The research projects supported in this round will tackle research questions that include topics such as suicide prevention in children, adolescents and young adults; enhancing wellbeing in residential care; biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease in people with Down Syndrome; and rehabilitation for people with haematological cancer.

For a list of successful awards and lay summaries of each project, please download the document at the end of this release.  

The awards were made under the HRB Research Career Framework that has the specific aim to provide emerging researchers with opportunities to establish themselves as independent investigators.

According to HRB Chief Executive, Dr Mairéad O’Driscoll:

“These awards are part of the HRB’s strategic commitment to build research leadership across academic and clinical environments in Ireland. They will create a critical mass of collaborative investigators who will respond to current and emerging health research needs and bridge a key gap in career transition between postdoctoral and research independence stages.”

This is the second round of the ECSA scheme with six new health and social care practitioners awarded bringing the total to 11 awards made since 2020.

For the EIAs, this is the fourth round of the call with seven new academic researchers funded, bringing the total to 38 emerging investigators supported since 2017.

Speaking about the schemes, Dr Anne Cody, Head of Investigator-led Grants, Careers and Enablers at the Health Research Board (HRB) added:

“The 2024 awards were selected via a rigorous application and assessment process, which included a two-stage application process, based on international peer review, public review, and interviews by an international panel of experts for shortlisted candidates. We want to ensure that these awards not only enhance the awardees career development but that they also deliver research with clear pathways to impact.”

In brief

Trinity College Dublin

6 awards with a total value of €5.3 million

University College Cork

2 awards total value: €2 million

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

3 awards total value: €3 million

University College Dublin

2 awards total value: €2.2 million