University of Limerick

Associate Professor Triona Mc Caffrey, joint winner of the Presidents Research Excellence and Impact Early Career Researcher – Starting Award 2025In this episode we hear from Triona Mc Caffrey, Associate Professor of music therapy, at the Irish world academy of music and dance, a member of the Participatory Health research Unit, and the Health Research Institute here at the University of Limerick. We discuss Triona’s research primarily focused on music, and music therapy for mental wellbeing, with a specific focus on adult and perinatal mental health. Triona has spearheaded interdisciplinary research across Music Therapy, midwifery, psychiatry, and obstetrics with a strong emphasis on Public and Patient Involvement (PPI). Triona is joined by Maria Gibbons, Advanced Midwife Practitioner, with the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Team, at the University Maternity Hospital Limerick. Triona’s pioneering collaborations with University Maternity Hospital Limerick has led to the first music therapy programme in specialist perinatal, mental health services in Ireland, this programme has been commended by the Department of Health. Listen to this in-depth conversation on how music therapy is instrumental in supporting parents connecting with their babies positively impacting infant wellbeing.Recorded by GKMedia.ie

Associate Professor, Bar Mosevitzky Lis, President's Research Excellence and Impact Early Career Researcher – Starting Award Winner 2025In this episode Associate Professor Bar Mosevitzky Lis Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering and a member of the Bernal Institute, discusses his research which is driven by examining catalysts, using in situ techniques, capturing catalysts in action which is essential in uncovering true performance drivers and guiding rational design. He discusses receiving a prestigious Research Ireland Frontiers of the Future Program Award, funding his research in understanding and optimising catalysts for the production of ammonia, a key chemical whose production is responsible for ~2% of all greenhouse gasses worldwide, and which is key to feeding ~50% of the world’s population. Bar's scientific research is tackling grand challenges while he is also actively building collaborations with European industry and co-chairing the revitalised Irish Catalysis Society.Recorded by GKMedia.ie

Professor Karen Mc Creesh, President's Research Excellence and Impact, Early Career Researcher Consolidator Award Winner 2025In this episode we hear from Professor Karen Mc Creesh, Professor of Physiotherapy at the School of Allied Health, a Member of the Ageing Research Centre and the Health Research Institute at the University of Limerick. Karen discusses her research, which is driven by the goal of transforming care for people with musculoskeletal pain, particularly shoulder pain and chronic pain, by advancing effective, non-surgical treatment options. This work has provided new insights into the mechanisms and treatment of shoulder pain, along with deeper insights into the lived experiences of people with pain. Karen is joined by Martina Phelan, Chairperson of Chronic Pain Ireland and Ryan Meaney, Physical Activity for Health Officer, Limerick Sports Partnership who are collaborators on Karen’s most recent research project: The “Community Based exercise for chronic pain” COM EX. This study focussed on providing group exercise classes, tailored to the needs of older adults living with chronic pain, in their own communities.  Listen to the impact of the research, the learnings and hear from the collaborators about their positive experience, shaping future research with exercise projects. Recorded by GKMedia.ie

The European Centre for the Study of Hate is an interdisciplinary research hub committed to deepening our understanding of hate in all its manifestationsIn this episode Professor Jennifer Schweppe, School of Law and the Director of the European Centre for the Study of Hate, and Professor Amanda Haynes, Department of Sociology who co-founded the Centre, will discuss leading a pioneering interdisciplinary collaboration, combining legal and sociological research to address hate crime in Ireland and beyond. Jennifer and Amanda’s research has informed the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024, Ireland’s first dedicated hate crime legislation. Hear more about the research projects, their impacts on policy and society.Recorded by GKMedia.ie

Established in 2019 through funding received from the Health Research Institute in UL, the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre is, the first of its kind in Ireland, with a vision is to become “World Leaders in physical activity research that demonstrates real-world impact in policy and practice”.   In this episode Professor Catherine Woods, Director of PAfH Research Centre, Health Research Institute, and the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, UL. Professor James Green, PAfH core member, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, UL are joined by Michael Barry and Micheal Lynch, both who live locally and have been long time attendees of a community-based exercise programme for people living with a chronic condition run in UL.  This programme, named ULMedX,  was designed and is run by the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre. The Research centre is continuing to build an international hub of excellence in the area of physical activity and health research, key to this is a multidisciplinary approach that includes physiologists, sports and exercise scientists, physiotherapists, and health, sports and exercise psychologists.Recorded by GKMedia.ie

Professor Hilary Moss, the winner of the Presidents Research Excellence and Impact Early Career Researcher – Consolidator Award 2024. Hilary is Professor at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and a member of UL’s Health Research Institute.  Hilary’s interdisciplinary research integrates humanities, health sciences and other areas including computer science. Her research is an important scholarly contribution to the growing evidence that engaging with the arts positively impacts health. Innovative solutions are being piloted at UL, for example trialling telehealth music therapy with computer science colleagues for people with dementia, an international innovation.  In this episode Hilary also discusses the need for the inclusion of Music Therapy in health care and she highlights examples of how music therapy specifically focused on dementia care has changed patients and their carers lives. Recorded by GKMedia.ie

Daragh Bradshaw, the winner of the Presidents Research Excellence and Impact Early Career Researcher – Starting Award 2024. Daragh is Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and a member UL’s Centre for Social Issues-research. Daragh’s research specialises in the application of theory and method to address real-world issues. Focusing on the creation of ambitious applied projects increasing our theoretical understanding and achieving maximum impact for those most in need. Applying the Social Identity Model of Identity and Organisational Change in an applied setting addressing social and psychological outcomes. This research is conducted across a variety of community settings with demonstrable theoretical and applied impact such as stakeholder engagement, peer-reviewed publications, international awards, competitive funding, and through the application of his work in developing community supports. In this episode Daragh talks to me about his research, the real-world impacts, informing national policy, the importance of collaboration and the support that UL provides to early career researchers.Recorded by GKMedia.ie

Damien Thompson is Professor of Molecular Modelling in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Director of SSPC, The Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals. He leads a research team, in computational design of structured materials at the Bernal Institute at the University of Limerick. In this episode Damien discusses the importance of research collaboration and the impact of his research, tackling the grand challenges of health and sustainability, focussing on his researcher journey and how UL provides the supportive environment to allow his research to evolve. Recorded by GKMedia.ie

Dr Tadhg Kennedy, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bernal Institute – winner of the Early Career Researcher – Consolidator Award 2023. Since 2016 Tadhg has established a well-funded group, securing  more than €5 million in funding. Notably, €2.14 million has been granted directly to Tadhg as the principal investigator, highlighting the proficiency of his research in his field. The central theme of Tadhg’s research revolves around nanostructured materials for high-performance batteries. Tadhg began his career with some groundbreaking work involving germanium nanowire lithium-ion battery anodes, which exhibited a threefold capacity increase compared to conventional graphite-based anodes. Tadhg’s current work outlined in this podcast is to develop a low-cost, high-performance sodium-ion smart battery system for residential energy storage. Listen to Tadhg discuss the importance of his research in the development of clean energy enabling the fight against climate change.

Up to 45% of us will get knee osteoarthritis in our lifetime, yet it is often not prioritised, people with joint disease are being under-served in terms of delivery of evidence-based rehabilitation in the form of exercise and education, particularly for hip and knee osteoarthritis. Evidence suggests that exercise and education is very effective for people with osteoarthritis but often patients feel like they are directed more towards medications and surgical opinions, sometimes due to lack of available services. The GLA:D programme is a group-based programme that aims to aid these patients and improve their general health through exercise and education. Dr. Clodagh Toomey, Research Fellow, at the School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences and winner of the Presidents Excellence and Impact Early Career Researcher – Starting Award 2023 discusses her research and her group’s implementation of the GLAS:D programme with collaborators, Ian Dowling, a Chartered Physiotherapist working in private practice from his clinic based in Raheen, Limerick, Ian retired from professional rugby after suffering a hip injury while playing for Munster. Also joining is Stacey Grealis, who lives with Rheumatic Muscular Disease and is a patient researcher and patient contributor on numerous research projects in this field.Recorded by GKMedia.ie