Professor Nick Black of London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine explores quality assessments in the health service

SPHeRE, the Structured Population and Health-services Research Education programme, held its first annual Spring Seminar in the Albert Lecture Theatre, RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) on 10th March 2015.


Pictured (l-r) is Prof Steve Thomas TCD, Dr Dona Tedstone,, Prof John Browne UCC, Prof Nick Black, Prof Anne Hickey RCSI, Prof Bernie Hannigan Public Health England and Dr Teresa Maguire HRB.

The invited speaker was Professor Nick Black of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the talk was entitled, "To do the service no harm: the dangers of quality assessment".


Professor Nick Black of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine gives the keynote talk

Professor Black was the first head of the Health Services Research Unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He was Founding Chair of the UK Health Services Research Network and editor of the Journal of Health Services Research and Policy. His main research interests are in quality and appropriateness of healthcare. Professor Black chaired the National Advisory Group for Clinical Audit & Enquiries, which advises the UK Department of Health and NHS England and he serves on several other national advisory bodies on quality assessment and improvement, playing a leading role in the adoption of patient reported outcome measures.


Pictured (l-r) is Prof Steve Thomas TCD, Prof Nick Black, Prof John Browne UCC and Prof Anne Hickey RCSI.

The SPHeRE programme is a partnership of all universities in the Republic of Ireland, with programme management situated in RCSI, University College Cork (UCC) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD).


Pictured (l-r) is Prof Cathal Kelly, CEO/Registrar, RCSI; Prof Davinder Sandhu, RCSI Bahrain and Prof John Hyland, Vice President RCSI.

Launched in 2014, the SPHeRE programme was awarded €6.3 million by the Health Research Board (HRB). The programme will provide education and training for five cohorts of PhD scholars annually (2013-2017) and aims to graduate 30-50 PhD scholars in total.


Pictred (l-r) is Rebecca Kirrane, SPHeRE; Prof Anne Hickey, SPHeRE; Prof Jane Grimson, TCD; and Dr Sarah Barry, TCD


Pictured (l-r) Mr Declan Magee, President of RCSI, Prof Hannah McGee Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI, Prof Nick Black and Prof Anne Hickey RCSI


Pictured (l-r) is Steve Barron, Economist, ESRI; Sarah Jo Synnott, ESRI; and Elaine Healy SPHeRE Programme Co-ordinator

RCSIs badminton team has won the National Badminton Intervarsitys 2015 plate which was hosted at Queens University in Belfast. The team of 8 players consisted of: Arief Naimun Ashakli, Jason Teoh, Shivapragaasan Ragupathy, Chuah Su Wen, Jia Yi Gan (Captain), Vanessa Nguyen (Vice-Captain), Julia Lim Shin Yi and Wee Nee Foo.

"It was daunting and intimidating on the first day, seeing other universities with team of 10 to 20 players. Not to mention, we were defeated by DCU and NUIG in the first matches. The matches on the first day were a nightmare. DCU and NUIG were strong opponents that kept us on our toes throughout the entire game. Despite the defeat on the first day, we didnt give up" said Jia Yi Gan


RCSIs victorious badminton team

The defeat only fuelled the team further to strive for improvement and play their best for the remaining matches in the competition. They stayed positive and motivated, aiming for victory in the Plate Games instead, which turned to be their greatest achievement.

"With our five hour training sessions each week throughout the year, the team bonded really well and showed real passion and enjoyment for the sport. As captains, Vanessa and I are very proud of the team this year. This achievement would not be possible without the handwork and dedication that the team members put in to train despite their hectic schedules. The strong bond of friendship and teamwork displayed was truly inspirational and exemplary in the true spirit of sportsmanship. We look forward to another year of success for the Badminton Club in 2016."

Well done to Jia Yi Gan and Vanessa Nguyen on their impressive leadership throughout the year which has been reflected in their teams performance over the weekend.

RCSI MiniMed series concludes with assessment on whether antibiotics can be preserved for the next generation

The rapid development of more and more effective antibiotics combined with their misuse has led the human body to become resistant to antibiotics. The overuse of such drugs means that bacteria can figure out how to protect themselves from antibiotics, which are designed to kill them. This has led to the rise of the ‘superbugs and means we may be close returning to a time that simple infections are no longer treatable as the antibiotics may not work. The battle with antibiotic resistance and superbugs will be discussed at the final lectures of the 2014/2015 series of RCSIs (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) MiniMed Lecture Series this evening (Wednesday 25th March). The event, entitled ‘Have the superbugs won or can we still preserve antibiotics for the next generation? is open free of charge to the public, will be held from 7pm to 9pm at RCSI, 123 St. Stephens Green.

The lecture will be given by Dr Fidelma Fitzpatrick, a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at RCSI and Consultant Microbiologist in Beaumont Hospital and Dr Nuala OConnor, a General Practitioner in Cork, who is the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) Lead Advisor on Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics are specific medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics dont work against infections caused by viruses, such as colds and influenza. Overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise in antibiotic resistance bacteria ‘the superbugs both nationally and internationally. In this talk, Drs Fitzpatrick and OConnor will outline how antibiotics, which were hailed as miracle drugs, have transformed modern medicine and how antibiotic resistance occurs and spreads. They will bring the public on an A-Z tour of the different types of superbugs as well as explaining the threat of a return to the pre-antibiotic era if the superbugs win.

"It is sobering to remember how much antibiotics have revolutionised medical practice in the last 75 years and saved millions of lives since their discovery. Then antibiotic resistance was little understood and the pipeline of new antibiotics seemed endless. There was no attempt to use these agents wisely", said Dr Fitzpatrick, who was also the National Clinical Lead for Healthcare-associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention from 2010 to 2014.

"Antibiotic resistance remains one of the greatest potential threats to human health. In the lecture, we hope to give guests a better understanding of antibiotics, why and when you need them, their role in human health as a life-saving drug and understand how everybody, both prescribers and patients, has a role in preserving these lifesaving miracle drugs for future generations", continued Dr Fitzpatrick.

In this information session both speakers will offer advice on appropriate use of antibiotics as well as practical tips that will stop the spread of superbugs and help decrease reliance on antibiotics. Dr OConnor offers a few suggestions: "Firstly, you can reduce your risk of infection by living a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and exercise and get vaccinations to prevent infectious diseases. Always practice good hygiene if you do develop an infection such as using a tissue to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough and wash your hands after which will stop the bugs from spreading. Its important that you discuss with your GP whether or not you actually need antibiotic to fight your infection. Most coughs, colds, flus, sore throats, earaches, rashes and tummy bugs are caused by viruses and antibiotics have no effect on viruses."

"Remember antibiotics themselves can have nasty side-effects and cause harm. Check out the www.undertheweather.ie for tips on how to treat common infections. You seldom need an antibiotic from your GP; if it is a viral illness, rest and time may be the best solution but if you are prescribed antibiotics, use them correctly. Take the medication exactly as prescribed and finish the course. Dont save antibiotics for later and dont share them with others. Antibiotics are a precious resource and we need to use them wisely. Keeping antibiotics effective for future generations is everyones responsibility" continued Dr OConnor.

The RCSI MiniMed Open Lecture Series is free of charge; however registration is essential in order to guarantee a place. Previous lecture series have attracted widespread public interest with demand for places far outstripping availability. Register online at www.rcsi.ie/minimed and you can join the conversation online, on the night, on Twitter at #RCSIMiniMed. To view previous RCSI MiniMed lectures from the last series on the RCSI YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/TheRCSI123.

RCSI is among the top 50 most international universities in the world (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2014-15). It is a not-for-profit health sciences institute which focuses on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In 2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.

Students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) practice their dance moves ahead of ‘International Night’ which takes place in the Mansion House on Friday 27th March. The event is the culmination of a month-long series of events that have taken in the College as part of RCSI Cultural Diversity Month which showcases the culture, traditions, food, music and dance from RCSI students’ home countries.

There are more than 60 nationalities represented on the student body at RCSI. At International Night guests are treated to a night of dancing, music and entertainment from around the world.

Meath GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) football captain, Donal Keogan and Niall Cooper, Dublin GAA Regional Development Officer put more than 100 local boys and girls from St. Endas Primary School, Whitefriar Street, Dublin 8 and Presentation Primary School, Warrenmount, Dublin 8 through their paces at a Gaelic football master class as part of the annual REACH (Recreation Education And Community Health) RCSI Sports Day on, Thursday 26th March 2015. The event, hosted by RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), provided a great opportunity for school children aged between 7 to 10 years of age, to develop their GAA skills and get active by taking part in a number of other games and activities.

Meath football captain and RCSI PhD student, Donal Keogan celebrates a win with the red team

The annual REACH RCSI Sports Day aims to raise awareness and promote life-long recreation and community health. RCSI students and staff volunteer to help run the event, organised by the REACH RCSI Programme, at the Colleges sports grounds in Dardistown, Swords. The action packed day of events included the GAA skills class, a five-a-side soccer tournament and an obstacle course, along with a range of traditional sports day games including the sack race, egg and spoon races.


Pictured is Leah Wilson Radley and Kacie McDonald from Presentation Primary School, Warrenmount

Donal brings the red, yellow and orange team through a GAA drill

Maria Kelly, REACH RCSI Manager said, "The REACH Sports Day is a great opportunity for school children get outside, get some fresh air and develop their sports skills in a fun environment, which is a valuable way to encourage lifelong health and well-being. It is fantastic to have the GAA, Donal and local community Gardai Aidan Monaghan & Wayne Careyon on board this year and the children from both schools enjoyed the day. Also by spending a day with RCSI volunteers, some of whom coach and participate in established RCSI sports teams, encourages young people in our community to develop a greater interest in sport and health, which is one of the main objectives of the REACH programme."


Owen from the black team wins the sack race as his teammates celebrate

Speaking on of the REACH Sports Day Niall Cooper, brother of Dublin GAAs Johnny Cooper said "The GAA always has community and inclusiveness at its core. Joining your local GAA club is a great opportunity to learn new skills, make friends, keep fit and generally have a great time. Participation and ensuring everybody gets a game is also at the heart of everything we do so lack of experience or skill should not discourage any boy or girl from trying out our national games with your local club."


Pictured (l-r) are Allanah Kely and Mya Grey-McCluskey from Presentation Primary School, Warrenmount try out the space hoppers

The REACH RCSI Programme is a Community Outreach and Access programme at RCSI. The initiative is aimed at encouraging and facilitating third level participation and enhancing life chances for those traditionally underrepresented at third level, particularly those from Dublins South Inner City.


Pictured is Charlie Lee from St. Endas Primary School, Whitefriar Street, Dublin taking part in the sack race

RCSI is among the top 50 most international universities in the world (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2014-15). It is a not-for-profit health sciences institute which focuses on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In 2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.

This was the 7th Annual Tri-Nations Tournament, hosted each year by the RCSI Polo Club, and was the first year in the tournaments history that the Irish team were victorious. The team fought off stiff competition from both the English and Scottish sides.





Prizes for all teams were generously donated by RCSI graduates Fiona Seager, Jack Woods, Greg Gaughran and Tom Branigan, who have all previously represented Ireland at this tournament. Well done to all involved!

Professor Fergal Malone, Professor and Chairman of the RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Rotunda Hospital, has been appointed as the next Master and Chief Executive Officer of the Rotunda, for a seven year term. Fergal, a Waterford native, will be the 39th consecutive Master of the Rotunda since its inception in 1745.


Professor Fergal Malone

A graduate of UCD, Fergal worked as a consultant at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York where he directed one of the largest high risk obstetric programmes in the United States, specialising in advanced obstetric ultrasound, prenatal diagnosis, multiple gestation management, and the care of women with challenging obstetric problems. In the United States he directed world class research for the National Institutes of Health, including the renowned FASTER Trial which documented the optimal series of prenatal tests for foetal abnormalities. He returned to Ireland in 2005, after 14 years in the US, when he was appointed Professor and Chairman of RCSIs Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology which is based at the Rotunda.

Professor Malone has worked at the Rotunda for the past ten years and will take up this new position next year, replacing Dr Sam Coulter Smith as Master of the Rotunda Hospital, the oldest maternity hospital in the world.

Students from RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) have launched the 8th edition of the RCSI Student Medical Journal (RCSIsmj). RCSIsmj is produced entirely by RCSI students for students and staff. The journal aims to promote student authorship and to foster research, innovation and student participation in healthcare issues. This years publication was led by a team of students headed by Natalie Achamallah, Editor-in-Chief of RCSIsmj, and Melissa Schorr, Director of RCSIsmj. The online version of the journal is published today and available to view on the RCSIsmj website.


Pictured (l-r) are Mohit Butaney, RCSIsmj Senior Editor; Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI; Natalie Achamallah, RCSIsmj Editor in Chief; Professor Arnold Hill, Head of the School of Medicine, RCSI; and Melissa Schorr, RCSIsmj Director.

RCSIsmj is a multidisciplinary publication which includes articles and submissions from medical, physiotherapy, and pharmacy students. The articles range from original research, audits, and special interest pieces to the publication of abstracts, case reports, and elective reviews.

Article topics in this years edition include medicine in the social media age, genetic testing for mental illness and the use of melatonin in cancer therapy. Other articles explore discrepancies in the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the hidden dangers of drug-drug interactions, as well as original research on breast-conserving surgery.

For the second year running, a debate was held to mark the launch of this years RCSIsmj chaired by Dr Siobhán OSullivan, Chief Bioethics Officer, Department of Health, chaired the debate. The motion was This House believes that healthcare workers should receive untested medications for the Ebola virus which was debated by Dr Dermot Cox, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics at RCSI and Dr Marian Brennan, Lecturer in Biochemistry in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics.

This year the Ethics Challenge competition focuses on the use of untested drugs in the treatment of the Ebola virus and the debate provided a starting point for students to consider the issue, and write a submission for next years journal.

The RCSIsmj launch event concluded with the presentation of the 2014/15 Ethics Challenge prize to medical student Julia Ciurria for her essay ‘To sell and buy a kidney which explored the ethical issues in relation to consenting individuals purchasing and selling organs for transplantation. Julias winning essay features in the current edition of RCSIsmj.

Pictured (l-r) are Natalie Achamallah, RCSIsmj Editor in Chief; Ian Elliott, RCSIsmj Assistant Peer Review Director; Rachel Green, RCSIsmj Peer Review Director; Melissa Schorr, RCSIsmj Director; and Mohit Butaney, RCSIsmj Senior Editor.

Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, RCSI, praised the dedication of the student editorial team. ‘The high quality of the journal is a result of a very cohesive and hard-working student team and the committed academic staff who support the students. The RCSIsmj provides a forum for students to present their research skills and interests at an early stage in their career, it gives students a better understanding of how research can be translated from the bench to the patients bedside, which in turn leads to better clinical care and best practice patient care

We as RCSI staff present copies of the journal with pride to many College visitors and to leaders in institutions we engage with internationally - and we enjoy the reflected admiration that the students always receive for their mix of engaging scientific papers in a highly professional production delivered through great teamwork. We have indeed learned to offer copies to guests at the end of our meetings - as the quality of the journals means they becomes a conversation-stopper while people flick through the interesting articles!, Professor McGee concluded.

The RCSIsmj provides a forum for RCSI student contributions to the field of medicine, in any discipline. The journal publishes student research ranging from basic laboratory science and clinical work to humanities analyses of medicine in society. The goal of the RCSIsmj is to encourage student research, writing and submission for publication, whilst reaching a broad international readership through both our print and electronic versions of the journal.

RCSI is among the top 50 most international universities in the world (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2014-15). It is a not-for-profit health sciences institute focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In 2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.

A new book, documenting the immense contribution of Irish medics in the First World War will be launched this evening in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), St Stephens Green, Dublin 2. Irish Doctors in the First World War, which has been published by Merrion Press, in association with RCSI, is the first publication to specifically address the role and breadth of Irish medics war-time activity.

The book is co-authored by Joe Duignan, retired surgeon and former RCSI Council Member along with co-authors Patrick Casey and Kevin Cullen. Mary ODoherty, Assistant Librarian, Special Collections, RCSI and Meadhbh Murphy, Archivist, RCSI were among the contributors to the book. From Europe to Africa and the Middle East, the book covers the extensive role of Irish doctors in the Army, Navy and Air Forces and features an introduction from columnist and author Kevin Myers, who is among the speakers at tonights launch event.

Irish Doctors in The First World War tells the unique story of the thousands of Irish doctors and medical students who joined the British armed forces, which included a large cohort of RCSI staff, students, fellows, members and alumni. The book describes how they went from the relative calm of a pre-war medical career to witnessing and having to treat the awful injuries of that attritional conflict. More than 240 Irish doctors lost their lives during the war, many with no known grave. The courageous and selfless actions of these doctors when assisting their comrades under military fire is explored in a comprehensive yet human account of the key battles and the medical care developed to deal with the aftermath of battle. From The Western Front to Gallipoli, the book covers all services and all theatres of the conflict. There is also a roll call of honour in a special chapter on those decorated for their gallantry and service.

The second half of the book presents an indispensable directory of Irish doctors, painstakingly compiled from available records and publications. It features over 3000 names and each profile contains the name, family details and military record including medals and honours awarded where that information was available. This record, by its very nature and extent, is a fitting and lasting tribute to the Irish medical personnel who risked everything and gave their lives.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Mr Declan Magee, President, RCSI said: "The heroic contribution of Irish doctors who served in the First World War has largely gone unrecognised until now. It is timely as we commemorate the centenary of World War I, that we remember all Irish doctors who served in the conflict and made great sacrifices in service of their fellow-man, caring for the sick, wounded and dying. This period in history is of immense significance to our College with 1086 doctors and 180 students listed on the Roll of Honour for RCSI, who served in some capacity during the conflict."

"I congratulate the authors and contributors on this important historical work, including our past RCSI Council Member Mr Joe Duignan on bringing his expertise as retired surgeon to this landmark publication."

This new illustrated hardback title is available in bookshops and from www.iap.ie priced €35.

RCSI is among the top 50 most international universities in the world (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2014-15). It is a not-for-profit health sciences institute focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In 2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.

A public seminar which will explore cutting-edge epilepsy research entitled "Epilepsy Research Explained: Recent Discoveries and Future Directions" will take place in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), St Stephens Green this evening. The event, which is jointly hosted by Epilepsy Ireland and RCSI is aimed at a public audience and will highlight recent discoveries in epilepsy and what the future of epilepsy treatment might hold. Due to unprecedented demand, the event is fully booked.

A host of Irish epilepsy experts and researchers, including a number of RCSI researchers, who are actively engaged in national and international research efforts to uncover the mysteries of epilepsy, will speak at the event . These are Professor Norman Delanty, Consultant Neurologist and Director of the Epilepsy Programme at Beaumont Hospital and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, RCSI; Professor David Henshall, Director of the Experimental Epilepsy Research group at RCSI; Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri, Senior Lecturer in Human Genetics, Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, RCSI; and Professor Mary King, Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Professor Mary King.

Boosted by a growing interest in and funding for brain research in recent years, epilepsy researchers, are increasingly collaborating on large scale international projects. RCSIs Professor David Henshall co-ordinates the EU-funded EpimiRNA Consortium, which involves 16 partners from 10 countries investigating molecular mechanisms in epilepsy, while the EPIPGX consortium, which includes Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri is working internationally to identify genetic biomarkers that influence peoples individual response to treatments. Both will discuss their work at tonights event.

Pictured (l-r) are Mike Glynn, Epilepsy Ireland; Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri, RCSI; Professor Mary King, Temple Street Childrens Hospital; Professor Norman Delanty, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI; and Professor David Henshall, RCSI.

Dr Sinead Heavin, an Epilepsy Ireland/ Irish Research Council funded post-doctoral researcher, Department of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, RCSI, acted as the RCSI co-ordinator for the event.

Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri commented: "RCSI is contributing globally to epilepsy research, with a number of large scale international projects being led by the College. Tonights event provides an important opportunity to share these research findings with members of the public and individuals with epilepsy and their families and to communicate how RCSIs research is making strides in improving treatments for the condition."

According to Epilepsy Ireland, there are 37,000 people with epilepsy in Ireland, including an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 who are having regular seizures - sudden surges of electrical activity in the brain. The condition can be the cause of significant disability, reduced quality of life and stigma. There are an estimated 130 epilepsy-related deaths each year in Ireland.

RCSI Research being presented at the event includes:

How genetics can help us better understand and treat epilepsy - Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri, RCSI: This talk will explain some common genetic terminology and introduce the basic concepts on which genetic testing is based. It will provide an explanation of the different technologies that are now available to determine the contribution of genes to a particular individuals epilepsy. Dr Cavalleri will summarise recent progress that has been made in our understanding of how genes contribute to the development of seizures and how they can potentially guide treatment. Finally, Dr. Cavalleri will describe a new research system that is being installed at RCSI that we hope will help us better understand the genetics of epilepsy in Ireland and internationally.

Dr Gianpiero Cavalleri, RCSI

Brain signals in your blood: the tiny chemicals that can tell us about your epilepsy - Professor David Henshall, RCSI: Professor Henshalls laboratory is interested in genes which affect the brains excitability and how changes in their levels may cause epilepsy. His presentation will focus on recent discoveries about tiny molecules called microRNA that are found in the brain and in blood. Some of these control brain excitability so their presence in blood could provide clues to a patients epilepsy. Blood tests could be developed from this that would help doctors better predict who is at risk of epilepsy, decisions on which is the best drug for them, and help with diagnosis.

Professor David Henshall, RCSI

How will we be treating epilepsy in 2025? - Professor Norman Delanty, Beaumont Hospital & RCSI: Using his experience of 20 years of treating epilepsy, Professor Delanty will discuss how epilepsy may be treated in the future. There are a variety of new and exciting approaches under development for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy, including novel genetic approaches and new drugs and devices. He will also look at the rapidly developing area of information technology, providing electronic patient records and applications to help track and describe an individuals condition. Professor Delanty will look to place these approaches in the context of epilepsy treatment in Ireland.

Professor Norman Delanty, Beaumont Hospital & RCSI

Epilepsy Ireland actively supports and funds epilepsy research in Ireland. Since 2009, the charity has invested almost €800,000 in eight local projects that are contributing significantly to our understanding of epilepsy and to the search for causes and better treatments.

RCSI is among the top 50 most international universities in the world (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2014-15). It is a not-for-profit health sciences institute focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In 2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.

International DOCTRID IV intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders conference opens today

A two-day international conference which opens in Queens University Belfast today will explore the challenges and future directions of research and policy in the fields of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders, including how technologies such as computer games may improve the lives of those with these conditions.

The 4th international DOCTRID Conference will bring leaders from academia, clinical practice and service providers together with families and carers of those with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. The DOCTRID Research Institute (DRI) is coordinated by Professor Brian Harvey, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and has a strong research focus on the role which assistive technology can play in improving the lives of people with disability.

Among the research being presented at the conference is a project with the aim of helping children with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to practice and improve their social skills through the use of personalised multi-user games. The project which is being carried out by Mr. Bryan Boyle from the Qatar Assistive Technology Centre in collaboration with Dr Inmaculada Arnedillo-Sanchez, Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, is researching the design of collaborative learning games which will facilitate learning of social interaction skills. Due to difficulties in social interaction, children with ASD are often restricted to playing alone or engaging in a narrow repertoire of behaviours and interests. Existing commercial technology solutions for children with ASD focus on single user interaction but the new research being presented at the conference outlines the rationale for and development of a multi-user game to provide children on the autism spectrum a means to build, practice and consolidate their social interaction skills.

Professor Brian Harvey, Director of Research of the DOCTRID Research Institute and Professor of Molecular Medicine at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland says ‘We are looking forward to welcoming our colleagues from across Ireland, Europe and the US to Queens University Belfast for the 4th International DOCTRID Conference. This meeting will provide a platform to create awareness of how multidisciplinary collaborative research can bring about practical changes to improve the lives of those with Intellectual Disability (ID) or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Other research presented over the two-day conference includes:

An alarm system for everyday hazards in the home - Researchers in Dublin City University are developing a home alarm system which can alert people with ID/ASD and their carers to hazards in the home (e.g. alerting to open doors and windows can prevent bolting, or alerting to fire or hot surfaces). These hazards have been identified and prioritised based on working with children with autism in their home.

Sensor technologies to help manage temper outbursts - A team in Queens University Belfast will present the initial findings from a study aimed at developing a training programme for caregivers to teach them how to reduce the number of temper outbursts in children with ID/ASD when dealing with a change in the childs routine. In a related project, researchers in IT Tralee are using sensor technology to track the movement and emotions of children with autism which can be used to predict the occurrence of a temper outburst.

Is there a link between the pregnancy nutrition and childhood health outcomes? - Researchers in Michigan State University are examining the prenatal risk factors for impaired cognitive and behavioural development by developing a comprehensive biological, clinical and epidemiological database. The overall goals of the study are to examine if there is a link between the pregnancy nutritional environment and childhood health outcomes, e.g. maternal iodine deficiency leads to a wide range of neuro-intellectual deficits in affected offspring, but little is known of the effects of mild to moderate iodine insufficiency in pregnancy.

The DOCTRID Conference will focus of four key topics: ‘Quality of Life and Social Inclusion; Gaps and innovations in service delivery; Prevention and Epidemiology; and Future of Assistive Technologies.

The current research programmes within the DOCTRID Research Institute will also be highlighted at the conference, including the €9M EU Marie Curie ASSISTID programme which will support 40 researchers to undertake projects in Assistive Technologies for ID/ASD over the next four years. The ASSISTID Programme is currently seeking applications from a broad spectrum of disciplines including social science, behavioural psychology, engineering, special education, computer science and rehabilitation studies. The Michigan State University-DOCTRID Hegarty fellowships, two year projects co-located between MSU and Irish DOCTRID partner universities, will also be highlighted at the event.

For further information on The DOCTRID Research Institute www.doctrid.ie or www.assistid.eu to find out more about the ASSISTID programme.

About DOCTRID
The DOCTRID Research Institute (DRI) was established as a research network in 2010 encompassing all the universities on the island of Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dundalk, Dublin and Tralee Institute of Technology together with Michigan State University and University of Massachusetts Medical School in the US and Designability at Bath Institute of Medical Engineering in the UK. The DRI is committed to undertaking evidence-based research to inform intellectual disability policy and practice to ensure social inclusion, independent living, and education and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorders with a particular interest in the role which Assistive Technology can play in improving the lives of people with disability.

Congratulations to the RCSI Rugby Team who, under the new leadership of Martin Davey (2015-16 RCSI Rugby Team Captain) the team beat Toulouse Hospital Rugby Intern Club.

RCSI hosted the match in Dardistown on Friday evening (17th April) and secured a solid win of 17-7 over the visiting team.



Skipper Martin Davey describes the game through his eyes...

"After being camped out in their half, we were unlucky to see ourselves 7-0 down at half-time after a blocked down kick lead to their 13 running the ball under our posts. However our resilience in the second half was outstanding and ultimately won us the game. For me, an old rugby saying springs to mind in describing our performance, "forwards win the game for you, backs decide by how much". After 2-3 plays up front our backs opened up the French defence with Luke Trench, Barry Moore and Calum Quinn touching down, as we breached the French white wash on three occasions. The extras were added by Greg Hawe.

For me, outstanding performances to name but a few, included Matthew White and Ian Savage Elliott. Thanks again to all the lads for coming out. I feel this game was not only a solid redemption for our defeat earlier in the year to our Parisians counterparts but also a high note to end the season and build for a more successful one next year.

Weve also being cordially invited for a return fixture in the south of France in 2017, so thats something to look forward to! It was a wonderful way to finish the season! We are looking forward to all that the RCSI rugby has to offer in 2015-16."



Well done again to all involved.

The ethics involved in organ donations was the hot topic that was debated by secondary school students at the All-Ireland finals of the 2015 Debating Science Issues (DSI) competition. The competition was won by St. Vincents Secondary School from Dundalk, Co Louth, who were flying the flag for Leinster. St Vincents edged out Clonakilty Community College who are the current Munster debating champions. The finals were hosted by RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) at the College on St Stephens Green.


The Debating Science Issues champions of 2015; Pictured is the St Vincents Secondary School from Dundalk, Co. Louth, team of Isobel Jones, Aoife OMalley and Ciara McLoughlin.

The four competing schools, all winners of their respective provincial competitions, who took part in the finals were Clonakilty Community College, representing Munster and Cork; Ballinrobe Community College, Mayo, who won the Connaught finals; Our Lady & St Patricks College, Belfast who will represent Ulster; and St. Vincents Secondary School, Dundalk, Co Louth.


Leinster take on Ulster in the semi-final

DSI is a dynamic debating competition inviting young people to engage in debate on the cultural, societal and ethical implications of advances in biomedical science. Open to students in the senior cycle of secondary school, the competition provides a great opportunity for students to expand their communication and scientific skills.


Pictured is Peter McManus from Our Lady and St.Patricks College, Belfast

The four school teams competed in two semi-final rounds of debate at RCSI, where they debated the moral obligations of research using embryonic stem cells to develop new medical treatments. St Vincents were successful versus Our Lady & St Patricks College while Clonakilty beat Ballinrobe Community College.


Speaking on the competition, judge on the day Mr Lars Nolke (also Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Mater and Crumlin hospitals, Dublin and Consultant Trainer, RCSI) said, "Organ donation really is a contentious healthcare issue in Ireland at the moment with the Minister for Health proposing legislation to allow people to opt out of organ donation rather than opt in. Therefore it was fantastic to hear the opinions our young people have on such issues. It is important that second level students are exposed to such topical issues, such as stem cell research and organ donations, if they are to consider pursuing careers in science and healthcare.

Maria Kelly, REACH RCSI Programme Manager and Debating Science Issues finals co-ordinator, said ‘This unique All-Ireland project provides a great opportunity for second-level students to be exposed to some of the latest developments in biomedical research and also to consider the ethical elements which can be a great hook in developing interest in science among young people.


The moment St Vincents were named DSI 2015 champions

Dr Maria Morgan, Senior Lecturer and Academic Director of the REACH Programme also commented ‘RCSI was delighted to host the DSI competition again which focuses on making biomedical science accessible and relevant to young people, challenging them with contemporary real-life issues, beyond their school curriculums, and helping to develop life skills in research and communication.


Pictured are the winning team of the Debating Science Issues competition from St Vincents School in Dundalk, Co. Louth with the organisers and judges of the DSI competition which features (on left in second row) Maria Kelly, REACH RCSI Manager and Dr Maria Morgan, Senior Lecturer and Academic Director of the REACH Programme (Front row seconf from left) and Mr Lars Nolke (front row far right).

The 2015 DSI All-Ireland Finals is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Discover Programme project award, which was secured through the REACH (Recreation Education And Community Health) RCSI programme.

There are nine partners of the Debating Science Issues initiative, who are RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland); REDDSTAR (an EU project coordinated at NUI Galway); the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre at UCC; Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI) at DCU; AMBER (Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research); W5 in Belfast, INSIGHT at UCD; Cork Institute of Technology; and the University of Ulster.

For more information on DSI visit www.debatingscienceissues.com.

RCSI is among the top 50 most international universities in the world (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2014-15). It is a not-for-profit health sciences institution which focuses on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In 2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.

Professor Cathal Kelly, Chief Executive, RCSI said: "RCSI is committed to promoting leadership in healthcare education. I encourage all RCSI staff and students to lead the way as role models for hand hygiene to help keep patients safe, by preventing the transmission of infectious diseases."

Good hand hygiene is a fundamental part of quality patient care and it only takes 15 seconds when using an alcohol hand rub to clean your hands. There are only two times that you cannot use alcohol hand rub for hand hygiene: 1) if hands are visibly dirty or 2) when caring for patients with suspected/confirmed C. difficile infection. In these instances, hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

The WHO have outlined the 5 occasions when it is particularly important to clean your hands when caring for patients, namely before and after patient care, before a clean or aseptic procedure (e.g. catheter insertion), after body fluid exposure and after touching the patients surroundings.

The Irish national hand hygiene guidelines have been recently updated and new materials have been developed including a newsletter to demonstrate the huge efforts that are being made in relation to hand hygiene around the country and to share ideas about how hand hygiene can be improved. This includes an article from Beaumont Hospital on their ongoing work at improving hand hygiene and the development of an app to facilitate real time auditing and feedback for improvement. The newsletter, guidelines and videos are available at: www.hse.ie/handhygiene

RCSI is among the top 50 most international universities in the world (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2014-15). It is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In 2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.

Today at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, 3U Partnership will introduce the first of a series of 3U Masterclass in Healthcare Ethics and Law, which will examine the medical, legal and ethical implications of the new Assisted Decision- Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

In speaking about the topic of the first 3U Masterclass, Dr Adam McAuley, law lecturer at Dublin City University and member of 3U Partnership’s Healthcare Ethics and Law Working Group says “a clinician has a legal and ethical obligation to obtain a patient’s informed consent to medical intervention. While this does not generally give rise difficulties when the patient has the capacity to give or refuse consent to medical intervention, the issue is more complicated when clinicians are asked to treat patients who lack capacity to consent to or refuse necessary medical intervention because of permanent cognitive impairment or temporary factors such as unconsciousness, confusion or the effects of fatigue, stress, pain or drugs.”

In the past, clinical teams choose between two courses of action. First, the team might apply to court to make the patient a ward of court under the Lunacy Act 1871. Once a person is a ward of court, the High Court must make every important decision about the ward’s welfare. Alternatively, the team would seek proxy consent from a patient’s family or next of kin, despite there being was no legal basis for this course of action.

Groups representing patients with challenged capacity successfully lobbied the outgoing government to pass the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Dr McAuley says “the 2015 Act replaces the antiquated wardship system of the Lunacy Act 1871 with nuanced and sophisticated principles and mechanisms to treat patients with challenged capacity. The 3U Healthcare Ethics and Law Masterclass offers an informative and instructive insight into the origins of the 2015 Act and how the principles and mechanisms of the 2015 Act will operate from legal, ethical and clinical perspectives.

In welcoming the first of the Healthcare Ethics and Law Masterclass series, Dr Ruth Davis, Director of 3U Partnership said “3U Partnership is delighted to have brought together an impressive line-up of Medical and Law experts to explore this sensitive and complex topic as part of its 3U Masterclass series in Healthcare Ethics and Law. This Masterclass provides a timely and valuable insight into this newly enacted legislation and the practical implications for professionals in both legal and healthcare settings.”

The 3U Masterclass, which will be opened by Ms Justice Marie Baker, features contributions from legal and healthcare experts in this field including Dr Charles NUI Galway; Professor Mary Donnelly and Dr Joan McCarthy UCC; Professor Brendan Kelly UCD and Ms Patricia Rickard Former Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission.

Topics that will be addressed include: The International Human Rights Framework; Legal Principles of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Legislation; Mechanisms in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Legislation; Advance Care Directives; Implications of Advance Care Directives from an Ethical Perspective; Implications of the 2015 Act from a Clinical Perspective.

The fifth International Conference for Healthcare and Medical Students (ICHAMS) will take place today and tomorrow at RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland). ICHAMS is a biomedical conference for undergraduate healthcare and medical students to present their research to peers and researchers from diverse fields of research. In addition to the high calibre of delegates at the conference, there are numerous workshops offered on a variety of topics, as well as the opportunity to network with delegates from all over the world.

More than 200 undergraduate healthcare students from Ireland, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Iran, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom will attend the conference to present oral and poster presentations on a wide variety of healthcare research. The theme of this years event is ‘Connect. Collaborate. Differentiate.

The conference gives students the opportunity to present their research findings in an international setting and have their abstracts published, while educating them on the importance of research in the broader medical fields and provides career information on specific research topics they might want to pursue, both at home and abroad. With more than 200 students attending the conference, ICHAMS is attracting international students to strengthen Irelands reputation as a centre of excellence in research.

Dr Sarah ONeill, Chair of the Scientific Committee said, "I am proud of fact that ICHAMS is in its fifth year and this is a real testament to the dedication and hard work of our student organising committee. We are very excited about this years programme and we anticipate it will encourage innovative thinking as attendees share their research knowledge and experiences with each other. We also look forward to welcoming our international delegates to Dublin and hope this experience gives students an insight into the world of scientific research. I also hope ICHAMS will inspire many to continue to Connect, Collaborate, and Differentiate".

The three keynote speakers, who will speak over the two days at ICHAMS, are Richard Corbridge, CEO of the HSE (Health Service Executive) and Chief Officer of eHealth Ireland; Professor David Kuhns, Director of the RCSI Physician Associate Programme; and Dr Ravikiran Ongole, Radiologist and Professor in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology at the Manipal College of Dental Sciences in Mangilore, India.

Apart from the keynote speeches, other highlights of the programme include Friday afternoon workshop sessions. Two of these will focus on surgery (‘Surgeons, Saws & Speed and an ‘Olympus Laparoscopy Skills Session); one on physiotherapy and another on suturing skills. The Saturday morning workshops will be based on anaesthesiology, emergency medicine and obstetrics & gynaecology.

The event will conclude with a prize giving in the Albert Theatre, RCSI and will be followed by a gala dinner on Saturday 20th February in the Radisson Blu hotel in Golden Lane, Dublin.

For further information on the conference programme visit the conference website ichams.org.

RCSI is ranked 46th in the world for ‘International Outlook and #251 - 300 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2015-2016). It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide.