Galway Neuroscience Centre Annual Research Day 2025

The Galway Neuroscience Centre (GNC) Annual Research Day took place on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, in the Small Lecture Theatre (B001) of the Human Biology Building. The event brought together GNC PIs, early career researchers, clinicians, invited speakers and industry partners to showcase developments in neuroscience research across the campus and beyond. The day fostered lively discussion and collaboration across disciplines, highlighting fundamental and translational research.

The day began with a welcome from Dr Siobhán McMahon, current Director of GNC, followed by an opening address from Professor David Burn, President of the University of Galway (pictured below). The address emphasized the University’s research excellence in neuroscience and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration between all domains.

The first session, Chaired by Dr McMahon and Dr Kevin Ng, highlighted innovations at the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science.  Dr Malika Bendechache (University of Galway) spoke about  "AI You Can Trust: Transforming Healthcare with Responsible and Transparent AI", exploring the ethical and responsible integration of AI into healthcare, particularly in neuroimaging and diagnostics.  Postdoctoral researcher Dr Aodán Laighneach presented his work on social participation in psychosis, identifying emotional and relational wellbeing as key predictors of social connection across populations.  Dr Stephanie Rossit (University of East Anglia) shared insights into “Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience of Perception, Action and Attention”, bridging fundamental neuroscience and clinical rehabilitation, particularly for stroke survivors.

The second session, Chaired by Prof Eilís Dowd and Dr Giulia Comini, showcased molecular and genetic approaches to understanding neurological and psychiatric disorders.  Dr María Muñoz San Martín (RCSI & Instituto Marqués de Valdecilla) discussed microRNAs in multiple sclerosis, detailing how microRNAs influence demyelination and repair mechanisms.  PhD candidates Evie Doherty, Sienna Stucke, and Aoife Warren presented research spanning genome-wide association studies, helminth-derived immunomodulatory proteins, and the neurocognitive impact of childhood trauma in schizophrenia.  The session concluded with an industry sponsor presentation from Dr Bhaskar Anand (Miltenyi Biotec) introducing cutting-edge spatial biology tools that enable 2D and 3D characterization of tissue responses. 

During the breaks delegates networked at the poster presentations (37 posters on display throughout the day) spanning molecular neuroscience, psychiatry, neuroimaging, and preclinical models of disease. Representatives from industry sponsors—Miltenyi Biotec, Promega, Mason Technology, 3Brain, Bio-Techne, and CliniSciences—shared updates on new research tools and instrumentation supporting neuroscience research.

The final session, chaired by Dr Ciara Egan and Aoife Warren, featured early career researchers and invited talks focusing on connectomics, pain, and neurodegeneration.  PhD candidate Mia Casburn presented findings linking social connection and resting-state brain connectivity in psychosis, offering valuable neurobiological insights into social functioning. Postdoctoral researcher Dr Rosmara Infantino described an innovative controlled-release capsaicin hydrogel targeting TRPV1 receptors for osteoarthritis pain, exemplifying translational research in pain therapeutics.  A series of flash talks followed, covering diverse topics such as: structure-function coupling in bipolar disorder (Shir Dahan), endocannabinoid mechanisms in gastrointestinal pain (Rebecca Lane), stroke glycomics (Alma Patricia Bocanegra Lopez), pain sensitivity biomarkers (Kevin Murray), cationic liposome impacts on brain cells (Dr Eulalie Lafarge), and ALS-associated microRNA regulation (Dr Lara Rodríguez Outeiriño).  The final invited lecture was delivered by Dr Dirk Schubert (Radboud UMC, Netherlands), who presented “Same pathway is not the same phenotype: Human stem cell derived neuronal models to test risk-gene specific fingerprints in epilepsy.”   The session concluded with the screening of the University of Galway’s Three Minute Thesis winning video by PhD candidate Kevin Murray.   

The meeting ended with a number of prizes awarded by Dr McMahon (see below) and a thank you from Dr McMahon to all the speakers, sponsors and in particular the GNC research day organising committee led by Dr Andrea Kwakowsky and Dr Sinead Hynes, with expert audiovisual support from Evie Doherty.

The GNC extended thanks to all the sponsors:  the University of Galway Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation, the Institute for Clinical Trials, and all industry sponsors for their continued support.

PhD Poster Prize Winners (Pictured Below)

1st  Aoife O’Connell

2nd Giulia Bonifazio

3rd Shokofen Anari

Undergraduate/Taught MSc Poster Prize Winners (Pictured Below)

1st Caitlin McNally

2nd Noah Folan Garcia

Postdoctoral Poster Prize Winners (Pictured Below)

1st Lara Rodriguez Outerino

2nd Emma Corley

Flash Talk Prize Winners (Pictured Below)

1st Kevin Murray

Joint 2nd Alma Patricia Bocanegra Lopez

Joint 2nd Eulalie Lafarge

Oral Prize Winners (Pictured Below)

1st Aoife Warren

Joint 2nd Mia Casburn

Joint 2nd Evie Doherty