Scientists secure EU research funding

Eight Irish scientists have been awarded a prestigious European Research Council Starting Grant, worth up to €2m each, towards ambitious high-risk, high-gain projects, or “blue sky research”.

The Irish contingent are eight of 328 scientists across Europe to share grants totalling €485m towards projects that include the development of wearable electronic textiles powered by body heat, detection of bacteria by smell, ‘toxic expertise’ in the petrochemical industry, the origins of human rationality, combating cancer-related inflammation, and optimising user interface design.

The eight recipients based in Ireland are Mark Ahearne (TCD), Eilionóir Flynn (NUI Galway), Suzanne Kingston (UCD), Caitríona Lally (DCU), Sarah McCormack (TCD), Redmond O’Connell (TCD), Martin O’Donnell, (NUI Galway), and Thomas Reed (UCC).