Podcasts

Arts-based health programmes that combine arts with science can enhance the physical and psychosocial health and wellbeing of older people. This podcast discusses the benefits of music and dance for older adults and in particular their experience of the Music and Movement for Health study which examined the feasibility and potential for benefit of such programmes in Ireland. The primary aim of the study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the study design and the Music and Movement for Health programme. The secondary aim was to obtain preliminary evidence of effect of the programme on health and wellbeing of older adults. The researchers describe the aims, process and key learnings from the project and participants provide their experience of being part of the programme. The study was funded by Health Research Board as part of the Definitive Intervention and Feasibility Awards scheme.

This project creating bespoke breast prostheses for women post-mastectomy, using state of the art digital manufacturing aims to roll out this year and to be available nationally in all symptomatic breast clinics. Research Team Dr Lorraine Walsh, Consultant Radiation Oncologist, Mater Private Network Limerick, and collaborator on the project; Siobhan Meaney, Clinical Lead at the Rapid Innovation Unit, in the University of Limerick, and one of the supervisors of the Breast Prosthesis Project; and EmmaJude Lyons, PhD Researcher, at the Rapid Innovation Unit, (RIU) in the University of Limerick discuss a first of its kind service globally, using 3D scanning and printing to improve the quality of life for survivors of breast cancer. A groundbreaking collaboration between the Rapid Innovation Unit at University of Limerick (UL), the Symptomatic Breast Care Unit at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), and the Mater Private Networks, Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre.

March 2020 changed the lives of everyone around the around. We were all worried about the spread of COVID-19, fascinated with R number and hoping lockdowns would not last long. Working in the background was the UL team from MASCI (Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry) who as part of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group (IEMAG), provided expert advice, real-time information and forecast models to the Chief Medical Officer and NPHET. In this podcast you will hear from the award-winning UL team, led by MACSI Director Professor James Gleeson who developed the SEIR model, leading to the monitoring of restrictions, vaccinations and tracking the path of the virus throughout Ireland, disseminating findings to tackle real world problems. Former chair of IEMAG, Prof Philip Nolan discusses the importance of MACSI’s work the decision-making process to inform a national response to a global pandemic.