Posted 02 April 2014
President of Ireland Young Researcher Award for UCD scientist
UCD Professor Carel le Roux is one of three researchers who have been presented with a President of Ireland Young Researcher Award (PIYRA) at Áras an Uachtaráin.
“This award recognises the ongoing contribution of Irish scientists to internationally respected research activity in areas of fundamental relevance to society and the economy,” said President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins. “It is the dedication and pioneering results of these researchers which continues to position Ireland as a leader in scientific research.”
Pictured far right: Prof Carel Le Roux, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science; President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins and Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland
Professor le Roux is Chair of Pathology at the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science and a Fellow at the UCD Conway Institute for Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. His research focuses on achieving a better mechanistic understanding of appetite control in an effort to address the increasing mortality and morbidity associated with obesity and its related diseases.
“If we can learn more about how the gut ‘talks’ to the brain to generate fullness, we can develop safer and more effective treatments for patients. The role of metabolic surgery, gut hormones, bile acids and changes in food preference are important areas of research focus in this quest”, said Professor le Roux.
“The immediate question for clinicians and surgeons is how to optimally use existing medical and surgical treatment to prevent or even reverse end-organ damage secondary to obesity or diabetes. By addressing this question, we can affect immediate health gain for patients and the health system.”
“Receiving the PIYRA has allowed me to expand our work and establish, within the UCD Diabetes Complications Research Centre, the first group in the world focusing on how changing the anatomy and physiology of the gut with surgery can be used to reverse organ damage such as diabetic kidney disease, which previously was thought of to be permanent. Improving our knowledge will facilitate health gain for patients while saving money for the health system.”
PIYRA is Science Foundation Ireland's most esteemed award for researchers who have shown exceptional promise as possible future leaders in international research and are known for excellence in their fields. Awardees are selected on the basis of exceptional accomplishments in science and engineering and on the basis of creative research projects that have attracted international acclaim.
Commenting on the awards, Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland, said: “PIYRA recognises outstanding researchers who, early in their careers, have already demonstrated or shown exceptional potential for leadership in their fields of research. Through this programme SFI is supporting a new generation of top-tier scientific researchers in Ireland.”
Professor le Roux received his award alongside Dr Matthew Campbell (Trinity College Dublin) and Professor Valeria Nicolosi (Trinity College Dublin). Dr Campbell carries out research on eye conditions including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) while Professor Nicoloi researches materials that can potentially form the basis for innovative new technologies.
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
