In this scheme, the HRB and HRCI member charities co-fund internationally competitive, innovative and impactful patient-focused research for the people the charities represent. 19 awards** were made this year, which marks the scheme’s eleventh round since 2006. To date, 153 awards have been made, representing a total investment of over €30 million.

Speaking about the scheme, Dr Mairead O’Driscoll, Chief Executive of the HRB, said:

“We are proud of the HRB’s longstanding support of this unique scheme which underpins a wide range of research relevant to Irish charities. It demonstrates the HRB’s strong commitment to putting people at the heart of everything we do and is particularly beneficial in supporting research into rare diseases, which affect at least 300,000 children and adults in Ireland.”

Also speaking about the scheme, Dr Avril Kennan, CEO of HRCI, said:

“We are honoured to work with both our member charities and the HRB to enable research with such a strong focus on making an impact for people. The exciting projects that have been funded are about improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy, cystinosis, arthritis, brain tumours, epilepsy and other challenges that so many families across the country are affected by. There is no other funding scheme like it internationally.”

Dr Anne Cody, Head of Investigator-Led Grants, Research Careers and Enablers at the HRB, said:

“The HRB-HRCI Joint Funding Scheme is particularly notable for its strong ethos of public, patient and carer involvement (PPI) in research, which chimes with the activities of the participating charities and the HRB. Indeed, it was the first HRB funding scheme to include PPI reviewers on the grant assessment panel. This further ensures that research funded by the HRB is relevant to patients and the public.”

The 19 successful applicants were chosen following a rigorous selection process. Each participating charity carefully chose the most relevant applications of the highest scientific standard to submit to the HRB. This was followed by a HRB eligibility check and a review by a joint selection panel of international experts and PPI representatives.

ENDS

About Health Research Charities Ireland

HRCI is Ireland’s national umbrella organisation of charities active in health, medical and social care research, and represents over 1 million people in Ireland. Find out more by visiting the HRCI website. You can also contact the HRCI Research Support Co-ordinator, Dr Sarah Delaney. E: sarah@hrci.ie. T: 00 353 1 479 3234.

About the HRB

The Health Research Board (HRB) is Ireland’s lead funding agency supporting innovative health research and delivering data and evidence that improves people’s health and patient care. We are committed to putting people first, and ensuring data and evidence are used in policy and practice to overcome health challenges, advance health systems, and benefit society and economy.

* This unique scheme sees the HRB co-fund (either 50:50 or 75:25) each award with charity partners. This year’s funding comprises €3 million over three years, of which the HRB contribution is €1.8 million.

^ 30 November 2022 update. Four additional awards were added to the original 15. They increase the total investment by all parties in this round to €3.9 million, with the HRB contributing an extra €560,000.

**The 19 successful applicants this year follow. Please note that unique to this scheme is the fact that some awards see funding of international sites as part of collaborative, global endeavours where there isn’t sufficient capacity at present in Ireland.

List of awards

Evaluation of a novel drug combination treatment for nephropathic cystinosis in a new cystinotic rat model.     

Co-funding charity: Cystinosis Ireland

Host institution: University of Auckland

Lead applicant: Dr Jennifer Hollywood

 

Investigating the potential of CTNS-mRNA loaded nanoparticles as a new therapeutic strategy for nephropathic cystinosis.

Co-funding charity: Cystinosis Ireland

Host institution: University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven

Lead applicant: Prof Elena Levtchenko

 

Counting the cost: The contribution of older carers in Ireland and impact of caring on mental health and wellbeing of carers

Co-funding charity: Family Carers Ireland

Host institution: Trinity College Dublin

Lead applicant: Dr Christine McGarrigle

 

Participation in physical activity: what really matters to adolescents with physical disability?

Co-funding charity: Central Remedial Clinic

Host institution: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead applicant: Dr Ailish Malone

 

An investigation into the prevalence and experience of psychopathology and mental disorders among children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

Co-funding charity: Central Remedial Clinic

Host institution: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead applicant: Dr Jennifer Ryan

 

Sustaining activity with arthritis (SAWA) following an Arthritis Ireland Be active with arthritis (BAWA) exercise programme

Co-funding charity: Arthritis Ireland

Host institution: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead applicant: Prof Suzanne McDonough

 

Retinal Dystrophy in Ciliopathies (RDCilia): modelling patient mutations to decipher disease mechanisms, interpret Variants of Uncertain Significance, and uncover therapeutics

Co-funding charity: Fighting Blindness

Host institution: University College Dublin

Lead applicant: Dr Oliver Blacque

 

Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, but now what? Exploring the rehabilitation needs of people with brain tumours in Ireland

Co-funding charity: Breakthrough Cancer Research

Host institution: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead applicant: Dr Kathleen Bennett

 

Pathways to Improving Transition to Adult Services & Enhancing Self-Management in Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis: A New Era of Treatments

Co-funding charity: Cystic Fibrosis Ireland

Host institution: NUI Galway

Lead applicant: Dr Caroline Heary

 

Ex vivo autologous stem cell gene therapy for Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency

Co-funding charity: MSD Action Foundation

Host institution: Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia

Lead applicant: Dr Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas

 

Advanced, automated compound screening for the identification of therapeutic agents in Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency.

Co-funding charity: MSD Action Foundation

Host institution: Fraunhofer ITMP

Lead applicant: Dr Lars Schlowata

 

Combining HDAC6 inhibitors with KRAS inhibitors for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Co-funding charity: Irish Cancer Society

Host institution: University of Limerick

Lead applicant: Dr Caitriona Dowling

 

Patient-led development of a “Patient Reported Outcomes” instrument to improve health-related quality of life in patients with Glomerular Disease – PRO-GD

Co-funding charity: Irish Kidney Association

Host institution: University College Cork

Lead applicant: Dr Michelle O’Shaughnessy

 

Long non-coding RNAs: regulators of epileptogenesis and potential targets for therapy

Co-funding charity: Epilepsy Ireland

Host institution: University College Dublin

Lead applicant: Dr Gary Brennan

 

Predicting and monitoring outcomes in Autoimmune Encephalitis (POTA)

Co-funding charity: Epilepsy Ireland

Host institution: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead applicant: Prof Norman Delanty

 

A pain and wound management approach for RDEB patients via a functionalized collagen-based hydrogel dressing with controlled release of painkillers

Co-funding charity: DEBRA Ireland

Host Institution: University College Dublin

Lead applicant: Prof Wenxin Wang

Development of mRNA Vaccines for Children with High-Risk Neuroblastoma

Co-funding charity: Conor Foley Neuroblastoma Cancer Research Foundation

Host Institution: RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead applicant: Dr Olga Piskareva

Developing an innovative patient-centred xenograft model of multiple myeloma and its use in testing novel antagonists of JAM-A signalling

Co-funding charity: Breakthrough Cancer Research

Host Institution RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead applicant: Dr Ann Hopkins

Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease (CFLD); predicting and prescribing in the era of CFTR modulators

Co-funding charity: CFI Ireland

Host Institution: University College Dublin

Lead applicant: Dr Emer Fitzpatrick

 

For further information on these projects, please contact HRCI Communications and Events Coordinator, Linda McGrath. E: linda@hrci.ie. T: 00 353 1479 3234