The Pulse Huntington’s Disease Research Awareness Day On 21 May 2024, the Huntington’s Disease (HD) community gathered in Trinity’s Biomedical Sciences Institute for the first Huntington’s Disease Research Awareness Day. Organised by PhD student Eva Woods, in collaboration with the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI), the Discipline of Physiology and the Academic Unit of Neurology, the event brought together researchers, clinicians, HD families, and interested individuals to share the latest advancements in HD research. The day began with an engaging presentation by Professor Niall Pender of the Academic Unit of Neurology. Professor Pender highlighted significant progress in HD research and the further work needed. Research assistant Kimberly Kuyui and PhD student Colm Peelo presented updates on Enroll-HD and HD- COG, neuropsychological research studies of HD ongoing at Beaumont Hospital and Trinity’s School of Medicine, led by Professor Pender. Eva Woods provided an update on neurophysiological and neuroimaging HD research, led by Dr Roisin McMackin, followed by an update on recent clinical trials for HD by Dr Andres Cruz-Herranz from Prilenia. Dr McMackin then gave an overview of how the HD community can contribute to research through public and patient involvement. Patricia Towey spoke about the support provided by the HDAI and highlighted ways to advocate for health services for HD. The event concluded with inspiring talks by HDAI volunteers Amanda and Brian, who emphasised the motivational nature of the global HD community, followed by an Eva Woods, PhD student supervised by Dr McMackin in Discipline of Physiology, presenting her research of neural network dysfunction in Huntington’s Disease inspiring talk by Orla Russell, the first HD Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) in the country. The HD research day was a platform for sharing groundbreaking research and fostering connections between the HD community and researchers. New Treatment for Oesophageal Inflammation In May 2024, AllCaN researchers including Professor Jacintha O’Sullivan, in collaboration with Mirai Medical, announced that they are now working on a new treatment which aims to target inflammation in people with Barrett’s oesophagus, a condition affecting the food pipe. Learn more about this exciting new venture here. L-R: Dr Frances Drummond, Professor Jacintha O’Sullivan, Peter Browne, Lorraine Smith 32 Summer Edition 2024
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