Sligo doctor’s research wins innovation award

A Sligo doctor who helps breast cancer patients post-mastectomy has been awarded the Inaugural Allergan Innovation Award at NUI Galway.

Dr Niamh O’Halloran, a researcher with the School of Medicine at NUI Galway, received the award for her project which seeks to use the body’s own cells to avoid complications with implants. The Allergan Award for Innovation, valued at €6,000 provides funding to accomplished scholars who wish to advance their innovative research studies in the field of Life Sciences.

Dr Niamh O’Halloran said: “We want to develop a method of coating implants with a gel biomaterial which incorporates elements of the patient’s own fat tissue.

“The hydrogel is based on hyaluronic acid, most commonly seen these days in skin creams and beauty products. The patient’s own cells will grow on the gel, thus reducing scar tissue formation which leads to implant related complications.”