments observed in some patients.             Professor Sean Hynes, Consultant Histopathologist and Translational Cancer Researcher from University of Galway’s School of Medicine and Lead Academic of the award said: "In partnership with LiFT BioSciences and Hooke Bio, we are very excited about University of Galway and Galway University Hospital being at the forefront of delivering on new oncological cellular therapies by using neutrophils, the body's own first responders, in the fight against cancer and ensuring patients in the West of Ireland have access to such cutting edge treatments."             Professor Fidelma Dunne, Director of the Institute for Clinical Trials at University of Galway, said: “The Institute for Clinical Trials is proud to support this collaboration and look forward to working closely with Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund partners LifT BioSciences and Hooke Bio, and with academic and clinical colleagues at the University and Galway University Hospital. The programme will bring a new therapy to patients with an unmet critical need. This will be a truly inspirational journey from basic science to a first in human trial as we deliver this novel cell therapy to cancer patients.”             Dr Michael McCarthy, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Principal Investigator at University Hospital Galway, added: “Cancer remains one of the most complex and dynamic diseases. IMANs have the potential to overcome key limitations of current cancer treatments by activating both the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system. This dual stimulation enables a comprehensive anti-tumour response, representing a transformative advancement in cancer therapy. We are pleased to receive this grant in collaboration with LIfT and Hooke Bio, and we look forward to accelerating the clinical development of this groundbreaking immunotherapy."             Dr Andrew Finnerty Manager of the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland at University of Galway, said: “We at the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland (CCMI) at the University of Galway look forward to delivering on our cellular manufacturing role within this project.  The awarding of this The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund paves the way for CCMI to truly expand and develop as a manufacturing hub for cellular therapies and to deliver on this ground-breaking neutrophil immuno-cell therapy. This will build on our Good Manufacturing Practice certified status and proven track record on delivering clinical therapeutic products.”          HSE West and North West Regional Executive Officer Tony Canavan said: “One of the key priorities for the cancer programme across the west and north west region is to increase the number of patients participating in clinical trials and ensure that our communities have access to new and better therapies. This ground-breaking immunotherapy trial demonstrates the power of collaboration between academic, industry and healthcare partners to drive innovation in cancer research and to improve patient outcomes.” The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. It is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland. Ends

International citizen science project reveals streetlights are only one part of the growing light pollution problem, with residential and commercial lighting also playing major roles A major international citizen science project, with contributions from University of Galway, has revealed that streetlights are far from the only source of light pollution affecting our night skies. The study, published in Nature Cities, challenges the common assumption that streetlights are the primary contributor to urban light pollution and indicates that residential, commercial, and other non-street lighting sources play a significant role in brightening our night skies. Many of these sources remain on well after midnight, creating unnecessary light spill and contributing significantly to night-time skyglow and its environmental impacts. More than 250 citizen scientists, mostly located in Germany, used a mobile app called Nachtlichter (‘Nightlights’) to examine over 230,000 individual light sources during 3,868 night-time surveys.             The study was led by Christopher Kyba, former geographer at Ruhr University Bochum and the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, who said: “Both energy and lighting policy as well as research on the effects of artificial light on the environment have generally focused on street lighting. Our findings indicate that a broader approach that considers all lighting is necessary in order to understand and reduce the environmental impacts of light in cities.” The research has direct relevance for Ireland, where there is currently no national legislation or policy to mitigate light pollution. With the EU requiring member states to address light pollution through Nature Restoration Action Plans, these insights offer valuable direction for future policy. University of Galway researcher with the School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, Georgia MacMillan contributed to the study by coordinating surveys in multiple Irish locations around counties, such as Mayo and Galway, including the University of Galway campus.             Georgia MacMillan said: “Using the NightLights application to conduct pilot surveys for this project helped us to consider the different sources of light pollution. This is something we need to do on a larger scale in Ireland and we hope to use the application for future studies in collaboration with other Irish University campuses and community groups.” A Research Ireland Employment-based PhD Scholar, MacMillan is examining the role of dark sky tourism and community engagement in addressing light pollution, supervised by Dr Thérèse Conway and Professor Marie Mahon from the University’s School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies.              Dr Thérèse Conway said: “Through her role, Georgia has been instrumental in the successful bid by Dark Sky Ireland to host the Artificial Light at Night Conference (ALAN), which will take place in County Mayo later this year. It is the first time that Ireland will host this leading interdisciplinary event which will be attended by global specialists in light pollution and dark sky preservation such as Dr Christopher Kyba, lead author of the Nature Cities paper.” The full study in Nature Cities is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-025-00239-5 The Artificial Light at Night Conference will take place from 28-31 October 2025 at the Westport Woods Hotel, Mayo.  More information on the conference can be found at www.artificiallightatnight.org. Ends

Tá a dán ‘Na Blátha’ curtha le Conair Filíochta na Gaillimhe Tá binse nua curtha ar champas Ollscoil na Gaillimhe in ómós don fhile Gaeilge agus céimí ollscoile, Caitlín Maude, nach maireann. Ag an ócáid tiomnaithe, bhí mac an fhile, Caomhán Ó Luain, agus a iníon Fiadh. Baill de Bhothán na bhFear, Cluain Cearbán i gCo Mhaigh Eo a rinne an binse a dhearadh i gcruth leabhair agus a thóg é le snáithínghloine. Fuarthas tacaíocht ó Oifig na bhFoirgneamh agus Eastát san Ollscoil. Tá an dán Gaeilge ‘Na Blátha’ le Caitlín Maude le léamh ar an mbinse, chomh maith le h-aistriúchán Béarla leis an scríbhneoir clúiteach, Nuala Ní Chonchúr. Tá an binse suite i nGairdín Mháirín de Valéra ar an taobh ó thuaidh de Chearnóg na hOllscoile agus tá sé curtha anois ar Chonair Filíochta na Gaillimhe. Is é an ceathrú suíomh ollscoile ar an gconair timpeall na cathrach, agus tá dánta le Terry McDonagh, Louis de Paor agus Micheál D. Ó hUigínn le léamh in áiteanna eile ar an gcampas.             Dar le Tom Kenny, comhbhunaitheoir Chonair Filíochta na Gaillimhe: “Tá thart ar 30 dán againn anois ar Chonair Filíochta na Gaillimhe atá suite ar fud na cathrach. Is iontach deas an dán le Caitlín Maude a fheiceáil ar champas na hollscoile agus tá mé cinnte go léifidh na mílte daoine amach anseo é.”             Dar leis an Ollamh Rióna Ní Fhrighil, Ceann Disciplín na Gaeilge, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Bhí Caitlín Maude fréamhaithe sa dúchas, ach scríobh sí ina glór féin faoi anáil litríochta na hEorpa. Labhair sí amach faoi fhadhbanna sóisialta a linne rud a théann i bhfeidhm ar scoláirí an lae inniu. Bean láidir Ghaeltachta a bhí inti a thug misneach do na filí a tháinig ina diaidh agus spreagann a cuid dánta filí óga na Gaeilge fós sa lá atá inniu ann.” Críoch