My first Magazine Annual report 2015 | Page 15

SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND ANNUAL REPORT 2015 13 Prof Brian Caulfield, from SFI Research Centre Insight and University College Dublin (UCD) where he is a connected health researcher, won the 2015 Google Wearables in Healthcare Pilot Challenge. Science Foundation Ireland announced over €30 million of research funding for 23 major research projects through the Science Foundation Ireland Investigators Programme. San-Franciso based Second Genome Inc., a leader in the development of novel medicines through innovative microbiome science, entered into an alliance with APC at UCC to advance the development of therapies that prevent and treat inflammatory bowel disease. Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál from Blarney, Co. Cork scoop first prize at the national final of the 2015 ESERO Ireland – CEIA CanSat competition. Prof John Doherty, UCD; Prof Martin Steinhoff, UCD; Mr Damien English T.D., Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation; Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland; and Prof Torres Sweeney, UCD. Prof Mark Ferguson presented at a meeting with EU Commissioners Moedas and Hogan in UCD. Prof Mark Ferguson presented at EVOLVE Biomed in the RDS Dublin. Galway based computational imaging company Fotonation and researchers at NUI Galway establish a new collaboration to address technical challenges associated with the development of improved imaging quality for smartphone cameras. Northern Ireland Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry awards £3.5 million in research funding for seven research projects involving Queen’s University Belfast. The funding will support successful Science Foundation Ireland Investigators Programme projects through the SFI-DEL Investigators Programme Partnership. Science Foundation Ireland partner with RDS and DCU on €440,000 STEM continuous professional development initiative aimed at primary school teachers. Dr Darrin Morrissey, Director of Programmes Science Foundation Ireland; Dr Stephen Farry, Employment and Learning Minister; Professor James McElnay, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Postgraduates QUB and Prof John Dalton from one of the funded projects - Application of New and Emerging Technologies to Develop Vaccines against Liver Fluke Infection. Science Foundation Ireland and RTÉ announce a new partnership to support and develop STEM broadcasting. Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council (IRC) hosted a reception at the Royal Irish Academy to celebrate the success of Ireland’s researchers in the most recent calls to the highly prestigious European Research Council (ERC) funding schemes. 549 schools nationwide receive the Discover Primary Science Award for Maths and Science. President Higgins hosted Dr Elaine Dunleavy, NUI Galway as the recipient of the President of Ireland Young Researcher Award at Áras an Uachtaráin. Mr Damien English T.D., Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation and Niamh Lyons, Interim Director, Communications, Science Foundation Ireland, award a Discovery Primary Science Award for Maths and Science to the Ballinlough NS. Science Foundation Ireland Annual Report published. An Taoiseach opened the Beaufort Building and SeaFest 2015. Ann Riordan, Chairman of Science Foundation Ireland, Mr Damien English T.D., Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation; and Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland.