Autumn Isle of Lignin by Muhammad Muddasar
Cover image – Skyfall by Mariana Diniz
Back Cover: Icy Elegance Celecoxib flakes in the land of gold, by Clarinda Sequeira
Foreword from the Advisory Board
The year 2024 has been one of significant change for the Bernal Institute, consolidating the progress of the previous seven years. We are now planning for the next phase, with changes in personnel internally and on the Advisory Board. The Institute’s progress and successes are captured in this report, being represented in impressive top-decile publications, continuing quality research and hosting of national and international events. In the second half of the year, much of the focus was on planning and preparation for the future direction of the Institute, its community and its research role in both the University of Limerick and wider national and international context.
It is an honour for me to provide the foreword to the 2024 Bernal Annual Report having been appointed to the Advisory Board as chair mid-year, along with other new members, Professor Iseult Lynch (University of Birmingham), Dr Liam O’Neill (TheraDep) and Damian Clancy (former MD of Aughinish Alumina), who bring valuable experience to the Board from both academia and industry. I would like to sincerely thank the outgoing chair, Dr Kieran Drain, and outgoing Board members, Professor Mary Ritter and Professor
Norelee Kennedy, for their guidance and support for Bernal. We look forward to working with colleagues in fulfilling our role of constructively advocating for, and also challenging, the Bernal community to achieve its vision, as well as contributing strongly to the UL Research Strategy goals.
We would like to particularly acknowledge the work of Professor Kevin M Ryan, who took up the role of Director at the beginning of the year and was appointed UL Vice-President for Research and Innovation as the year drew to an end. Kevin’s leadership has been crucial in ensuring continued progress in the quality of research output. At the same time, he has been engaging with the Bernal and UL communities in preparing for the new Strategic Plan, negotiating funding streams where they still remain uncertain, and dealing with the challenging international environment for researchers. Kevin has developed a system of designing appropriate targets for members, with performance expectations that will ensure researchers are properly supported and will contribute in accordance with their career stage and potential.
The three core areas of Energy, Environment and Health remain central to Bernal’s work, aligning with the strategic goals of the university, the state and the international community. The challenge ahead is to provide the focus, impact and collaborative approach to achieving these goals. Equally important is our engagement with industry and the wider society, as well as with the hosted centres (DPTC, PMTC and SSPC).
Among the highlights of the past year was the July launch of AMPEiRE, the National Rechargeable Battery Fabrication and Test Facility, by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan. AMPEiRE has expanded into a UL internal research centre, where researchers are addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable cities and communities, affordable and clean energy, climate action and responsible consumption and production.
The Report highlights the many achievements of the people who make up the Bernal community. We congratulate Professor Maurice Collins, Research Leader of the Year; Associate Professor Shalini Singh, Senior Researcher of the Year; Assistant Professor Soumya Mukherjee, Mid-Career Researcher of the Year; and Dr Maryam Karimijafari, Postdoc of the Year. Attracting high-quality researchers, along with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, are key to Bernal’s success and growth.
I look forward to working with the other Board members and supporting the new Director, General Manager and the team as they plan and prepare for the future of the Institute, its community and its role in the university and wider national and international community.
Jan O’Sullivan Chair, Advisory Board, Bernal Institute
Foreword from the UL President
It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I give an opening foreword to the 2024 Bernal Annual Report. This report not only highlights the remarkable achievements of our researchers but also underscores the pivotal role that research in higher education plays in driving innovation, economic growth and societal progress.
The Bernal Institute, as part of the vibrant ecosystem at University of Limerick, has consistently demonstrated excellence in research, as evidenced by the impressive metrics in our Bernal Report Card for 2024. With 288 publications, including 120 in topdecile journals, our researchers have made significant contributions to the fields of Energy, Environment and Health. These achievements are a testament to the dedication and expertise of our members, support staff, centre staff, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. When you read on into the report, you will agree that these are impressive statistics.
Our commitment to research excellence is further reflected in the substantial funding secured by the Institute, totalling €13.9 million, with €3.2 million from international sources and €640 thousand from industry-funded projects. This financial support is crucial in enabling us to pursue ground-breaking research and develop innovative solutions that address global challenges. This shows not only collaboration, but also a metric as to the relevance and importance of the Institute’s multifaceted research work.
The power of research in higher education cannot be overstated. As James Lawless TD recently emphasised in his address to the Irish Universities Association, ‘If research fuels innovation, then skills drive the realisation of that innovation. They are vital to our resilience and social cohesion.’ Those words also show that many areas of the work at Bernal and at this university are linked in several ways. Indeed, the Minister’s sentiment resonates deeply with our mission at UL, where we strive to create an environment that fosters curiosity, encourages collaboration and drives impactful research.
One of the highlights of the past year was the launch of AMPEiRE, Ireland’s National Rechargeable Battery Fabrication and Test Facility, by the former Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan. This state-of-the-art infrastructure, co-led by Professor Kevin M Ryan, Associate Professor Tadhg Kennedy, and Associate Professor Hugh Geaney, positions Ireland at the forefront of battery technology development and underscores our commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
The Bernal Institute’s success is also evident in our strong industry–academic partnerships, facilitated by Bernal Enterprise Services (BEST). These collaborations are instrumental in translating research discoveries into practical applications that benefit society and drive economic growth. The commercialisation journey of NeoMimics, a spinout focused on innovative solutions for assisted reproduction, is a prime example of how our research can lead to transformative impacts.
As we look to the future, UL remains dedicated to advancing research and innovation and, indeed, this will be strongly supported by ongoing work at the Bernal Institute. We recognise the importance of investing in research infrastructure and supporting our researchers in their pursuit of excellence. The recent government initiatives to strengthen Ireland’s research performance and the commitment to funding through the National Training Fund are encouraging steps that will help us achieve our goals.
In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the entire Bernal community for their outstanding achievements in 2024. Your dedication, creativity and hard work are the driving forces behind our success. I invite our industry partners, stakeholders and the wider community to join us in celebrating these accomplishments and to continue supporting our mission to deliver research with impact.
Professor Shane Kilcommins Acting President, University of Limerick
Welcome from Vice President of Research & Innovation
I am delighted to introduce the 2024 Bernal Annual Report, in which the research achievements of Bernal’s 80 members, 21 support staff, 23 centre staff, 139 post doctorate researchers and 195 PhD students are highlighted. In 2024, Bernal published 288 papers, 231 of which were in the top quartile of journals in their field, and 120 in the top decile reflecting the quality of the research across each of the research themes of Energy, Environment and Health.
At the heart of Bernal’s success are its people. I extend my warmest congratulations to the Bernal Researchers of the Year – Professor Maurice Collins, Associate Professor Shalini Singh, Assistant Professor Soumya Mukherjee and Dr Maryam Karimijafari – whose ground-breaking research spans materials for sustainable energy, advanced nanocrystal chemistry, porous polymer technologies and green pharmaceutical processing. Their stories demonstrate the calibre, creativity and global impact of our researchers. I would like to further acknowledge the achievements of our doctoral and master’s degree awardees. For many, this journey began before or during the pandemic and it is truly inspiring to see how they have surpassed this challenge to achieve the highest level of academic achievement.
The report further shows the vibrancy of the Bernal community, with a dynamic programme of events hosted at Bernal in the past year, including the MSI Symposium, AStruM Research Day, the CUWiP+ Physics Conference and the Bernal seminar series that featured 44 talks by distinguished speakers from across the world. These conversations continue to inspire new research directions with international collaborators and co-authors. I would like to further acknowledge the work that went into organising and supporting the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities that continued to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for all. Initiatives like the Serenity Room, Iftar meals, mental health awareness events and the table tennis tournament fostered a welcoming culture that celebrates the diversity of our researcher base.
Among the year’s achievements was the launch of AMPEiRE, Ireland’s National Rechargeable Battery Fabrication and Test Facility, by Patrick O’Donovan TD. This infrastructure, co-led by Professor Kevin Ryan, Associate Professor Tadhg Kennedy and Associate Professor Hugh Geaney, is a game-changer in energy storage research. This places Ireland at the forefront of battery technology development and is a crucial foundation for continuing our success in European research funding, with capability to deliver results across a number of technology readiness levels.
The Bernal Institute cube
The translation of research into industry is of huge importance and in this report, the success of NeoMimics is highlighted. NeoMimics is a spin-out with an innovative solution for sperm selection in assisted reproduction and is led by Professor Sean Fair and colleagues. This commercialisation journey was enabled through Enterprise Ireland support and collaboration with NLC Health Ventures.
The vital work of Bernal Enterprise Services (BEST) is further highlighted. Under the leadership of Ray O’Brien and team, BEST continues to strengthen industry–academic partnerships, secure critical funding and ensure researchers have the tools and space they need to succeed. Their efforts are instrumental in bridging discovery and application.
Our hosted centres – SSPC, DPTC and PMTC – each achieved major milestones in 2024. SSPC advanced its leadership in (bio)pharmaceutical research, training hundreds of future-ready scientists and deepening our representation in global industry. PMTC expanded its membership and launched impactful research into digitalisation and clean manufacturing engagement. DPTC celebrated its 10th anniversary and continued to lead Ireland’s drive for sustainability in dairy processing. These centres embody the collaborative ethos of Bernal, generating transformative impact across industry and academia, and are hugely important for maintaining and growing industry investment, both regionally in the mid-west and nationally, in the strategically critical areas of pharmaceuticals and food.
Finally, I would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of our funding partners: Research Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the European Commission, the HEA, the European Regional Development Fund and industry. Your continued investment in research excellence and infrastructure ensures that Bernal remains a national and international leader in delivering research with impact.
Thank you to all who have contributed to this extraordinary year. I invite you to explore this report and join us in celebrating the many achievements of the Bernal community.
Professor Kevin M Ryan Vice President of Research and Innovation University of Limerick
Dr Temi Adegoke celebrating her PhD graduation
Bernal Report Card 2024
Bernal Neighbourhood
Journeys of Bernal Researcher
Professor Maurice Collins Research Leader of the Year
Professor Maurice Collins, a graduate of University of Limerick (UL), has become a prominent figure in the field of Materials Science and Engineering, an interdisciplinary field that focuses on understanding and tailoring the properties of materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, to create new products and improve existing ones. By exploring how materials behave under different conditions, scientists and engineers can develop innovative solutions for a wide range of applications, from electronics and aerospace to healthcare and energy.
Maurice’s research focuses on the structure/property/ processing relationships of polymers, spanning several key areas, including the development of advanced engineering materials from bioresources, regenerative medicine and energy. He is a key member of the Bernal Institute, the AMPEiRE Centre, the Health Research Institute and Research Ireland centres (AMBER and BiOrbic).
A notable contribution is his work on biobased carbon fibre precursor materials. He led the H2020-funded LIBRE consortium, Europe’s largest consortium in biobased carbon fibre research. The project focused on utilising lignin, a by-product of the paper and pulp industry, to create sustainable carbon fibres, which have potential applications in the automotive, aerospace and energy sectors. His team is now dedicated to scaling up this work across various Horizon Europe-funded projects. In 2025, work began on the UL-coordinated CARBOWAVE
project, which utilises microwave heating, enabled by patented susceptor technology, to convert lignin to carbon fibre at much lower energy consumption and CO2 emission levels. This extends to the development of materials for energy applications. Maurice is currently involved in several projects aimed at creating sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions, including the development of advanced battery anodes and the exploration of new methods for energy harvesting and storage via ionic thermoelectric membranes.
In the realm of regenerative medicine, he has made significant strides in developing hyaluronic acidbased hydrogels, electrically conductive hydrogels and 3D printable polymers. Hydrogels are highly absorbent materials that can mimic the natural environment of cells, making them ideal for tissue engineering and wound healing applications. His research in this area aims to create scaffolds that support cell growth and tissue regeneration, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating injuries and degenerative diseases. By leveraging 3D printing technology, his research seeks to improve the precision and effectiveness of medical treatments, reducing recovery times and enhancing patient outcomes.
Throughout his career, Maurice has demonstrated a strong ability to attract industrial funding and collaborate with industry partners. His research has led to multiple licencing agreements and patent filings, which are now coming to grant. He and his research team have been recognised with numerous awards for their contributions to the field of materials science and engineering.
In addition to his research, he is dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers. He teaches Tissue Engineering and Polymer Science modules to undergraduates and postgraduates. He supervises several PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration, with many team members transitioning to key industrial and faculty positions.
Overall, Maurice’s research is characterised by its interdisciplinary nature and its focus on sustainability and innovation. His work has the potential to drive significant advancements in various fields, from healthcare to energy, and continues to contribute to the development of new materials and technologies that can improve quality of life and promote a more sustainable future.
Professor Maurice Collins with his research group
Associate Professor Shalini Singh
Senior Researcher of the Year
Associate Professor Shalini Singh is a synthetic nanomaterial chemist. Shalini is passionate about creating new nanocrystals atom by atom. Her research group works on designing compositionally complex and high-entropy nanocrystal systems for catalysis, batteries and thermoelectric applications.
The love for nanocrystals started in 2011, when she saw a position opening in Ireland for a PhD candidate to be trained on TEM. On successfully securing the position, the excitement of operating TEM all by herself made her leave her small town in India and fly across the world to start a new life. According to Shalini, ‘A nice TEM image of nanocrystals still makes my day!’
Over the years, Shalini’s research has evolved from polymer nanocomposites to colloidal nanocrystals synthesis and applications. She gained expertise in synthesis, surface chemistry and application of colloidal nanocrystals in optoelectronics, thermoelectrics, electrocatalysts and batteries. Now, her research group works towards designing sustainable nanocrystal composition to substitute the critical raw materials in technological applications.
In the field of semiconductor nanocrystals, we have witnessed remarkable advancement in the past 10 years, with the most recent being the success of highly efficient lead halide perovskites in optoelectronics. But the future technologies are dependent on sustainability, something we have all learned from the fall of fossil fuels. Hence, the team is working towards designing materials from bottom-
up, colloidal chemistry approaches that can mimic the structure and properties of perovskites, but with sustainable, non-toxic materials that would make it possible to create the next generation of sustainable energy conversion devices based on nanocrystals.
Nevertheless, there is still a lack of fundamental understanding of the underlying concepts on surface, structure, and crystallisation in colloidal nanocrystals, when synthesising new semi-conductor nanocrystals with designer and tunable properties. These missing links usually hamper the development of reproducible and scalable ways to produce, process and integrate these new materials in applications. Addressing these fundamental challenges is important to create a platform technology for an easier lab-to-fab transition of novel nanomaterials. The future of the group’s research will be to focus on atomically precise control over nanocrystal design and consolidating colloidal chemistry as a synthesis platform for designer materials.
At the moment, Shalini’s group is linking machine learning, computational chemistry and experimental findings to develop new multi-functional material compositions with sustainable and benign compositions. ‘It is amazing to see the development of new materials as nanocrystals, which have only been predicted computationally,’ she explains. ‘Also, the ability to engineer the phase and compositions of these brand-new materials to tune their optoelectronic properties is something that excites me the most.’
Over the past five years as a Principal Investigator (PI) at UL and the Bernal Institute, Shalini received funding from Research Ireland and Horizon Europe to establish the Functional Nanomaterial Group. With six PhD students and three postdocs as its current members, she has had the opportunity to supervise
five PhDs and a research master’s student as cosupervisor. Her research has been recognised with several emerging investigator/rising star nominations from journals of the American Chemical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry. Shalini has worked as an editor for Crystal Growth & Design for three years and is a member of the ACS advisory board.
As an associate professor working in the field of nanomaterials design, discovery and energy application really makes her dreams come true. With
immense challenges in forming phase-pure, stable material systems with targeted functional properties, Shalini is grateful for all the students, postdocs and collaborators that she currently works with. Having a great collaborative team helps to tackle the challenges more efficiently. The most rewarding part of her job is that she gets to teach, mentor and inspire the next generation of brilliant scientific minds. ‘Seeing these young minds working towards a sustainable future gives me immense joy and satisfaction.’
Associate Professor Shalini Singh with her research group
Assistant Professor Soumya Mukherjee
Mid-Career Researcher of the Year
Assistant Professor Soumya Mukherjee is a Lecturer in Materials Chemistry at the Department of Chemical Sciences and a Funded Investigator at the SSPC, the Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals.
‘Nature is full of all kinds of small and large molecules like the Lego we all played with as kids,’ says Soumya. ‘Treating these as molecular bricks or building blocks, the Mukherjee group assembles a wide range of polymeric solids to tackle global challenges in clean energy and the environment. It’s brilliant to have received this mid-career researcher recognition from the Bernal Institute – a big shout-out to all who voted for me!’
As a recipient of the President’s Research Excellence and Impact Award 2022 and the Thieme Chemistry Journal Award 2025, Soumya has been fortunate to secure several internationally competitive research grants, with a total funding budget of €1.3 million. With over 100 peer-reviewed publications and two patents, he has featured in Stanford University’s list of most highly cited researchers globally (top 2%) four years in a row. Soumya acknowledged that these successes are down to his research team at UL.
The Mukherjee research group develops advanced porous materials, including organic and metal-organic polymers, to address global challenges in chemical purification, and air and water treatment. Its aim is to establish the scientific groundwork for disruptive new approaches to energy-intensive industrial separation, to replace processes that have remained largely unchanged for a century.
Over the years, Soumya has trained several scientists at all career stages and has shared his team’s research in over 40 conferences and meetings, including more than 15 lecture invitations worldwide. Simply put, Soumya envisions his group’s efforts to be forging new links between Materials Chemistry and Separation Science, focusing on:
• Challenging gas and vapour separations, including carbon capture and utilisation, and light hydrocarbon separations
• Toxin removal from air, from confined environments of relevance, and freshwater
• Development of nanoporous physisorbents for molecular sensing, storage and energy sustainability.
Growing up in Calcutta, Soumya’s participation in several team sports shaped his belief that teamwork triumphs over individual genius, drawing inspiration from Michael Jordan’s quote: ‘Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.’ Looking back on the last 15 years, he gives all credit to the ‘tribe’ – his research group members, collaborators and mentors, as well as his lovely family – for all they have achieved so far.
In Soumya’s free time, he loves exploring the country’s rugged coastline and pretending to be a master chef – despite all evidence to the contrary!
Dr Maryam Karimijafari
Postdoc of the Year
Dr Maryam Karimijafari’s journey into the world of materials science and sustainable manufacturing began with a deep fascination for developing ecofriendly materials. This passion led her to pursue a Master’s by Research programme in the UL Physics Department, where she had the privilege of being funded by Enterprise Ireland.
During her master’s research, under the supervision of Professor Tofail Syed, and in collaboration with BorgWarner, an automotive and e-mobility supplier, Maryam focused on developing lead-free BaTiO3 thermistors. This experience provided invaluable hands-on training in advanced characterisation techniques and introduced her to industrial collaboration, shaping her interest in applied research.
This initial collaboration with industry sparked Maryam’s interest in exploring sustainable approaches to pharmaceutical processing. Inspired by the growing trend of replacing traditional solventbased techniques with green chemistry methods for producing new chemical entities, she embarked on a PhD journey that focused on mechanochemical synthesis for cocrystal production. Her PhD was funded by the prestigious SFI-NSF funded USIreland partnership project, under the supervision of Professor Gavin Walker.
Maryam’s PhD research explored crystallisation via hot melt extrusion (HME) as a promising method to enhance the solubility of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), a common challenge in drug development. More importantly, she studied the use of in-line Raman spectroscopy as a process analytical technology (PAT) tool coupled with chemometrics, for real-time monitoring of cocrystal formation during HME, which provided valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms.
This demonstrated the potential of HME for efficient cocrystal production, from initial feasibility studies to process optimisation and real-time monitoring.
In recognition of her PhD research contributions, Maryam was honoured with the SSPC Graduate of the Year award in 2021.
Beyond research, Maryam is passionate about science communication and outreach. Having actively participated in public engagement initiatives, including writing an article about her research for RTÉ Brainstorm. Additionally, Maryam won first place in the 2021 Thesis in Three competition at the Bernal Institute, showcasing her ability to present complex scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible manner.
In her postdoctoral journey, her first project was with SSPC, in collaboration with Serosep Ltd, to optimise and scale up the freeze-drying cycle of a real-time biological test agent. Within nine months, they developed a new cycle that was scaled up by approximately 100 times the original sample volume, reducing drying time from 48 to 24 hours.
Her second postdoctoral project, a collaboration between the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology Centre (PMTC), Astellas Pharma and Eastway Reliability, focused on assessing vibrationinduced segregation and powder consolidation in hoppers, using sensor technology.
Throughout her academic and professional career, she has maintained a strong publishing record, with articles or chapters in multiple peer-reviewed publications and reputable journals. Her commitment to research excellence has been recognised with the prestigious Research Ireland (IRC) two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship award. The focus of her current research is on Recyclable, Biological Piezoelectric Materials for Energy harvesting from Ambient Vibration (REVOLUTION) under the mentorship of Associate Professor Emmet O’Reilly. The overall aim of the REVOLUTION project is to
develop the underlying processing methodologies to produce usable films of bio-based, non-toxic and fully recyclable energy harvesting materials.
Furthermore, Maryam was awarded HORIZON-MSCAStaff Exchanges 2025 funding with mentorship of Dr Rabah Mouras, as part of an international research consortium, comprising institutions from Ireland (PMTC and ATU), Greece, the UK, Serbia, Cyprus, and Thailand. This four-year grant (2025–2029), valued at €772,800, will support travel and research collaborations between the partner institutions.
Maryam’s dedication to research and innovation was further acknowledged when she received the 2024 Best Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year award at the Bernal Research Day. Also in 2024, Maryam was
awarded second place for best poster presentation in the PMTC Knowledge Day.
From exploring lead-free piezoelectric thermistors to developing sustainable cocrystal manufacturing methods, her research journey has been driven by a desire to create innovative solutions for pressing challenges in materials science and pharmaceutical processing. Her IRC project, focusing on the fabrication of robust, flexible and efficient piezoelectric energy harvesting prototype devices based on sustainable BPEMs, helps her to continue pushing the boundaries of research and contributing to the development of sustainable technologies that benefit society.
Degrees Awarded
Each year, we are fortunate to welcome 40–50 new postgraduate students. They come from all parts of the globe, with over 50 nationalities represented. It is so gratifying to see them grow and mature, not only as scientists and engineers, but also as individuals.
During their time with us, they work within their own research teams, including over 100 postdoctoral researchers, and also within research clusters and Bernal-hosted centres. Our instrument scientists train them on key instrumentation and characterisation techniques, and our operations team makes sure they are always supported and encouraged.
Each June, August and January, we are both sad and excited to see a cohort of graduates leave us for careers in industry and academia. They remain part of the Bernal family forever, as we watch their careers develop and thrive. We are so proud of them all, our Bernalites from the class of 2024!
Doctoral degrees
Nidal Khalaf (JJ Leahy, Witold Kwapinski)
Olha Khomenko (JJ Leahy)
Xuan Pham Manh (Kevin M Ryan, Shalini Singh)
Patrick Mongan (Conor McCarthy, Noel O’Dowd, Eoin Hinchy)
Luluh Alhassan (Tewfik Soulimane, Christophe Silien)
Yassin Hjiej Andaloussi (Michael Zaworotko)
Bikash Guha (Sean Moore, Jacques Huyghe)
Sakshi Hans (Andreas Grabrucker, Ioannis Zabetakis)
Daniel Henn (Ken Byrne, David Styles*)
Ashlene Hudson (Ronan Courtney, John Murnane)
Anthony Idowu (Dick Fitzgerald, Miryam Amigo Benavent)
Roya Jamshidian (Harry van den Akker)
Kyriaki Koupepidou (Michael Zaworotko)
Ciara Leahy (Paul Murray, Patrick Kiely)
Ketan Madane (Vivek Ranade)
Clíona McCarthy (John Mulvihill, Michael Walsh)
Snehashis Nandi (Luis Padrela, Alain Collas*, Lidia Tajber*)
Dr Peuli Ghosh, Dr Jack O’Callaghan, Dr Aaron O’Sullivan, Dr Ahmed Metawea, Dr Nicolas Rojas Sanabria, Dr Kamil Cywinski and Dr Anastasija Klemanska
Niloofar Shekoohi (Dick Fitzgerald, Miryam Amigo Benavent, Brian Carson)
Aizhamal Subanbekova (Michael Zaworotko)
Venkatesh Sundararaman (Paul Weaver, Isaac Chenciah*, Matthew O’Donnell*)
Janelle Stanton (Andreas Grabrucker)
Eoin Walsh (Ning Liu, Andy Stewart*)
Simin Arshi (Edmond Magner)
Marco Cornago (Kevin M Ryan, Hugh Geaney)
Kamil Cywinski (Micheál Scanlon)
Peuli Ghosh (Sarah Hudson, Åke Rasmuson)
James Lillis (Christophe Silien, Tofail Syed)
Apinya Ngoipala (Matthias Vandichel)
Abinaya Sankaran (Kevin M Ryan, Hugh Geaney)/ Mannthalah Abubaker (John Mulvihill, David Newport)
Ayman Hijazi (JJ Leahy, Witold Kwapinski)
Dr Kyriaki Koupepidou, Dr Ketan Madane and Dr Aizhamal Subanbekova
Anastasija Klemanska (Gary Walsh)
Andrew McGovern (George Barreto)
Ahmed Metawea (Gavin Walker, David Egan)
Nima Mohammadi (Daniel Granato)
Daniel Moran (Michael Walsh)
Muhammad Muddasar (Maurice Collins)
Jack O’Callaghan (Damien Thompson, Michael Ryan, Sarah Hudson)
Aaron O’Sullivan (Luis Padrela, Kevin M Ryan)
Nicolas Rojas Sanabria (Micheál Scanlon)
* external, co-supervisor
Dr Janelle Stanton, Professor Andreas Grabrucker and Dr Sakshi Hans.
UL Mace Bearer John O’Neill, Dr Simin Arshi and Professor Edmond Magner
Degrees Awarded
Master’s Degrees
Greg Kerin (Fabiana Sarda)
Mark Bromell (Gary Walsh)
Zoltan Horvath (Teresa Curtin, Seamus Clifford)
Nathan Johnston (Sean Fair)
Maeve Moroney (John Mulvihill, David Newport)
* external, co-supervisor
Associate Professor John Mulvihill with Dr Clíona McCarthy
Professor Maurice Collins with Dr Muhammad Muddasar
Dr Ashlene Hudson and Professor Ronan Courtney
Bernal Hosted Events
The events calendar in Bernal kicked off in January with the 2024 Annual Symposium for the Microscopy Society of Ireland (MSI2024), 17–19 January. The symposium brought together researchers from around the world for discussions on such themes as advances in electron, biological and probe microscopy, image analysis, instrumentation development and infrastructure access. Keynote speaker for the event was Professor Quentin Ramasse, Director of the SuperSTEM Laboratory, UK National Facility for Advanced Electron Microscopy, who holds a joint Chair in Electron Microscopy at the Schools of Physics and of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds. Other invited speakers included Dr Lewis Jones (TCD), Dr Kerry Thompson (University of Galway) and Dr Nic Mullin (TUS).
On 26 January, AStruM 2024, Bernal’s Annual Research Day, took place. The day focused on showcasing the brilliant work of Bernal researchers through internal competitions to include the Thesis in 3 competition, Bernal Fame Competition, Poster Competition, Image Competition and Bernal Researcher of the Year awards. This year also hosted a presentation highlighting the importance of the Institutional Research Integrity policy, presented by UL Research Integrity Officer, Professor Natalia Kopteva.
The best poster was awarded to Ciara Leahy for Epstein-Barr Virus Primary Infection – Viral Antigen Expression and its Impact on the Immune Microenvironment Winner of the Thesis in 3 competition was Wee Jiang Ng for his presentation, Thermal Design and Management for 5G and Future Networks Tara Ryan won Bernal Fame and Postdoc of the Year went to Dr Aleksandra Serafin. The Positive Safety Initiative award was won by Krishna Hari, Dr Suman Bhattacharya and Dr Ciarán O’Malley for their SafeLab365 – Today’s Vision for a Better Tomorrow, which aims to set a new standard for safety in laboratory environments. This initiative will not only make a lasting impact on safety practices but will also positively influence the wider Bernal community and the public.
The day, which came to fruition due to a massive team effort from the Operations team and a select group of researchers from the wider community, was heralded by all as a resounding success and a fantastic day for research.
Dr Ciara Leahy going through details of her poster with members of the Bernal community at AStruM 2024
Attendees of MSI2024 enjoying the poster session during the conference
Bernal Hosted Events
MARCH
The Conference for Undergraduate Women and Non-Binary Physicists UK and Ireland (CUWiP+), 21–24 March, was hosted at the Bernal Institute by the Physics Department, with 84 participants attending. The conference aims to inform and empower women and non-binary people in physics, whilst offering an opportunity to network with peers, focusing on their development as scientists and showcasing options for their ongoing education and professional futures. The event had a full programme from keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops and posters, to tours and social events. Due to the diligence of the local organising committee led by Associate Professor Ning Liu, this event was a great success receiving positive feedback from attendees.
Members of the local organising committee and conference delegates of CUWiP+ 2024
SEPTEMBER
On 18 and 19 September, Professor Gavin Walker hosted an international workshop at the Bernal Institute. The event, entitled Enhancing crop production with brackish water irrigation in the Jordan Valley, focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, and was represented and attended by universities from Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan. The overarching purpose of the Research Ireland’s SDG Challenge is to develop transformative, sustainable solutions that will contribute to addressing development challenges, under the UN SDGs in Irish Aid partner countries. Research Ireland and Irish Aid are seeking solutions that contribute to UN SDG2, ‘Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’.
Professor Kevin M Ryan (Bernal), Professor Saed Khayyat (Palestine), Professor Gavin Walker (Bernal), Professor Munqez Shtaya (Palestine), Associate Professor Mehakpreet Singh (MACSI) and Associate Professor Ahmad Al-Badarin (Lebanon) at the Bernal Institute, for the SFI-Irish Aid SDG2 Zero Hunger workshop
The CaviPRO Induction School, 23–27 September, brought together newly recruited doctoral candidates, principal investigators and partners from across Europe. The week-long event featured technical sessions on hydrodynamic cavitation, research dissemination and real-world applications of cavitation. Participants engaged in team-building activities, interactive discussions and visits to key facilities at Bernal and Biocore. CaviPRO, an MSCA Doctoral Network Project funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe (HORIZONMSCA-2022-DN-01), is coordinated by Professor Vivek Ranade of the Multiphase Reactors and Intensification Group (MRING) at Bernal.
CaviPRO Induction School attendees
Bernal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Events
The Bernal EDI Committee continued its momentum in 2024, in creating events and rolling out initiatives to increase the feeling of inclusivity in Bernal, as well as celebrating the diverse cultures in our community.
One of the initiatives introduced through the committee’s work was the opening of the Bernal Serenity Room in February. This quiet and private space is available to the Bernal community through a simple booking system of up to one-hour periods. Born from the idea of providing a space within Bernal to mothers returning from maternity leave, needing a private space and storage facilities to express milk, the space offers comfortable sofas and a locked fridge to store breast milk. To include the wider community in this initiative a ‘take one, leave one’ library of fiction and non-fiction was created, along with a shelf full of informative leaflets on mental and physical health services in UL. Since the day the room was made available, the response from the community has been very positive and the manual calendar booking system at the door shows frequent use on a weekly basis.
A joint celebration of Pancake Tuesday and Carnaval was held on 13 February. The meeting of these two different traditions was a great success, creating a sense of community and union for all those who attended.
On 11 March, members of the Bernal community were invited to celebrate Ramadan with the Muslim community, by hosting the first Iftar meal. This saw a small group coming together to learn about and share traditions across different countries and cultures.
Serenity Room
Enrico Spoletti, Harsh Barua, Aaron O’Sullivan, Mariana Diniz and Marta Bergillos Ruiz getting into the spirit of Carnaval
May 16 saw the return of the popular Mental Health Awareness Day to the EDI calendar. The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week in UL for 2024 was ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’. With this in mind, Bernal hosted a beginners Pilates class, as well as games such as badminton, foosball, giant Jeng a and table tennis.
Throughout the afternoon, material on all the mental health support services available in UL were readily available to all who attended. The event fostered a relaxed atmosphere that brought the community together in an interactive and fun way.
On 31 October, in celebration of Oíche Shamhna/ Halloween, the committee, in association with Aonad na Gaeilge UL, invited the wonderful Dr Karol Mullaney Dignam, an Associate Professor of History and Director of MA in Public Heritage and Culture, to give a captivating talk on the origins of Halloween and its traditions in Ireland. Those in attendance learned many interesting new facts about this popular holiday that is celebrated around the world but has its roots in Irish culture. The talk was then followed by Halloween themed treats and drinks for all who attended.
Bernal Researchers and staff enjoying the different parts of Mental Health Awareness Day
Due to the popularity of table tennis within the Bernal community, a table tennis table has become a permanent fixture within the institute. Tuesday, 19 November saw the first annual Table Tennis Tournament being held, to mark International Men’s Day. The competitive spirit was in full flourish as nine teams battled it out for the Bernal Trophy and prize. Captivated spectators from the community enjoyed delicious pizza during the two hours, while the tense competition played out with The Pong Squad – Amol Gode and Suvodeep Sen emerging the victors.
The EDI year ended with the Paint-a-ChristmasBauble initiative. Members of the community were invited to paint a bauble with designs or images that represent themselves, their country and/or their culture. These were displayed over the festive period on the Christmas tree in the Analog Foyer. The popularity of this initiative rose above expectations. Once the baubles ran out, people got creative by painting other objects such as petri dishes and hanging them on the tree.
Table Tennis Tournament
Bernal Seminar Series
The Bernal Institute hosts a vibrant regular seminar series where leading researchers, both internal and external, present their work to the Institute and to the University. The series provides researchers with the opportunity to engage with leading invited speakers, along with their research groups and home institutes, stimulating national and international collaborations. It also provides a vehicle for internal collaboration within and across the research themes of the Institute. In 2024, 44 seminars were held, with 28 international speakers from a wide range of institutions in Europe, the US, UK, Canada and India, 2 speakers from Irish institutions (Tyndall National Institute and Maynooth University) and 14 internal speakers. The topics presented spanned the various research themes of the Institute.
Below is a selection from the external speakers hosted in 2024:
• Professor Sonja Berensmeier, Technical University of Munich, Germany: Evolution of Disruptive Downstream Processing Technologies Based on New Materials
• Professor Liberato Manna, Italian Institute of Technology, Italy: Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals: Synthesis, Surface Properties, Heterostructures
• Professor Layla Mehdi, University of Liverpool, UK: Understanding Nanoscale Processes in Li-ion Batteries by Operando Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
• Professor Reza Younesi, Uppsala University, Sweden: From Fundamental Understanding to Commercialisation of Sodium-ion Batteries
• Professor Ritu Kataky, Durham University, UK: Biological Interactions at Soft Interfaces
• Professor Rajiv Prakash, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bhilai), India: Functional Polymers and Nanocomposites: Organic Devices and Sensors
• Professor Robert BP Elmes, Maynooth University: A Supramolecular Approach to Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance
• Associate Professor Yu Shrike Zhang, Harvard Medical School, USA: 3D Bioprinting for High-Content Modeling of Human Tissues and Diseases in vitro
• Professor Guylaine Ferland, University of Montreal, Canada: Vitamin K, An Emerging Nutrient in Brain Function
Innovation Spotlight 2024
Associate Professor Tadhg Kennedy; Associate Professor Shalini Singh; Professor Kevin M Ryan, Director, Bernal Institute; Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD; Professor Norelee Kennedy (Vice President of Research) and Associate Professor Hugh Geaney
AMPEiRE
The National Rechargeable Battery Fabrication and Test Facility (AMPEiRE) at the Bernal Institute is a one-stop shop for battery research and development. It was launched in July 2024 by Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The launch event brought together stakeholders from academia, funding agencies and industry. The infrastructure enables the manufacture of batteries from single-coin cell to pouch-cell level, which is a crucial step in developing technology to match industry standards. The Lead PI on the funding application was Professor Kevin M Ryan, with co-applicants Associate Professor Tadhg Kennedy, Associate Professor Hugh Geaney and Associate Professor Shalini Singh.
Speaking at the launch, Minister O’Donovan stated:
Research and innovation have a vital role to play in tackling the sustainability problems facing the world today. There is an increasing demand for more powerful mobile devices and longerrange and faster-charging electric vehicles. Our citizens, our education and industry partners and our future generations need and want greener products and services. In alignment with national policies such as the Government’s Research and Innovation Strategy Impact 2030 and our Climate Action Plan, funding infrastructure such as this facility is helping Ireland transition to a sustainable future.
Professor Kevin M Ryan, Director of the Bernal Institute and now UL Vice President of Research and Innovation said:
This infrastructure is a game changer for battery research in Ireland, providing a crucial link between novel research on new chemistries for higher performing batteries in UL and our collaborator institutions and the battery fabrication capability needed to demonstrate this at industry relevant cell formats.
The facility will allow for greater opportunities for Irish researchers to lead and partner on key European projects in batteries and will support the ever-increasing industrial footprint nationally that revolves around rechargeable batteries, from battery pack fabrication through to battery management system chip development and electric vehicles.
Making a more optimised, efficient, energy-dense lithium-ion battery requires multiple innovations across all its key components: anode, cathode and electrolyte. The EU’s demand for critical raw materials such as lithium, copper and cobalt, which are fundamental materials to current battery technologies, is projected to increase exponentially.
Co-funded by SFI (Science Foundation Ireland) and SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), the facility will allow simultaneous research on conventional lithium-ion batteries and new frontier energy storage technologies such as Li-S, Li-O2, Al-ion and Na-ion batteries, meaning that it is future-proofed with regard to alternative battery chemistry developments.
Patrick O’Donovan TD, Professor Kevin M Ryan and Mei Li, PhD Candidate
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Director General of Science Foundation Ireland, Dr Ciarán Seoighe stated:
SFI is pleased to have been able to support this important initiative under SFI’s Research Infrastructure programme. Advances in battery technology will be critical in supporting the green transition.
The launch of the National Rechargeable Battery Fabrication and Test Facility that spans the full range from fundamental to applied research, will help spearhead pioneering research in next generation batteries, creating transformative collaborations and making Ireland an attractive location for the recruitment of world-leading scientists and engineers.
Kerrie Sheehan, Head of Research and Technology at SEAI, added:
SEAI is delighted to collaborate with SFI in supporting the National Rechargeable Battery Fabrication and Test Facility at the Bernal Institute in University of Limerick. Rechargeable battery technology is vital in enabling advancements in renewable energy as well as reducing emissions and waste.
Research carried out will contribute to the transformation of Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices.
PhD candidate Aaron Hennessy, Associate Professor Tadhg Kennedy and Patrick O’Donovan TD
Patrick O’Donovan TD, Associate Professor Hugh Geaney and Dr Dominika Capkova
The state-of-the-art characterisation capabilities for novel battery materials will deliver impactful results to accelerate battery development. By combining electrode fabrication, cell assembly, testing and state-of-the-art materials characterisation in one location, AMPEiRE will consolidate UL as a hub for battery research and development. The infrastructure is a focal point for existing national expertise in materials science, which will foster collaboration with industries looking to access the next generation of talent and research expertise.
AMPEiRE has since expanded into a UL internal research centre that brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers to tackle materials challenges related to the development of advanced batteries and broader energy
applications (www.ul.ie/research/ampeire). The interfaculty centre is hosted in Bernal, with CoDirectors: Associate Professor Tadhg Kennedy, Professor Kevin M Ryan and Associate Professor Hugh Geaney, with research themes linked to: advanced Li-ion batteries; high-energy density battery chemistries; non-Li sustainable batteries; materials for energy-related devices; advanced characterisation, monitoring and modelling; circular economy; and policy and economic drivers.
AMPEiRE researchers are addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable cities and communities, affordable and clean energy, climate action and responsible consumption and production.
Patrick O’Donovan TD, Professor Kevin M Ryan and Associate Professor Shalini Singh
NeoMimics
NeoMimics Ltd is a company recently formed to develop new sperm sorting technology (neoMimix) for use in assisted human reproduction.
Infertility is on the rise. One in six couples worldwide experience some form of infertility at least once during their reproductive lifetime. This equates to 70 million couples globally, including 25 million EU citizens. The WHO Human Reproduction Programme cites infertility as a global public health issue, with infertility rates increasing, due to lifestyle, rising maternal age and a decrease in sperm counts by 52% over the last 40 years. We cannot influence the intrinsic quality of a woman’s egg, but sperm selection offers a unique opportunity to choose the highest-quality cells from tens to hundreds of millions of sperm.
While the embryologist can select normal looking sperm for injection into the egg they have no information on the DNA integrity of the selected sperm, as the only test available for this destroys the sperm. Critically, women whose partners have sperm with poor DNA integrity (approximately 20% of the population) are twice as likely to have a miscarriage. Current sperm selection technology is rudimentary and is based around the centrifugation of sperm, which can increase DNA damage. However, the field is evolving, with increased adoption of swim-up and microfluidic-based selection methods. NeoMimics further advances this trend by combining the best of nature and science.
Associate Professor Eoin White, Professor Sean Fair and Professor Leonard O’Sullivan with the neoMimix device
Professor Sean Fair, Bernal Institute and Department of Biological Sciences at UL, led an initial Enterprise Ireland (EI) commercialisation fund (CF) grant in 2014 to develop fertility technology for animal applications. The project results did not prove viable for animal fertility, but the work opened up possibilities for using the technology in human fertility. A further EI/CF grant secured in 2018, allowed for further development in human fertility applications. Throughout the funding period, a total of seven invention disclosures were submitted. The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) filed two patent applications from the second CF funding grant, with both patents granted in Europe and one patent is also filed in the United States.
After 10 years’ research, along with a multidisciplinary collaboration with Professor David Newport (fluidics engineer), Professor Leonard O’Sullivan and Associate Professor Eoin White (product design), Sean has developed a microfluidics-based sperm selection technology (neoMimix) that can naturally select sperm with more intact DNA. This innovative technology works by stimulating sperm to swim against a fluid flow (rheotaxis) within microchannels, and this mimics the way sperm naturally orientate and swim up the female reproductive tract to the fallopian tubes against an outward flow of mucus.
In mid-2022, with Sean’s approval, the TTO marketed the UL IP through several technology marketing platforms including the IN-Part platform. In September 2022, NLC Health Ventures (www. nlc.health) approached UL via the IN-Part platform. NLC is a European healthtech venture company with experience in building over 100 startups. The NLC model is a collaborative one, seeking university and PI involvement to achieve success. Their goal is to build ventures and advance healthcare for patients worldwide. NLC provides a team of dedicated employees and industry experts (3000+ individuals). They will typically build the company, hire the founding team, secure the IP rights, provide initial investment and support the company’s growth. NLC is also an experienced fund manager that makes healthcare innovation viable for retail and institutional investors.
Working with the TTO, Sean entered discussions with NLC. This led to negotiations to form a new company to commercialise the UL IP. NeoMimics Ltd was established using the NLC business model. Eva van Rooijen, a serial healthtech entrepreneur and executive as well a mother through IVF herself, was attracted as Co-Founder & CEO. Being the first joint venture project in UL, this proves to be a unique success story for both the TTO and the team at UL.
Ltd (registration number 770986)
Eva van Rooijen
neoMimix
Bernal Enterprise Services
At the heart of the Bernal Institute, the Bernal Enterprise Services Team (BEST) serves as a dynamic interface, seamlessly connecting industry leaders with UL’s academic prowess. Headed by the Business Manager, Ray O’Brien, and the dedicated Enterprise Liaison, Fionnuala O’Connell, BEST (BEST@ul.ie) plays a crucial role in fostering and sustaining industry partnerships.
BEST collaborates with over 100 companies, from ambitious startups to multinational giants, across such diverse sectors as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductors, manufacturing and various service industries. Our partners include industries like Johnson & Johnson, Analog Devices, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Altratech, Stryker,
ArcVascular, Thermofisher and Class Medical, among others.
These partnerships are typically initiated through our Facilities Access mechanism that is open to all industry and research partners. Facilities Access allows industry and research partners to leverage €50 million worth of state-of-the-art analytical infrastructure. Our dedicated Instrument Scientists ensure that the analysis is conducted to the highest standards, expediting the process through their extensive knowledge and cross-application expertise. The BEST model has been proven over the last six years, evidenced by our loyal customer base and the impactful research projects undertaken.
Bernal Enterprise Services Team: Fionnuala O’Connell, Ray O’Brien and Bríd O’Brien-May
BEST Facilitating Becton Dickinson’s Research Needs
A prime example of the team’s effectiveness is their role in establishing a collaboration between the Bernal Institute and Becton Dickinson (BD). Recognising that the facilities available in the Bernal Institute BioLabs, were an ideal fit for BD’s research requirements, Ray and the team worked to bridge the connection between BD and Bernal’s academic expertise, specifically Associate Professor Eoghan Cunnane and Associate Professor John Mulvihill.
Once the initial meeting took place, BEST took full responsibility for handling the administrative and financial workload, allowing the academic researchers to concentrate on delivering the solutions BD required. This seamless process significantly reduced the bureaucratic burden on researchers, while ensuring BD’s needs were delivered efficiently.
BD was highly satisfied with the BioLabs facilities, which addressed a critical gap in their research infrastructure by providing access to wet lab space, tissue processing and histology capabilities. Connor Cunnane, Senior Engineer at BD, emphasised the impact of the collaboration: ‘Having access to these facilities greatly accelerated the pace at which innovation can occur at BD. The increased speed and reduced financial demands presented by Ray and the team, compared to competitors, enabled mission-critical research to be completed according to strict timelines.’
Supporting Research Funding and Equipment Acquisition
Partnerships enable BEST to assist at every level of the company’s needs, from service to research and beyond. BEST has also been instrumental in securing funding for researchers. One notable success was its support in helping Dr Nasrin Ghanami Gashti secure a Research Ireland RD&I fellowship. According to Associate Professor Cunnane:
By guiding her through the administrative and financial complexities of the application process, the team ensured that she could focus on delivering impactful research. In addition, Ray and the team have played a key role in acquiring critical research equipment for the Bernal Institute. Their acute awareness of industrial partner research needs has been a major factor in successfully securing Higher Education Research Equipment Grant (HEREG) awards. By securing industry backing in the form of financial contributions and commitments to utilise the equipment, the Bernal team helped ensure the successful procurement of a state-of-theart bioprinter, enhancing the Institute’s research capabilities.
Associate Professor Eoghan Cunnane, Ray O’Brien, Associate Professor John Mulvihill and Dr Connor Cunnane, Senior Engineer, Becton Dickinson
Round up
BEST exemplifies how strategic industry engagement, combined with administrative expertise and financial acumen, can drive impactful research collaborations. Their proactive approach to industry partnerships, funding facilitation and equipment acquisition continues to strengthen Bernal’s position as a leader in applied research and innovation. Through their efforts, companies like BD have been able to accelerate innovation, researchers have secured vital funding and Bernal has expanded its cutting-edge research infrastructure.
Services and Capabilities
BEST provides a broad range of services, including:
• Analytical Services: Advanced analytical tools and techniques to support research and development
• Contract Research: Bespoke research solutions tailored to industry needs
• Collaborative Research: Partnership facilitation between industry and academic researchers to address complex challenges
• Funding Opportunities: Securing of funding assistance through various national and European R&D initiatives
• Industry Engagement: Events hosting such as the Bernal Industry Day to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between industry representatives and researchers.
Dr Karrina McNamara, XPS
Dr Promita Bhattacharje, BioLabs
FACILITY
Analog Devices
Building FACILITY
MSSI Building
EQUIPMENT/ LABORATORY
Surface Science Laboratory
CAPABILITIES
Comprehensive facilities for analysing small-scale fluidic phenomena and developing related technologies, including instrumented pharmaceutical dissolution units, powder and hot melt extrusion suites, tablet presses and analytical instruments such as FTIR, UV-Vis and NIR
BIO Laboratory – HPLC, LCMS, Cell Culture, Confocal, Mechanical Testing, BIO Hydrogel Lab
CAPABILITIES
Houses Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopes (SEMs and TEMs) for examining materials down to the nanometer and atomic scale, also including a Focused Ion Beam SEM (FIB-SEM) for producing ultra-thin sections of materials, EELs, EDX, STEM
Thermal Analysis – Rheometry, DSC, TGA
CAPABILITIES
Capable of measuring nanoscale surface features and investigating nanoscale surface properties using advanced microscopy techniques
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction
EQUIPMENT/ LABORATORY
3D Multi Material Printing System
EQUIPMENT/ LABORATORY
Confocal Microscope
EQUIPMENT/ LABORATORY
Spectral Analysis and Surface Characterisation Laboratory
EQUIPMENT/ LABORATORY
Agilent 5500 AFM
EQUIPMENT/ LABORATORY
Ntegra Spectra
CAPABILITIES
Advanced printing system capable of producing complex structures using multiple materials
ATP (Automated Tape Placement) – Advanced manufacturing techniques revolutionising the production of composite structures
Robotic technologies that precisely lay down continuous fibres or tape onto molds or mandrels to create intricate, high-performance composite components
CAPABILITIES
Used for high-resolution imaging of biological and material samples
CAPABILITIES
Providing detailed analysis of material surfaces and spectral properties
CAPABILITIES
Capable of performing various modes of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), including scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), nanoTA, heated tip AFM and scanning thermal microscopy (SThM)
CAPABILITIES
An integrated AFM-TERS-SNOM-Raman instrument for advanced material characterisation
Bernal Hosted Centres
In 2024, the Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC) celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of significant contributions to the Irish dairy processing industry. Since its inception in December 2014, DPTC has been dedicated to advancing the industry towards global leadership in sustainability and high-quality dairy ingredients. This commitment has been pivotal in supporting Ireland’s vital indigenous industry, which plays a crucial role in the national economy.
Mission and Achievements
DPTC’s mission has always been to foster longterm growth and competitiveness through a strong industry-academic partnership. This collaboration promotes a culture of innovation and ensures that research is industrially relevant and delivering meaningful impacts. The centre’s primary focus remains on enabling industry partners to meet climate and sustainability targets, while expanding export opportunities. By leveraging a multidisciplinary, cross-sectoral knowledge base and networks, DPTC continues to drive significant advancements in the dairy sector.
Annual Knowledge Day 2024
On 7 March 2024, DPTC hosted its Annual Knowledge Day at UL. The event, chaired by Dr Miriam Ryan from Dairy Industry Ireland, focused on addressing future challenges in dairy processing to achieve sustainable growth and foster innovation. Distinguished speakers, including David Kennedy from Bord Bia, Martin Fleming from Enterprise Ireland and experts from Teagasc and Tetra Pak shared their insights on market development, value creation, funding supports and the impact of milk composition on dairy processing. These discussions were instrumental in shaping DPTC’s research agenda.
Conor Mulvihill (DII); Mark Christal (Enterprise Ireland); Martin Heydon, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Professor Norelee Kennedy (UL); Dr Anne Marie Henihan (DPTC); and Ian Marshall, OBE, Queens University Belfast
Circular Dairy Summit 2024
The Circular Dairy Summit, held on 24 October 2024 at the Osprey Hotel in Naas, brought together over 200 industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and stakeholders. The summit, which began with a welcome from former Minister for Agriculture, Ivan Yates, and a keynote address by Minister of State, Martin Heydon, emphasised sustainable practices in the dairy sector. A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the DPTC’s Stakeholder Landscape Analysis report, Circular Dairy Bioeconomy in Ireland: Harnessing Opportunities for a Sustainable Future. The summit showcased cutting-edge research in nutrient recycling, anaerobic digestion and biorefining technologies, highlighting projects like the national bioeconomy pilot facility at Lisheen and the EIT Climate KIC - Dairy Flagship. The Stakeholder Landscape Analysis report provided several key recommendations, including implementing financial strategies such as grants and subsidies, prioritising technological innovations in nutrient recycling, developing clear regulatory frameworks and enhancing market development. Following the summit, DPTC has been actively working on these recommendations. Professor JJ Leahy from the University of Limerick received €99,800 from DAFM to explore policy options for promoting biobased fertilisers, supporting the development of regulatory frameworks and cross-sectoral collaboration.
Annual Conference 2024
The DPTC Annual Conference, held on 12 November 2024 at the Osprey Hotel in Naas, was a day of reflection and celebration. The event highlighted ground-breaking work in adaptive and sustainable milk processing and provided a platform for attendees to connect with industry leaders. The conference was a resounding success, thanks to the contributions of researchers and the support of sponsors, and it underscored DPTC’s ongoing commitment to innovation and collaboration.
On the day, DPTC honoured exceptional research through our sponsored awards, recognising the hard work and dedication of our researchers:
Best Overall Researcher in Milk CompositionDriven Adaptive Milk Processing: Dr Sara Pacheco Pappenheim, Teagasc
Best Overall Researcher Award in Sustainable Milk Processing: Dr Alejandra Villa Montoya, University of Galway
Outstanding posters and presentations received special recognition, showcasing the creativity and expertise within our community:
Best Poster Award: Dr Corine Nzeteu, University of Galway
Best Presentation Award: Aritra Sinha, University College Cork
Friday Webinar Series
Throughout 2024, DPTC continued its Friday Webinar Series, which is central to its mission of continuous learning and innovation in dairy processing and the circular bioeconomy. These webinars offered diverse topics and insights from industry experts. In 2025, DPTC plans to incorporate formal training into the webinars to complement onsite training and trials, providing a flexible way to engage more industry stakeholders and ensure access to the latest advancements and best practices.
As DPTC looks forward to 2025, the focus will be on setting up partners and researchers for success in the new research landscape, with a strong emphasis on commercialisation and continued innovation.
Dr Corine Nzeteu, University of Galway; Dr Alejandra Villa Montoya, University of Galway; Dr Sara Pacheco Pappenheim, Teagasc; and Aritra Sinha, University College Cork
Funded by Enterprise Ireland in partnership with IDA Ireland, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology Centre (PMTC) is now in its 11th year of operations. PMTC is part of a network of nine technology centres that collectively contribute to supporting Irish companies to be successful, grow their business, create jobs and deliver significant wider economic impact.
Acting as a bridge between industry and academia, PMTC plays a key role in fostering collaboration between indigenous SMEs and Biopharmaceutical MNCs and delivering solutions using advanced technology and analytics to address contemporary drug manufacturing process issues.
Among the year’s many highlights were the closeout of significant research projects, the appointment of a new centre director, the development of a comprehensive, industry-informed business plan for our next phase of operations and the continued expansion of our membership community, making 2024 another momentous year at PMTC.
New Centre Director welcomed
In March 2024, PMTC welcomed new Centre Director, Damon Warnock. Having worked for global biopharmaceutical company, Alkermes, and previously with Irish firm, Elan, Damon brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience.
New members welcomed PMTC were delighted to welcome the following new members to the PMTC Community in 2024:
• Temmler Ireland (Aenova Group), an IDA-backed centre for spray-drying excellence
• Novo Nordisk, a leading global healthcare company (acquired from previous member Alkermes in mid-2024)
• Tisalabs, an EI-backed innovative software and intelligent manufacturing monitoring solutions company
• Causeway Sensors, Northern Ireland based company who specialise in at line real-time bioprocess data
• Element, supplier of life sciences testing services.
We look forward to fostering these new collaborations and bringing these new members into the co-creation of innovative research projects.
New PMTC members
New PMTC Director, Damon Warnock
Networking: A snapshot of PMTC Annual Knowledge Day attendees
2024 Annual Knowledge Day
PMTC’s annual knowledge day was held on 30 May, with a wonderful line-up of speakers delivering keynote speeches in digitalisation and artificial intelligence integration for the pharmaceutical sector. With over 220 attendees at Bernal on the day, we look forward to continuing this successful industry event again in 2025.
Project FoReSight
Project FoReSight Phase 1, led by Dr Marcus O’Mahony, ended in 2024 after more than two years of intensive work and collaboration from multiple industry partners. PMTC, with the support of IMR, collaborated with PMTC members MSD, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Alkermes and Astellas, in developing an innovative risk management framework that uses data and information to better support decisions involving the safe, efficient and effective manufacture of drugs.
The framework developed was published in the inaugural Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Regulatory Science (JAPRS), April 2024, and has now been downloaded more than 900 times by industry employees (https://arrow.tudublin.ie/japrs/vol1/iss1/8).
Panel discussion: ‘Pragmatic process optimisation and data analytics in the pharmaceutical sector’
Project AEPIC
Project AEPIC Phase 1, also completed in 2024, a PMTC CORE project, led by principal investigator John Cosgrove from TUS, with industry members Eli Lilly and Eastway, delivered great insights and learnings around the use of AI-ML and sensors to enable real-time monitoring for predictive failure of mechanical seals. Early findings show great promise for significant cost reduction and enhanced asset utilisation in both large- and small-molecule manufacturing.
Looking ahead at PMTC
As we move forward into 2025, PMTC’s CORE research focuses on significantly growing productivity-oriented research, indigenous company (SMEs) know-how application, integrated testbed and Lab 5.0 characterisation capability, skills and talent development, operational infrastructure and community-aligned practice of information use.
Four exciting core projects have already kicked off, seeing cross-section industry engagement with several centre members:
• Cleaning optimisation and enhancement through reduction of solvent usage
• Advanced manufacturing with continuous flow reactor operationalisation
• Process intensification by application of digital twin technology
• Digitalisation and data analytics with an expansion of our FoReSight research.
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at PMTC. We are driven by real market needs which are defined by industry and will have a real-world impact.
Contact us
If you would like to know more about the exciting developments at PMTC, please visit our website www.pmtc.ie or email pmtc@ul.ie.
AEPIC Project meeting at Eli Lily Kinsale, November 2024
SSPC, the Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals, hosted at UL under the directorship of Professor Damien Thompson, is a world-leading, interdisciplinary hub for (bio) pharmaceutical research and innovation.
Through our reputation for scientific excellence, close industry partnerships and talent pipeline, we solve industry and societal challenges. Our unique ecosystem sets us apart, placing Ireland as a trailblazer in (bio)pharma research and talent development.
SSPC is a national centre, working in collaboration with University College Cork, University of Galway, Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, Maynooth University and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT).
The availability of a highly skilled workforce has been pivotal in Ireland’s ability to leverage the opportunities presented by the global growth of the biopharma sector. SSPC nurtures talent, drives innovation, whilst maintaining economic vitality, all within the following areas of focus:
• Scientific excellence: SSPC’s research impacts society by improving and advancing the sustainable production and the availability of medicines globally.
• Investment: SSPC has leveraged an additional €165 million investment from industry and other competitive sources, delivering significant economic and human capital impacts.
• Industry: Today, SSPC collaborations incorporate end-to-end research capabilities in both smallmolecule and biologics drug substance, as well as drug product development and manufacture. With more than 50 industrial partners engaging from around the globe, SSPC enjoys access to excellent scientific talent and world-class research expertise and infrastructure, which are still the fundamental activities within the Centre.
• Societal impact: SSPC’s Education and Public Engagement programme has a global reach of more than 5.6 million people. Informed by research, and in partnership with public stakeholders, the programme supports perception, understanding and trust in (bio) pharma research. Our internationally ranked Education and Public Engagement (EPE) team addresses many critical challenges, including awareness enhancement and participation of under-represented groups in STEM.
Professor Damien Thompson
• Talent: With over 300 alumni for the (bio)pharma sector, our talent pipeline is critical for growth, while future proofing the sector in Ireland.
• Transition to industry: SSPC attracts, trains and retains high-calibre talent for Ireland, with 84% of our PhD graduates and 52% of SSPC postdoctoral researchers transitioning to industry. SSPC has attracted and trained researchers from 42 different countries, with 53% of alumni representing a foreign nationality. After their time with SSPC, 67% of all our alumni remained in Ireland, meeting Ireland’s critical skills gap.
SSPC works with over 820 international co-authors in 54 countries across six continents. Of SSPC’s current phase publications, 55% have an international co-author, across 12 of the top 20 most prestigious universities in the world. SSPC has an excellent track record of publishing in partnership with industry, with a total of 18 joint industry publications arising from our member and non-member projects in 2024.
The SSPC team engaging with the community through interactive science demonstrations and educational activities, highlighting SSPC’s cuttingedge research
SSPC are continuing to work collaboratively, both within the centre and with our international network of collaborators, capitalising on new opportunities to provide the foundations for an innovation-intensive economy and to ensure that Ireland’s future resilience and capacity to handle crises is enhanced. Our research programme addresses data-driven medicine development and manufacture of future medicines, including biologics.
The SSPC team engaging with the community through interactive science demonstrations and educational activities, highlighting SSPC’s cutting-edge research
Bernal publications pathways
Bernal members produce a range of publications that convey the pioneering research underway at the Institute and represent a sizeable majority of UL’s total publication output. They also publish in a range of high-quality journals, a sample of which is given below.
Funders
The equipment and facilities mentioned in this document have been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under Ireland’s European Structural and Investment Funds Programmes and the HEA, the European Commission, Research Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Atlantic Philanthropies and Analog Devices.
The Bernal Report was produced in an environmentally responsible manner, using soya based inks, an alcohol free press and FSC ® Certified paper. The cover is printed on 300gsm FSC ® Certified offset and 140gsm FSC ® Certified offset. The Bernal Report is fully recyclable.
Bernal Institute
University of Limerick Limerick V94 T9PX
Ireland.
Web www.ul.ie/bernal
Email bernal.institute@ul.ie
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