Ireland’s healthcare system is bracing for escalating demands over the next decade, driven by an aging population, staffing shortages, space constraints, and rising costs. The country’s Health Service Executive (HSE) reported 3,946,985 outpatients, 683,010 inpatients, and 1,824,594 emergency care patients in 2024, marking a substantial increase from 2022.
The College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at the University of Galway is dedicated to addressing these challenges. In 2024, a team of neuroscientists from the college made a discovery that could revolutionise stem cell-based brain repair therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Repair involves replacing dead cells with healthy ones – Professor Eilís Dowd and her team found that transplanting immature cells in a collagen hydrogel dramatically improves both their survival and maturation in the brain.
“Our hydrogel nurtures, supports and protects the cells after they are transplanted into the brain, and this dramatically improves their maturation and reparative ability,” she explains. “Ultimately, we hope that continued development of this promising gel will lead to a significant improvement in brain repair approaches for people living with Parkinson’s.”
Another example of the college’s impactful research is a study related to hair loss during chemotherapy. Professor Martin O’Halloran and his team developed a technology that applies compression to the scalp so that cancer medication does not access or damage fast-growing hair follicles.
This research is underpinned by Institute for Clinical Trials, Ireland’s first institute for clinical trials, based at the University. The Institute is committed to advancing clinical research, following five pillars of activity: partnering with industries, developing and translating its findings to real-world scenarios, innovating new technologies, educating aspiring professionals, and influencing the public.
The institute offers three master’s programmes. The MSc (Clinical Research) serves as a pathway to transforming medical discoveries into clinical applications, fostering efficiency and innovation. This degree is perfect for students who aim to become independent clinical investigators or leaders in clinical research teams. It covers foundational topics in clinical research methodology such as study design, data analysis, ethical frameworks, and regulatory compliance.
The MSc (Applied Clinical Data Analytics), on the other hand, trains healthcare professionals to analyse and interpret data. It was a 2024 finalist in the Irish Healthcare Centre Awards in Education, Learning & Development, and in the Best Masters programme in Science, Technology and Built Environment category in the 2025 Education Awards, reaffirming its dedication and commitment to excellence in healthcare training. Assignments are based on real-world examples of clinical research, such as clinical trials, systematic reviews, observational research, and data from administrative datasets.
“From designing and implementing research methodologies to ensure data integrity and quality, to selecting and reporting analysis methods, this programme has equipped me with the necessary tools to produce reliable and comprehensible research outcomes,” says graduate Dr. David Aguilar, now a Research Associate at a clinical research facility in Galway.
“The practical approach of this programme, combined with the support and mentorship from faculty members, allowed me to cultivate a deeper proficiency in the different domains of data analysis, motivating me to pursue my academic and professional aspirations.”
Meanwhile, the 100% online MSc (Evidence-Based Future Healthcare) tackles current and emerging healthcare challenges by using the latest methods to find, assess, and apply research. What truly sets it apart is the fact that it is not just delivered by University of Galway staff but by international experts too, who share key insights in classrooms as guest lecturers.
Through cutting-edge research, the University of Galway is looking to evolve the world of healthcare. Source: Dr. Chaosheng Zhang, University of Galway
What these programmes have in common is that they are as relevant as can be – this is trait the University of Galway ensures across its long lineup of academic offerings, including postgraduate programmes in lab-based medicine, clinical programmes and a unique suite of preventive medicine programmes in partnership with The National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC).
For example, as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more important in the healthcare industry around the world, HSE consultant nephrologist and senior lecturer at the university, Conor Judge, emphasises clinicians in Ireland will need the right understanding and support to improve patient care. This is why he made it his focus to apply AI solutions to his MSc (Applied Clinical Data Analytics) programme. Read more here.
“There are really interesting research examples of AI in healthcare, some of which are being used in Ireland, but most are not in any of our hospitals,” he says. “The experience of AI devices being used in other countries is very telling and indicates that they can deliver better patient care.”From ChestLink, a medical device able to recognise 75 different abnormalities on chest X-rays, to a computer vision model that can detect early changes in multiple eye conditions, it’s clear the University of Galway is at the forefront of integrating advanced technologies into Irish healthcare. Learn more about joining them.
“For anyone in healthcare who wants to bridge the gap between clinical practice and data science, I can’t recommend the MSc (Applied Clinical Data Analytics) enough,” graduate Dr. Reginald Caldecott says. “It’s practical, relevant, and genuinely impactful, giving you the tools to make a difference in both research and patient care.”
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