Dr Carlos Matellan awarded the 2023 IRC Thomas Mitchell Medal of Excellence

The Irish Research Council (IRC) has announced the four early-career researchers who have been awarded ‘Medals of Excellence’ for this year. These medals recognise excellence in the 2023 Government of Ireland postgraduate and postdoctoral funding calls run by the IRC, across the arts, humanities and social sciences, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Postdoctoral researchers, Dr Carlos Matellan, UCD School of Medicine and UCD Conway Institute was awarded the Thomas Mitchell Medal of Excellence for being the top-ranked postdoctoral researcher in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics category.

Dr Carlos Matellan, UCD School of Medicine & UCD Conway Institute

Dr Matellan’s research addresses the rising mortality from chronic liver diseases in Europe, aiming to leverage mechano-modulatory drugs to re-programme immune cells called macrophages towards a restorative function.

When asked about his work in this area, Carlos said: “Chronic damage to our organs can lead to persistent inflammation and the formation of scar tissue, preventing repair and healing. We are now beginning to recognise the contribution of our immune system to this process, but we don’t yet fully understand what drives our immune cells into this harmful state. By studying the communication between our immune cells and other cells and tissues involved in these chronic diseases, we can unlock new therapies to restore them back to health.”

For more information on the IRC Medals of Excellence and all four awardees for 2023, visit the IRC website.