HRB-Health Research In Action booklet (feat. NICB)

Research.
Evidence.
Action.
Health
Research
in Action

HRB
Funding
Statistics
- a snapshot from
awards which
completed in 2015
74
€21,310,000
new methods or materials
(e.g. assays, databases,
training materials)
healthcare innovations
(e.g. medical devices,
therapies or interventions)
influences on policy or
practice (e.g. new clinical
guidelines, policy reports)
This research resulted in:
44
29
53
HRB funded projects completed in 2015
representing about a quarter of our
overall investment in the system
It was an investment of

Significant academic outputs
68 PhDs
403 peer review papers
744 presentations at scientific conferences
194 academic collaborations and
99 of these were international
Supporting 216 jobs
108
137
Healthcare Professionals
Biomedical Scientists
The economic impact
€
€
€
Created
two spin out
companies
Filed seven
patents
Started 25
industry
collaborations
Leveraged
€65,375,527
funding on foot
of these awards
3Health Research in Action

4 Health Research in Action
In order to share some examples of
our research in a user friendly way,
we captured a few of the success stories,
summarised them and turned them into
tweets we can use on social media to
build on our #hrb30 campaign.
So in just a few seconds, you should
get a good sense of some of the great
discoveries and outcomes that the
Health Research Board is supporting
across many areas of health.
Thanks to @claireoconnell
- Irish Science Writer of
the Year 2016 - and all the
researchers for helping us pull
this together. Special thanks
to the patients for sharing
their stories.

From bugs to drugs: using
bacteria to deliver medicines
to tumours
University College Cork, Project Leader
Dr Mark Tangney
The problem
When cancer spreads in the body, the disease
can be much harder to treat – because
therapies need to be given to the entire
body in order to find all the tumours. So we
need new ways of getting drugs to work only
within these cancerous tumours throughout
the body, in order to kill them, but without
harming non-cancerous regions.
The project
HRB-funded researchers at University College
Cork want to use bacteria to find tumours in
the body and deliver anti-cancer drugs directly
to them. Tumours are often low in oxygen, but
some bacteria, such as probiotic bacteria, like
that. We already know that if these bacteria
are injected into the body they like to grow at
tumour sites. So the researchers looked to see
if they could add genes to probiotic bacteria
and use them as tiny ’Trojan horses’ to get
inside the tumour and then make drugs on
the spot and destroy the cancer.
The outcomes
»» A new suite of engineered ’Trojan horse’
bacteria that can now be tested to deliver
drugs directly to hard-to-find tumours in
the body.
»» The bacteria should be able to target most
types of solid tumours, so could work
against a range of different cancers.
»» Preparations are underway for clinical
trials of the cancer-targeting bacteria in
humans - ultimately the patient may simply
need to swallow the bacteria to set them
to work.
Dr Mark Tangney from the Cork
Cancer Research Centre says:
“ The great thing about probiotic bacteria is
that the body likes them - so once they are
injected or swallowed they can go off and
find a tumour. Then, if we have pre-loaded
the bacteria with genes to make anti-cancer
drugs, the idea is that they can make the
drugs directly at the site of the tumour and
kill the cancer.”
In Summary
When cancer spreads in the body,
tumours can be hard to find. But
not for bacteria - researchers
at University College Cork have
engineered bacteria that can find
tumours and load them up with
genes to make anti-cancer drugs
on the spot. The outcome could be
easy-to-swallow probiotics that find
and destroy tumours.
@HRBIreland research at @ucc
made bacterial ‘Trojan horses’
to find & access tumours
& deliver anti-cancer
drugs on the spot

A key part of the puzzle for
a vaccine to tackle MRSA
Trinity College Dublin, lead researcher
Dr Rachel McLoughlin
The problem
MRSA is a serious problem in healthcare
settings because the bacteria (Staphylococcus
aureus or SA) has become resistant to
antibiotics. A vaccine could help to protect
vulnerable patients, but to design an effective
vaccine we need to know how the body
naturally reacts to SA infection.
The project
At Trinity College Dublin, Dr Rachel
McLoughlin analysed samples from patients
who had been infected with SA and found
that a type of immune cell called a ‘Type 1
T-helper’ (Th1) cell seemed to be important
for recovery. The research also showed that
boosting these cells in an experimental
model resulted in better recovery from
MRSA infection.
The outcomes
»» We know that Th1 cells are involved in
tackling SA infection in the body.
»» Boosting Th1 cells with an experimental
vaccine helped to clear SA infection.
»» The findings, which have been published
in the highly regarded journal PLoS
Pathogens, will help scientists to design
a future vaccine against MRSA to protect
vulnerable patients.
Dr Rachel McLoughlin says:
“ We should be trying to better understand
how our body naturally responds to
bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus. We
collected samples from patients at Tallaght,
St James’s and Beaumont Hospitals who
had a SA bloodstream infection and we
identified a specific type of immune cell
that was present at higher levels in patients
who were recovering from the infection.
We then developed a model vaccine to
target these immune cells and in our model
it improved infection outcomes. It is very
exciting to think that the work we have done
here could contribute to the development
of an effective vaccine against MRSA.”
In Summary
MRSA, where Staph bacteria have
become resistant to antibiotic
treatment, is one of the most
infamous ‘superbugs’. HRB-funded
research at Trinity College Dublin
has discovered that a type of
immune cell called a Type 1 T-helper
cell is an important component
of the body’s response to Staph
infection and that these cells could
be targeted in the design of future
vaccines against MRSA to protect
vulnerable patients.
@HRBIreland research
@tcddublin pinpointed an
immune cell the body uses
against Staph infection
> findings will inform
vaccine against MRSA

@ucddublin showed legislative
smoking bans reduce
cardiovascular disease,
esp in non-smokers
#CochraneReview
In Summary
In 2004, Ireland became a global
pioneer in banning smoking in the
workplace, and many other countries
and jurisdictions have followed
suit. Now HRB-funded research
at University College Dublin has
shown strong evidence that banning
smoking in public places is good for
cardiovascular health. The Cochrane
Review of 77 studies across 21
countries showed that:
»» Legislative smoking bans
reduced hospital admissions for
cardiovascular disease for both
smokers and non-smokers.
»» The largest reductions in
admissions were in non-smokers.
Smoking bans work: evidence
for health benefits
University College Dublin, lead researcher
Dr Kate Frazer
The problem
Smoking or being exposed to cigarette
smoke is linked to serious chronic disease.
In 2004, Ireland took a pioneering step of
banning indoor smoking in the workplace,
including pubs and restaurants, and many
other countries and jurisdictions have
followed suit. But what are the long-term
impacts on public health?
The project
Dr Kate Frazer and Professor Cecily Kelleher
at University College Dublin analysed 77
studies about smoking and cardiovascular
disease (which can lead to heart attacks
and strokes) from 21 countries. They used a
technique called ‘systematic reviewing’ to
see how robust the studies were, and they
looked at the larger pattern that emerged
from these studies.
The outcomes
»» We now have evidence that legislative
smoking bans reduce the numbers of
smokers and non-smokers being admitted
to hospital for cardiovascular issues.
»» A publication in the prestigious Cochrane
Database of Systematic Reviews.
»» Widespread media coverage around the
success of smoking bans.
Dr Kate Frazer says:
“ From a policy perspective, countries
need to know that legislative smoking
bans reduce passive smoke exposure
and improve health outcomes, and we
have been able to find the evidence
internationally that smoking bans work.”

@HRBIreland research shows
lack of awareness re dental
implants => older people
without teeth choosing
removable dentures
@DDUH12 @ucc
In Summary
A HRB-funded study at Trinity
College Dublin and the Dental
Hospitals in Dublin and Cork looked
at older people who had lost all of
their teeth and found that:
»» Only 15% of people in the study
chose dental implants over
removable dentures
»» Those who chose implants
tended to be younger and more
open to new ideas
»» People thought the procedure
to get implants was more
invasive than it is
The researchers developed a short
questionnaire to help dentists and
GPs to identify people who would
be likely to benefit from, and want,
dental implants.
Info for implants: replacing
all your lost teeth
Prof Brian O’Connell
The problem
Many older people in Ireland have lost all
their natural teeth, which can limit their food
choices and affect their confidence and
social lives. People who have lost their teeth
may be offered dental implants (replacement
teeth that are implanted into the jaw) but
not everyone wants them – they may want
removable dentures or ‘false teeth’ instead.
Why do people avoid implants? And how can
we tell in advance who is likely to want them?
The project
A study at the Dental Hospitals in Dublin
and Cork, gathered information from 125
older patients who had lost all of their teeth.
Everyone on the study got fitted for dentures
(false teeth), but they were also offered
implants for a nominal cost. Only 15 per cent
of the older people in the study chose to get
implants, and the researchers looked at what
influenced those choices.
The outcomes
»» People who chose to have dental implants
rather than removable false teeth tended
to be younger, they had lost teeth more
recently and they were more open to
new ideas.
»» The people who wanted implants were not
always the people who clinically needed
them the most.
»» A short questionnaire that GPs and
dentists can use as a tool to evaluate
whether a patient is suitable for, and
wants dental implants.
»» Many people were put off implants
because they thought the procedure was
more invasive than it is, suggesting that
a public education campaign could be
of benefit.
Prof Brian O’Connell says:
“ As the population of Ireland gets older
and are more likely to lose teeth, we
will face big challenges in dentistry. This
HRB-funded project has identified the need
for more education and public awareness
about dental implants, and we have
developed a questionnaire-based tool
for GPs and dentists to use to assess
a patient’s willingness and suitability
for implants.”

In Summary
Around one person in every
100 has epilepsy, where over-
communication within the brain
leads to seizures. HRB-funded
research at the Royal College of
Surgeons has found a way to target
a ‘master regulator’ of how brain
cells communicate.
Blocking this regulator could
reduce or even stop seizures
from happening. Biotechnology
and pharmaceutical companies
are now exploring the approach
as a potential new medicine
for epilepsy.
The outcomes
»» A potential new drug to control seizures
in epilepsy.
»» Contracts with biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies to develop the
potential new therapy further and bring it
closer to patients.
»» A new method to inject the potential drug
so that it can more easily access the brain
in epilepsy.
»» Several papers in prestigious scientific
journals.
Professor David Henshall says:
“ This is an exciting discovery because it
could lead to a new way to lessen or even
stop seizures in people with epilepsy. And
because microRNAs play such important
roles in brain function, being able to
access and target them as we have could
encourage new therapies for other brain
diseases too.”
Targeting epilepsy: a new way
to control seizures
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, lead
researcher - Prof David Henshall
The problem
Around one in every 100 people has epilepsy,
a brain condition where the person has
seizures. In Ireland tens of thousands of
people have been diagnosed with epilepsy.
While seizures are well controlled in a
majority, many people continue to experience
seizures, so we need to find new ways to
protect the brain from these events.
The project
Professor David Henshall and colleagues
at RCSI had previously discovered that a
naturally occurring molecule in the body
called microRNA134 (miR-134) has a role to
play in seizures in epilepsy. MiR-134 helps
to control the strength of electrical contact
points between brain cells, that can lead
to the brain cell connections being easily
sparked or excited, which may trigger or
amplify a seizure. With funding from the HRB,
the team discovered that if you block miR-
134 in an experimental model, the seizures
reduce or even stop completely.
@rcsi_irl has found a new
way to calm brain cell
communication and
control seizures
in epilepsy

@ucc found 25% of hospital
patients age >70 had
dementia (many
undiagnosed) & staff
felt underprepared
In Summary
The HRB-funded Cork Dementia
Study analysed patients aged over-
70 in Cork hospitals and found that
25% of the patients had dementia,
rising to 37% prevalence in smaller
rural hospitals. Many patients had
not been previously diagnosed.
Staff felt underprepared to help
such patients.
Around half of the people with
dementia also had delirium, a
short-term confusion that can
happen with trauma or illness.
The Cork Dementia Study led on
to a national audit of dementia
among older patients in Irish
hospitals, and has identified the
need for more education and
training among hospital staff and
more effective diagnosis of people
with dementia in the community
before they reach hospital.
Shining a light on ‘hidden
dementia’ in hospitals
University College Cork, lead researcher
Dr Suzanne Timmons
The problem
When older people come into hospital,
they may have some trouble with ‘cognitive’
functions like memory and attention. This
could be because they have mild or severe
dementia (which might not be diagnosed) or
a more short-term confusion called delirium,
which can be caused by trauma or illness.
Up until now we haven’t known the extent
of the problem.
The project
Researchers at University College Cork
gathered information about patients over
age 70 who were admitted to six hospitals
in Cork during a two-week period. Patients
who took part in the study were assessed for
dementia and delirium, and the researchers
also asked hospital staff about their
experiences of dealing with older patients
who had cognitive issues. 
The outcomes
The study showed that:
»» A quarter of patients aged over 70 who
come in to hospital may have dementia
(many undiagnosed) and/or delirium.
»» Older patients with pneumonia are
more likely to be among the group with
dementia or delirium, and patients coming
in for elective procedures are less likely to
have dementia or delirium.
»» Hospital staff often feel underprepared or
find it hard to cope when older patients
are confused or distressed because of
these cognitive issues.
The HRB study led on to the National
Audit of Dementia (co-funded by Atlantic
Philanthropies), which gathered information
about patients and staff in 47 hospitals
around Ireland and was included in the Irish
National Dementia Strategy.
Dr Suzanne Timmons says:
“ Getting the figures for dementia and
delirium among older patients in hospitals
in Cork has been a really important step,
and it has fed into a louder national
conversation about the need for more
appropriate care for patients with dementia.
The Cork Dementia Study has given us a
glimpse of how big the problem is, and
now we can set about changing practice
to improve education and care for hospital
patients with dementia in Ireland, such as
ensuring patients are moved less, that their
medication is appropriate and that staff
engage with them in ways they are more
likely to understand.”

TB or not TB - boosting the
immune response against
an ancient killer
Dr Laura Gleeson
The problem
Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease -
records of it go back thousands of years
- and the bacteria that cause it can ‘hide’
for a long time in the body. We have drug
treatments that target the bug that causes
TB, but the bacteria have been developing
resistance against those drugs, and this
issue is set to get even more serious. So
could we develop therapies to boost the
body’s own immune system to clear the
bug more effectively and thereby prevent
or manage TB?
The project
Working with Professor Joe Keane, Dr Laura
Gleeson has been looking at ways we can
boost our body’s immune response to the
bacteria that cause TB. She showed that
immune cells called macrophages change the
way they burn sugar when they are exposed
to TB, and that shift results in them making a
cocktail of disease-fighting agents.  
The outcomes
»» We now know more about how immune
cells change their biochemistry when they
‘meet’ the bacterium that causes TB, and
this helps them fight the disease.
»» A paper about the research in the highly
respected Journal of Immunology.
»» The findings pave the way to look for
a new medicine that can ‘switch’ the
immune cells on to fight TB more
effectively, even if the bugs are resistant
to other drugs.
Dr Laura Gleeson says:
“ Multi-drug resistant TB is already a big
problem and it is set to get even bigger.
With this better understanding of how
our bodies fight the disease we can
now look for drugs to give our immune
system that boost and help to fight
even drug-resistant TB.”
In Summary
Tuberculosis is a killer, and the
bug that causes it is developing
resistance against the drugs we
have to treat it. HRB-funded
research at Trinity College Dublin
has discovered one way that
our immune systems ‘switch on’
defence mechanisms against the
bug, raising the possibility of new
medicines to boost our immune
systems in the fight against TB.
@tcddublin finds how immune
cells ‘switch on’ to fight
TB, opening way for new
treatments against
the disease

In Summary
HRB-funded research at University
College Cork has developed
computer software to build
models of a patient’s airways
and assess suspicious growths
based on CT scans. They also
developed a device that can be
guided through the mouth and
deep into the lungs to biopsy
nodules without the need for
full surgery.
Reaching into lungs – a new
approach to early biopsies
University College Cork, Project leader
Dr Pádraig Cantillon-Murphy
The problem
Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer
in Ireland, but suspicious early nodules
growing deep in the airways are sometimes
left unbiopsied because conventional
endoscopes cannot reach them and other
approaches to biopsy (such as needles or
surgery) carry larger risks for the patient.
The project
The research team developed computer
software to 3D-map out an individual
patient’s airways from images taken in routine
CT scans. They also built a catheter-based
medical device that can be guided using the
computer software ‘sat nav’ towards nodules
or tumours deep in the lung.
The outcomes
»» Computer software that 3D-maps patient
airways - this has been made available to
the clinical community, and it is already
being used by others to build 3D-printed
models of patient airways.
»» Software that analyses CT images and
helps doctors to identify whether nodules
are likely to be cancerous based on the
patient’s history and the location and
appearance of the nodule.
»» A new device that can be guided through
the lungs in real time to reach distant
nodules without the need for surgery.
»» Several papers published in academic
literature on the development of the
mapping software and medical device.
»» A collaboration between UCC and the
prestigious German Cancer Research
Centre (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, one of the
leading chest cancer centres in the world.
Dr Pádraig Cantillon-Murphy says:
“ We set out to tackle this problem of finding
and analysing small cancerous tumours in
the lung, and we have developed not only a
new device to do this without surgery but
also new ways of mapping and navigating the
lung and computer software to help doctors
make decisions about scan results. It’s a real
case of bringing people with lots of different
backgrounds together - doctors, computer
software experts, engineers - and getting
lots of positive outcomes from working on
this very real clinical problem.”
@ucc has developed
technology to assess hard
-to-access lung nodules
for biopsy without need
for full surgery

»» 1 in 2 women leaked some amount of urine
during the three months after giving birth.
Women who leaked urine during pregnancy,
women who were obese and women who
were underweight were more likely to leak
urine at six months after the birth.
With physiotherapists in the Rotunda
Hospital, the researchers developed short
self-help videos [http://www.mammi.ie/
videos.php] to raise awareness about
leaking urine and how to do exercises to
strengthen the pelvic floor to prevent and
treat leaking urine.
Dr Deirdre Daly says:
“ Until now, leaking urine, what healthcare
professionals call urinary incontinence,
has been something of a hidden issue and
perhaps women feel it is just happening to
them. But now we have the data to show
that it happens to many women before,
during and after pregnancy. Our research
will also help us to identify the women who
are more likely to experience it. This study
should encourage all maternity healthcare
professionals, including GPs and public
health nurses (PHNs) to ask women whether
they are leaking urine, and we are providing
easy-to-access information to women to
help prevent and address it.”
Leaking urine before, during
and after pregnancy - a
hidden problem until now
Dr Deirdre Daly
The problem
During pregnancy and after giving birth, some
women leak urine occasionally, especially
when laughing, coughing, picking something
up or during exercise. Up to now we have
had little formal data on how commonly this
happens to women in Ireland, nor have we
known who is more or less likely to leak urine.
The project
As part of the MAMMI Study [http://www.
mammi.ie/], the research team surveyed
more than 2,100 women, all first-time
mothers, who were attending maternity
hospitals in Ireland. Women answered
questions about their health and health
problems, including leaking urine, leaking
stools (bowel motions), pain, sexual health
issues, anxiety, depression, relationship
issues and intimate partner violence.
The study is ongoing.
The outcomes
We now know that:
»» even before pregnancy 1 in 3 women leak
urine occasionally and 1 in 12 leak urine
once a month or more often.
»» in early pregnancy, more than 1 in 3
women leak urine during pregnancy.
In Summary
HRB-funded research at Trinity
College Dublin has found that
women who experienced bed-
wetting as a child, and women who
were obese were more likely to leak
urine before their first pregnancy.
Women who were overweight,
aged 35 years and over, and women
who leaked urine before pregnancy
were all more likely to leak urine
during pregnancy.
Three months after giving birth,
half of first-time mothers leak
urine. At six months, women who
leaked urine during pregnancy,
women who were obese and women
who were underweight were more
likely to leak urine.
The key message is that leaking
urine, while common, is not normal
and is easily prevented or treated.
The research led to a new set of
videos to help women to do specific
exercises to prevent and treat
leaking urine.
@tcddublin found 50pc
of women sometimes
leak urine in months after
giving birth & made vids
to help avoid it

@HRBIreland research @ucc
solves mysteries of ‘phantom’
pain in Cardiac Syndrome X,
enabling better diagnosis
and patient health
Solving the mystery of
unexplained chest pains
University College Cork, lead researcher
Dr James Dollard
The problem
For a long time, cardiologists have scratched
their heads about patients who show up with
chest pains when they exercise (angina) but
when you put them on a treadmill for a ’stress
test’ or look inside their arteries for blockages,
everything seems normal. Patients with this
Cardiac Syndrome X often don’t get treated
for their pain (which can drag on for years)
and they can be at higher risk of psychological
problems such as depression and anxiety.
Some doctors consider Cardiac Syndrome X
to be psychosomatic (arising in the mind of
the patient), but science has shown it may
be because smaller blood vessels around the
heart are not working properly.
The project
Dr James Dollard identified 17 patients who
had Cardiac Syndrome X and followed them
for 18 months. He collected information
about whether the pains endured or got
better, and he analysed blood samples from
the patients for markers of inflammation, a
process that can damage arteries.
The outcomes
»» The study found that 1.3% of patients
going for coronary angiograms in the study
had Cardiac X Syndrome, this is the first
report of its frequency in Ireland.
»» We now know that patients with Cardiac X
Syndrome who have chest pains also have
specific biochemical signs of inflammation
in their body, offering doctors potential
ways to help diagnose and monitor the
condition.
»» ‘MicroRNAs’ involved in blood vessel
function, muscle development and
possibly mood are altered in patients
with Cardiac X Syndrome who have pain,
suggesting biochemical mechanisms that
underpin the condition.
»» The study should help doctors to better
identify patients with Cardiac X Syndrome
and ensure they get reassurance and that
they avoid expensive and invasive but
unnecessary tests.
»» A dedicated clinic has been established in
Cork for patients with suspected Cardiac
X Syndrome.
Dr James Dollard says:
“ Every specialty has its ‘black sheep’ and
in cardiology, a lot of people considered
this Cardiac Syndrome X as being in the
mind rather than a cardiovascular problem.
This research has not only measured how
frequently these patients are likely to turn
up in the clinic with pain, but it has also
measured the biochemical signals that
tell us what is going on in the person’s
body. Having a label for the pain helps
the individual patient - they are reassured
and hopefully it means they can get the
treatment they need.”
In Summary
Sometimes patients have chest
pains that seem to come from
blocked arteries around the heart,
but the tests show everything is fine
because it is the smaller arteries
around the heart that are often
causing the trouble.
This can lead to patient frustration,
expensive and invasive but
unnecessary tests and no proper
diagnosis or treatment.
Thanks to HRB-funded research
at University College Cork we now
know that around 1% of patients
going for angiogram could be
Cardiac Syndrome X patients and
that Syndrome X pain is linked
with specific biochemical signs of
inflammation in the body.
This helps to dispel the notion that
the pain is imagined rather than real,
and it could lead to more definitive
diagnosis. Because of the findings,
a new clinic for Cardiac Syndrome X
patients has been set up in Cork.

Software to avoid prescribing
inappropriate medicines
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,
Lead researcher - Professor Tom Fahey
The problem
Research at the HRB Centre for Primary Care
Research (based at RCSI) has already shown
that more than a third of people over the age
of 70 are prescribed one or more ‘potentially
inappropriate’ drugs. This can be expensive
and unnecessary, and may expose patients to
the risks of side effects when they don’t get
as great a benefit from the medicine.
The project
Researchers at the HRB Centre for Primary
Care Research systematically reviewed
the clinical evidence around appropriate
prescribing for elderly patients. They then
developed computer software and tested
it to see how it could support GPs when
making decisions about the safest and most
appropriate medicine.
The outcomes
»» A reduction in inappropriate prescriptions
of gastrointestinal medications called PPIs
for older patients.
»» Computer software to support doctors
when they are prescribing medicines,
to make sure the medicines are the
safest and most appropriate kind for
elderly patients.
»» Software that recommends alternative
prescriptions or doses when doctors
query a medicine or dosage that could be
potentially inappropriate or harmful.
»» Published papers about inappropriate
prescriptions among older people in
Ireland and the software to help
overcome the problem.
Professor Tom Fahey says:
“ Maximal dose PPI drugs are widely
prescribed at a large cost to the health
budget. We have shown that with this
decision-support software we can reduce
the prescribing of these medications by
GPs at the safest dosage.”
@rcsi_Irl -> software for
GPs that reduced potentially
inapprop high-dose
prescriptions of PPIs
in older people
In Summary
A study at the HRB Centre for
Primary Care Research based at
the RSCI found that more than a
third of people aged over 70 are
prescribed one or more ‘potentially
inappropriate’ medicines that may
cause more harm than good and
would benefit from regular
clinical review.
To help doctors and pharmacists,
researchers at the Centre
developed computer software
that can help prescribers choosing
the most appropriate medicines
for patients.
In a randomised trial, the decision
-support software reduced
the prescribing of potentially
inappropriate medicines,
particularly high dosage
gastrointestinal drugs called
proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Stroke
Paul Lambe was driving through the Dublin Port Tunnel
when he experienced a massive stroke. He was rushed
to hospital where he received a new treatment as part
of a clinical trial in Ireland, namely clot-busting drugs
followed by thrombectomy - physical clot removal
from his brain.
As he described it himself,
‘I owe my life to the other Irish patients
who participated on this trial. I wouldn’t
be here today if it wasn’t for them’.
Link back: Peter Kelly who was instrumental in verifying
the thrombectomy procedure through a trial in Ireland
received one of the first HRB Clinician Scientist Awards
in 2006. He is now Director of the HRB Stroke Clinical
Trial Network.
Mother and baby health
Grainne Foley, whose baby was diagnosed with a
potentially dangerous growth restriction in the womb
said she was delighted to have the comfort of extra
scans as a result of being part of a clinical trial.
Her baby boy was born weighing just 1.1kgs. Her son
John, who is now four, is living life to the full because
screening and interventions were available at the right
time through the HRB Perinatal Ireland study.
Link back: The HRB Perinatal Ireland study was set
up in 2007. Since then this study has led to changes
in international guidelines for managing babies in the
womb and Fergal Malone who led the project is now
Principal Investigator of the HRB Mother and Baby
Clinical Trial Network.
Patient
stories
Paul Lambe John Foley

Improving breast
cancer treatment
When Anne-Marie Meenan was diagnosed with Breast Cancer
her oncologist gave her the opportunity to participate in
the breast cancer clinical trial called Tailor X. This trial uses a
genetic test to predict whether chemotherapy is necessary as
part of that particular persons treatment or not.
‘My initial thought was absolutely,’ says
Anne-Marie. ‘By being on the trial I felt would
have more information about my illness, an
understanding of how likely it was to reoccur
and whether I actually needed chemotherapy
or not. In the end the test showed I did need
chemotherapy. It was quite a tough course
of treatment, but even at the most difficult
points I was driven on by knowing the test had
determined I needed to have this treatment
for the best outcome’.
Link Back: Through the Ireland-Northern Ireland - US Cancer
Consortium, the HRB initially provided funding to the Irish
Clinical Oncology Research Group in 2002 to grow capacity
for cancer clinical trials in Ireland. Now known as Clinical Trials
Ireland and co-funded by the Irish Cancer Society, they have
created the opportunity for more than 15,000 people in Ireland
to participate in cancer trials.
Restoring sight
In an attempt to restore his deteriorating sight, Patrick
Godfrey recently had the first cornea-limbal stem cell
transplant in Ireland. The transplant provides a new outer
layer of stem cells on the cornea, allowing light to enter the
eye and potentially restore vision. It was conducted by Mr
William Power, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Royal
Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital.
Five months on from the operation Patrick says,
‘This treatment has made a massive
improvement to my sight and quality of life.
I’m able to do things now I couldn’t possibly
have done prior to my operation like reading
the newspaper with ease, going to a football
match and seeing what’s happening and I’m
gradually getting back to driving a car again’.
Link Back: Getting the cornea-limbal stem cells to grow
in the laboratory was the first challenge and the scientific
breakthroughs that led to the transplant were made by Dr
Finbarr O’Sullivan and Prof Martin Clynes of the National
Institute for Cellular Biotechnology (NICB) in DCU. This work
was funded through a Partnership Award from the HRB in 2007.
Health Research in Action 17
Anne-Marie Meenan Patrick Godfrey

Health Research Board
Grattan House
67-72 Lower Mount Street
Dublin 2
D02 H638
Ireland
t 353 1 234 5000
f 353 1 661 2335
e hrb@hrb.ie
w www.hrb.ie

HRB-Health Research In Action booklet (feat. NICB)

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