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UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research

Driving Discovery, Impacting Health

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Research

Transforming Health Through Interdisciplinary Research

Our discoveries pave the way for earlier diagnoses, better treatments, and healthier lives.

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Technology

Behind every breakthrough is powerful technology.

Centrally managed core technology platforms equipped with leading tools to enable researchers ask bold questions—and find game-changing answers.

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Engagement

Connecting Science with Society

Actively involving patients, support-givers, teachers, and pupils to ensure research reflects public perspectives and has real-world impact 

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Education

Empowering the Next Generation of Biomedical Researchers

Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community where innovation meets mentorship

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Innovation

Partnering to bring discovery to application

Enabling the translation of research in a world-class ecosystem for innovation that drives enterprise development.

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Latest News

Patient Voice in Cancer Research initiative celebrates a decade of changing how research is done 12Nov

Patient Voice in Cancer Research initiative celebrates a decade of changing how research is done

Pioneering public and patient involvement initiative, Patient Voice in Cancer Research (PVCR), is celebrating 10 years of putting cancer patients at the heart of cancer research.

A headshot of Ruth Lombard. 09Nov

PhD student, Ruth Lombard receives the John Crean Travel Bursary Award for research in Diabetic Kidney Disease

PhD Student Ruth Lombard has been awarded with the John Crean Travel Bursary Award for her research in diabetic kidney disease, one of the leading causes of kidney failure worldwide.
A photo of Dr Fiona Freeman being awarded the Science Woman of the Year award. 28Oct

Dr Fiona Freeman named Science Woman of the Year

Dr Fiona Freeman has been named Science Woman of the Year at the Business Post Women in STEM Awards 2026, recognising her work in developing innovative treatments for childhood bone cancer.
Two PhD students being presented the UCD Conway Gold Medal Award. 08Oct

Two PhD students jointly win the 2026 Conway Festival Gold Medal

Grace Ruddin and Ben Reddan were presented the award by the College Principal in the UCD College of Science, Professor Jeremy Simpson.
Headshots of Conway Fellows who obtained funding from the HRB Investigator-Led Projects Scheme 2026. 23Sep

Conway Fellows secure funding for patient-oriented research

Professor Adam Byrne, Dr Eoin Brennan and Dr Gary Brennan have received funding through the Health Research Board (HRB) to support their innovative and internationally competitive patient-oriented research projects over the next four years.

A photo of the two researchers who received HRCI-HRB funding awards. 22Sep

Conway Fellows to tackle vision loss and lung fibrosis through HRCI-HRB funding awards for engaged research

Putting charities and patients at the heart of funding decisions to ensure that research is excellent and responds to the needs of the people it is intended to benefit.
A photo of imaging research. 17Sep

Imaging human hair retrieved by Cadaver dogs from riverbank and waterway settings

Human hair proved to be a robust and reliable target scent, detectable even after prolonged water exposure in natural river conditions.
A headshot of Dr Seungkuk Ahn. 03Sep

Conway Fellow, Dr Seungkuk Ahn receives ERC Starting Grant for drug discovery research

Dr Ahn will receive €1.5 million in funding to develop an ambitious research idea to improve the design of preclinical models for drug discovery.
An image of the DNA practical during the Voice Ireland Training. 26Aug

VOICE-Ireland; First All-Island Residential Training Programme for Cancer Patient Advocates

Led by patient advocates, in partnership with cancer researchers, VOICE-Ireland bridges the gap between biomedical research, clinical research, and patient advocacy across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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Research Spotlights

A headshot of Kevin Daly. 12Nov

Tracing the origins of disease with ancient DNA

Human societies have had a significant impact on the natural world since at least 12,000 years ago, through a range of practices including fire, hunting and farming. The effects of these human-environment interactions ripple through our world today.
A promotional image for The Yeast Hunter research spotlight. 20Aug

The Yeast Hunter

There is huge potential for useful new yeast species to be found in Ireland and Conway Fellow, Professor Geraldine Butler is leading the hunt.
Circles on circular plates

Taking the fight to deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by 2050, there could be 50 million deaths annually due to antibiotic resistance. Professor Siobhán McClean is fighting to tackle some of these drug-resistant pathogens threatening so many lives.

Bone cancer

New strategies to treat a deadly childhood cancer

Osteosarcoma, a rare, deadly paediatric bone cancer has defied new approaches to its treatment ever since chemotherapy was introduced in the 1970s. Dr Fiona Freeman aims to change that.
A graphic of a detailed pair of lungs.

Solving Lung Fibrosis Sheds Light on Other Diseased Organs.

Conway Fellow, Adam Byrne, Professor of Respiratory Medicine in UCD School of Medicine, is working on new treatments for a lung-destroying disease and, as a result, is offering insights into how to treat other diseased organs.
AI generated image human skeleton

Inflammatory bowel disease

Preventing the GI tract springing a leak by developing new drug treatments that reinforce the epithelial layer.

Exploding cells in a twisted shape

Targeting RNA can produce less toxic new drugs

The development of new drugs based on targeting non-coding RNA can produce less toxic, and more specific therapies for cancers and diseases.

A visualisation of collagen organisation in pancreatic cancer tissue.

How Pancreatic Cancer Feels May Be Its Undoing

Oncologists are used to thinking about tumours as things they can see and feel: a lump on a scan, or a mass under their fingertips. But, what if how a tumour feels – how stiff or springy it is – decided what treatment a patient should get?
Fruit fly examination

Unlocking new treatments for MND inside fruit fly DNA 

Fruit flies are tiny creatures, but the questions we are asking – how do neurons fail, how to fix them – are massively important for MND research.

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Dr Kevin Daly image
With these ancient genomes, we can peek back into prehistory to see how animals have evolved, what were past patterns of biodiversity and how they have changed, and the forces shaping modern animal diversity.
Dr Kevin Daly, Conway Fellow, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science
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Events

Poster for CLASS series of lectures 08Dec

Prof. Andy Hogan, Maynooth University
Poster for CLASS series of lectures 01Dec

Dr Claire Healy, UCD School of Medicine, Ad Astra Fellow
A graphics promoting the OneHealth Festival. 26Nov

Vignettes at the One Health Café

Join us at the UCD Conway Institute for an engaging Showcase Event celebrating the One Health Research within and beyond the Conway Institute.
Poster for CLASS series of lectures 24Nov

Professor Cecilia Lindskog, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology

Spatial proteomics for molecular and functional mapping of cells in health and disease.
Poster for CLASS series of lectures 17Nov

Professor John P. O’Bryan, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Medical University of South Carolina, USA

Inhibition of RAS: is it game over or are there still new frontiers?
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UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 6700 | E: conway@ucd.ie
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