Eight (8) University College Dublin projects are among a total of 41 projects announced today by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to receive funding under the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) led COVID-19 Rapid Response Research and Innovation Programme.

Together the 8 UCD projects have been awarded just under €1.5 million of the total €5.5 million investment announced by Minister Harris TD.

Announcing the awards Minister Harris TD, said, “Today I am pleased to announce a further investment of €5.5 million in research and innovation related to COVID-19. It is clear this virus is with us for a significant period of time and yet we still have a lot to learn about it.”

“Research, development and innovation will play a significant role in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. The 41 projects announced today are part of a national drive to find solutions to the challenges we face now, and to help us prepare to live in a changing environment that requires new thinking and innovative approaches. I would like to congratulate all of the researchers receiving funding today and thank them for their efforts in Ireland’s collective response to COVID-19.”

Among the 8 UCD funded projects is a project entitled, ‘The COCOON study: COVID-19 coagulopathy and thrombosis: Novel prognostic and therapeutic opportunities’  led by Dr Barry Kevane, Consultant Haematologist at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, UCD Conway Institute and UCD School of Medicine.

In this multi-disciplinary clinical and translational research study, which has been awarded just under €294,000 in funding, Dr Kevane will work with key collaborators, Professor Patricia Maguire, UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and Professor Fionnuala Ni Ainle, UCD School of Medicine and co-directors of the UCD Conway SPHERE research group.

The Cocoon Study is an international project which will examine blood coagulation in Covid-19 patients and its interplay with inflammation. The study aims to address urgent clinical dilemmas and to develop novel solutions for existing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Using advanced artificial intelligence and genomics technologies, the project will deliver enhanced thrombotic prevention strategies and a rapid diagnostic platform for personalised risk assessment.

Dr Barry Kevane, said, “Using technologies which have been developed by my colleagues Professor Fionnuala Ní Áinle and Professor Patricia Maguire in the UCD Conway SPHERE research group, we intend to characterise the molecular mechanisms underlying clotting derangements in COVID-19.  A deeper understanding of this problem would help inform clinical decisions relating to clot prevention and treatment in this disease and would be of major clinical benefit.”

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/thecocoonstudy/#d.en.509147

Welcoming today’s announcement Professor Orla Feely, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact said, "We are very proud of the response by UCD academics and clinicians to the Covid-19 crisis, having come to together rapidly and across numerous disciplines to produce effective, innovative solutions to the many challenges posed by the pandemic. The diversity and interdisciplinarity of the Covid Rapid Response projects demonstrates the breadth and depth of expertise across a range of fields from molecular biology to computer science, as well as the creative and collaborative spirit of UCD's academic community." 

The COVID-19 Rapid Response Research, Development and Innovation programme was established by SFI, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Health Research Board and Irish Research Council.

Professor Mark Ferguson, Director General Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, said, “The COVID-19 Rapid Response Research and Innovation funding is critical to supporting Ireland’s National Action Plan in response to the pandemic. The projects announced today will play a pivotal role in developing societal and economic solutions to challenges we face.”

“This is the fourth announcement of COVID-19 funding from SFI to support research projects across a number of Higher Education Institutes. In the global response to COVID-19, collaboration and partnership are key, so I am delighted that funding for 41 more outstanding projects is announced today. As a nation, we are stronger when we work together, and we will continue to generate solutions to the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Today’s announcement builds on SFI’s previous investment of €8 million across 17 COVID-19 research and innovation projects.  All of the projects funded have been internationally peer reviewed at the assessment stage. 

 

Details on the 7 other UCD funded research projects.

Professor Madeleine Lowery and Dr Emer Doheny, UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, are the lead researchers in project entitled ‘Home monitoring of respiration in Covid-19 patients using smartphone technology’.

The aim of the project (awarded just over €143,000 in funding) is to develop a system to remotely monitor respiratory rate in patients with Covid-19 using smartphone microphones and predictive models of hospital admissions.

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/homemonitoringofrespiration/#d.en.509142

Professor Paddy Mallon and Dr Virginie Gautier, UCD School of Medicine and the UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEPHR) are the lead researchers in a project entitled ‘Detection and quantification of neutralising antibodies against Covid-19 infection’.

This collaborative project (awarded just over €220,000 in funding) will look at the detection and quantification of neutralising antibodies against Covid-19 infection.

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/antibodiestesting/#d.en.509148

Professor Gregory O’Hare, UCD School of Computer Science is the lead researcher in a project entitled ‘COMBAT: COvid-19 Modelling through agent-BAsed Techniques’.

This project (awarded just over €303,000 in funding) is developing models that offer guidance regarding, the transmission of SARS-CoV-2; the effect of containment measures; duration and relaxation of such measures; multiple waves/multiple lockdowns; vaccine roll-out; and controlled sectoral and/or geographic return to work and school.

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/computationalmodelling/#d.en.509149

Professor Eilish McAuliffe, UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems and UCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research Education and Innovation in Health Systems is the lead researcher in a project entitled ‘Expanding Care Capacity through Remote Monitoring of Covid-19 patients’.

The project (awarded just over €217,000 in funding) aims to gather evidence about the experiences of patients and healthcare staff of engaging with remote monitoring to learn how not just COVID-19 patients but other patient groups could effectively manage their symptoms at home.

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/remotemonitoring/#d.en.509150

Professor Michael Gilchrist and Dr Nan Zhang, UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering; Dr Jaythoon Hassan, UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) and Dr Nicola Fletcher, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine are the lead researchers in a project entitled ‘Development of Plastic Packaging and Film Resistant to Covid-19’.

The project (awarded just over €155,000 in funding) aims to develop a unique form of flexible textured plastic film that will ensure coronavirus does not remain viable for more than 60 minutes.

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/safepe/#d.en.511723

Professor James FX Jones, UCD School of Medicine is the lead researcher in a project entitled ‘Manufacture of Novel Covid-19 Laryngoscopes for Airway Intubation’.

The interdisciplinary project (awarded just over €54,000 in funding) is exploring the manufacture of a cheap, disposable, 3D printed video-laryngoscope customised for Covid-19 patients. The device will incorporate novel features which protect the user and keep the patient well oxygenated.

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/safelaryngiscopes/#d.en.511725

Professor Dermot Brougham, UCD School of Chemistry is the lead researcher in a project entitled ‘Next Generation Magnetic Beads for enhanced viral RNA detection and improved Covid-19 Testing, Securing Supply, Improving Performance’.

Professor Brougham’s project (awarded just over €85,000 in funding) aims to improve the RNA extraction efficiency of magnetic beads, and solve the supply issue, through a focused synthetic nanomaterials project.

Click here for further information on this project and details on the project partners.

https://www.ucd.ie/research/covid19response/news/nanoflowers/#d.en.511726