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Landmark international gathering in Galway to shape the future of EU and Atlantic Ocean Research The Marine Institute, University of Galway, and Atlantic Technological University, with the support of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, today unveiled the programme and opened pre-registration for Atlantic Summit Galway 2026. Taking place on 8-9 October 2026 at University of Galway, the Summit is an Associated Event of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026. Atlantic Summit Galway 2026 will bring together Europe’s leading ocean strategists, researchers, policymakers, innovators, and communities to shape the future of the Atlantic and Europe’s ocean research agenda.  Under the theme "Advancing Europe's Ocean Research, Innovation and Skills Agenda during Ireland's EU Presidency", the Summit will provide a unique forum for dialogue, collaboration, and strategic exchange at a pivotal moment for European ocean policy and international cooperation. The Atlantic connects us, it drives our economy, it shapes our climate and it holds enormous potential for Europe’s future. At a time of growing environmental, economic and geopolitical challenges impacting the Atlantic, the Summit will focus on several strategic objectives, including: Defining priorities and raising the ambition for the next chapter of Atlantic Ocean research and innovation; Advancing knowledge-based implementation of the EU Ocean Pact and Ocean Act; Accelerating innovation to strengthen Europe's competitiveness and global leadership in ocean science and technology; Addressing future capacity, training and skills requirements to support sustainable blue economy development. The Summit will convene senior representatives from the European Commission, national governments, research organisations, industry, regional authorities, civil society and international ocean initiatives, creating a unique opportunity to strengthen Atlantic cooperation, foster new partnerships and help shape future priorities for ocean research, innovation, and governance. At a time when ocean challenges increasingly transcend national boundaries, the Summit will provide a vital platform for collaboration across disciplines, sectors and countries, enabling shared solutions to shared challenges. Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute, said: “Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council falls during the second half of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. For many years Ireland has played a leading role in advancing Atlantic Ocean research and we are proud to make Galway the location yet again to set future ocean research and policy priorities. The Summit will help build the partnerships and solutions needed to address shared challenges for a healthy, resilient, and productive Atlantic Ocean." Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said: "As Europe looks to address increasingly complex ocean challenges, robust scientific knowledge and evidence-based decision-making have never been more important. Atlantic Summit Galway 2026 will provide a vital platform for connecting research, policy and practice, helping to inform future priorities for ocean sustainability, resilience, and innovation." Dr Orla Flynn, President of Atlantic Technological University, said: "The Atlantic region has enormous potential to drive sustainable economic growth, innovation, and societal benefit. Realising that potential will require investment in people, skills, and collaboration alongside research and technological advancement. Atlantic Summit Galway 2026 will bring together diverse expertise from across Europe and the wider Atlantic region to explore how we can build the talent, partnerships and solutions needed for a sustainable and competitive blue economy." Located on Europe's Atlantic seaboard, Galway is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence for marine and ocean science, research and innovation, making it an ideal location for this important gathering. The event represents a unique opportunity for ocean leaders to strengthen Atlantic cooperation and ensure that ocean policy remains at the forefront of Europe's competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience agenda. Over two days, participants will engage in a dynamic programme of keynote addresses, high-level policy dialogues, plenary discussions, and networking exchanges. The Summit will explore some of the most pressing opportunities and challenges facing Europe and the wider Atlantic region, including resilient coastal communities, the future of Atlantic economies, ocean observation and innovation, healthy and productive oceans, and the role of science diplomacy, governance and geopolitical change in shaping the future of the Atlantic. Reflecting the Summit's commitment to international cooperation and intergenerational engagement, the programme will also examine the future role of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance as a model for ocean science diplomacy, partnership, and collaboration across the Atlantic basin. At a pivotal moment for Europe's ocean agenda, the insights and recommendations emerging from the Summit will contribute to implementation of the EU Ocean Pact and Ocean Act and help inform Europe's future ocean priorities. The summit will build ambition among European decision-makers and stakeholders for stronger and more targeted investment in ocean research and innovation under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10). Pre-Register Now Atlantic Summit 2026 | Atlantic Summit 2026 Pre-registration is now invited from individuals and organisations seeking to contribute to discussions shaping Europe's ocean future. To ensure balanced representation across policy, research, industry and society, places will be allocated through an application process. Given the strong level of interest anticipated from across Europe and beyond, prospective participants are encouraged to submit their applications early. Ends

Imeacht idirnáisiúnta tábhachtach á reáchtáil i nGaillimh chun todhchaí an Taighde Aigéin AE agus Atlantaigh a mhúnlú Inniu d’fhógair Foras na Mara, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh, le tacaíocht ón Roinn Ardoideachais agus Breisoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta, an clár agus thug siad cead do dhaoine réamhchlárú do Chruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026. Beidh an t-imeacht ar siúl ar an 8-9 Deireadh Fómhair 2026 in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus is Imeacht Gaolmhar le hUachtaránacht na hÉireann ar Chomhairle an Aontais Eorpaigh 2026 é an Cruinniú Mullaigh. I láthair ag Cruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026 beidh straitéisithe, taighdeoirí, déantóirí beartais, nuálaithe agus pobail aigéin aitheanta a bheidh ag díriú ar thodhchaí chlár oibre taighde aigéin an Atlantaigh agus na hEorpa a mhúnlú.  Bunaithe ar an téama "Clár Oibre Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Scileanna Aigéin na hEorpa a Chur Chun Cinn i rith Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar an AE", beidh an Cruinniú Mullaigh ag feidhmiú mar fhóram speisialta do phlé, comhoibriú agus malartú straitéiseach ag uair chinniúnach chomh fada is a bhaineann le beartas aigéin agus comhar idirnáisiúnta Eorpach. Cruthaíonn an tAtlantach nasc eadrainn ar fad, cuireann sé dlús lenár ngeilleagar, múnlaíonn sé ár n-aeráid agus baineann féidearthachtaí go leor leis chomh fada is a bhaineann le todhchaí na hEorpa. Ag tráth ina bhfuil níos mó dúshlán comhshaoil, eacnamaíoch agus geopholaitiúil le sárú, a bhfuil tionchar acu ar an Atlantach, i rith an Chruinnithe Mullaigh díreofar ar roinnt cuspóirí straitéiseacha lena n-áirítear: Tosaíochtaí a shonrú agus an uaillmhian a mhéadú don chéad chaibidil eile de thaighde agus nuálaíocht a bhaineann leis an Aigéan Atlantach; Dlús a chur le cur chun feidhme eolasbhunaithe an Chomhshocraithe Eorpaigh um an Aigéan agus an Ghnímh Eorpaigh um an Aigéan. Dlús a chur le nuálaíocht chun iomaíochas agus ceannaireacht dhomhanda na hEorpa i réimse na heolaíochta agus na teicneolaíochta aigéin a threisiú. Díriú ar cheanglais acmhainne, oiliúna agus scileanna a bheidh ann amach anseo chun tacú le forbairt inbhuanaithe an gheilleagair ghoirm. I láthair ag an gCruinniú Mullaigh beidh ionadaithe sinsearacha ón gCoimisiún Eorpach, rialtais náisiúnta, eagraíochtaí taighde, an tionscal, údaráis réigiúnacha, an tsochaí shibhialta agus tionscnaimh aigéin idirnáisiúnta, rud a chiallóidh go mbeidh deis ar leith ann chun comhar Atlantach a threisiú, comhpháirtíochtaí nua a bhunú agus tosaíochtaí a bheidh ann amach anseo a bhaineann le taighde, nuálaíocht agus rialachas aigéin a mhúnlú. Tráth a bhfuil dúshláin aigéin ag sárú teorainneacha náisiúnta, soláthróidh an Cruinniú Mullaigh ardán ríthábhachtach do chomhar i ndisciplíní, earnálacha agus tíortha difriúla, rud a thacóidh le réitigh roinnte ar dhúshláin roinnte a fhorbairt. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag An Dr Rick Officer, POF Fhoras na Mara: “Tá Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar Chomhairle an AE ag tarlú i rith an dara leath de Dheich mBliana na Náisiún Aontaithe um an Eolaíocht Aigéin ar mhaithe leis an bhForbairt Inbhuanaithe. Tá ról ceannaireachta ag Éire le fada an lá chomh fada is a bhaineann le dlús a chur le taighde ar an Aigéan Atlantach agus tá áthas orainn go mbeidh an Cruinniú ar siul i nGaillimh arís, cruinniú a bhfuil sé mar aidhm leis tosaíochtaí taighde agus beartais aigéin na todhchaí a shocrú. Deis a bheidh sa Chruinniú Mullaigh chun cur leis na comhpháirtíochtaí agus réitigh atá ag teastáil chun déileáil le dúshláin roinnte ionas gur féidir linn a chinntiú go mbeidh an tAigéan Atlantach sláintiúil, athléimneach agus táirgiúil." Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh David Burn, Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: "Ó tharla go bhfuil iarracht á déanamh ag an Eoraip déileáil le dúshláin aigéin atá ag éirí níos casta an t-am ar fad, tá níos mó tábhachta ag baint anois ná riamh le heolas eolaíochta stuama agus le cinnteoireacht atá bunaithe ar fhianaise. Is ardán a bheidh i gCruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026 chun taighde, beartas agus cleachtas a nascadh, a chabhróidh chun bonn eolais a chur ar fáil do thosaíochtaí a bheidh ann amach anseo i gcomhthéacs na hinbhuanaitheachta, na hathléimneachta agus na nuálaíochta aigéin." Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag An Dr Orla Flynn, Uachtarán Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh: "Tá go leor féidearthachtaí ag baint le réigiún an Atlantaigh chomh fada is a bhaineann le dlús a chur le fás eacnamaíoch inbhuanaithe, nuálaíocht agus tairbhe shochaíoch. Ionas gur féidir tairbhe a bhaint as na féidearthachtaí sin beidh gá le hinfheistíocht i ndaoine, scileanna agus comhar mar aon le taighde agus forbairt theicneolaíoch. I láthair ag Cruinniú Mullaigh Atlantaigh na Gaillimhe 2026 beidh saineolaithe éagsúla as ar fud na hEorpa agus réigiún an Atlantaigh trí chéile chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar an tslí is féidir linn cur leis an gcumas, na comhpháirtíochtaí agus na réitigh a bheidh ag teastáil chun tacú le geilleagar gorm inbhuanaithe agus iomaíoch." Suite ar bhord farraige Atlantach na hEorpa, tá cáil idirnáisiúnta ar Ghaillimh mar ionad bairr feabhais don eolaíocht, taighde agus nuálaíocht mhuirí agus aigéin, rud a chiallaíonn nach bhféadfaí áit níos fearr a roghnú chun an Cruinniú seo a eagrú inti. Is ionann an t-imeacht seo agus deis ar leith do cheannairí aigéin chun comhar Atlantach a threisiú agus a chinntiú go mbíonn beartas aigéin i gcroílár chlár iomaíochais, inbhuanaitheachta agus athléimneachta na hEorpa. Thar thréimhse dhá lá, beidh deis ag rannpháirtithe páirt a ghlacadh i gclár spéisiúil a bheidh bunaithe ar spreagaithisc, plé beartais ardleibhéil, plé iomlánach agus malartú líonraithe. I rith an Chruinnithe díreofar ar chuid de na deiseanna agus dúshláin is práinní atá le tabhairt faoi deara san Eoraip agus i réigiún an Atlantaigh go ginearálta, lena n-áirítear pobail chósta a bhfuil teacht aniar iontu, todhchaí gheilleagair an Atlantaigh, breathnóireacht agus nuálaíocht aigéin, aigéin shláintiúla agus tháirgiúla, agus ról na taidhleoireachta eolais, an rialachais agus an athraithe gheopholaitiúill i dtodhchaí an Atlantaigh a mhúnlú. Ag teacht le tiomantas an Chruinnithe Mullaigh do chomhar idirnáisiúnta agus do rannpháirtíocht idirghlúine, mar chuid den chlár déanfar scrúdú freisin ar ról Chomhghuaillíocht Taighde agus Nuálaíochta Aigéin Uile-Atlantaigh mar shamhail do thaidhleoireacht, comhpháirtíocht agus comhoibriú eolaíochta aigéin ar fud imchuach an Atlantaigh. Ag tréimhse chinniúnach chomh fada is a bhaineann le clár aigéin na hEorpa, cabhróidh an léargas agus na moltaí a dhéanfar i rith an Chruinnithe le cur chun feidhme an Chomhshocraithe Eorpaigh um an Aigéan agus an Ghnímh Eorpaigh um an Aigéan, agus cabhróidh siad freisin le bonn eolais a chur ar fáil do thosaíochtaí aigéin na hEorpa amach anseo. Spreagfaidh an Cruinniú Mullaigh uaillmhian chinnteoirí agus pháirtithe leasmhara Eorpacha ionas go ndéanfar infheistíocht níos láidre agus níos spriocdhírithe i dtaighde agus nuálaíocht aigéin faoin gcéad Chreat Airgeadais Ilbhliantúil (CAI) eile agus faoin gcéad Chlár Réime um Thaighde agus um Nuálaíocht (CR10) eile. Réamhchláraigh Anois Cruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh 2026 | Cruinniú Mullaigh an Atlantaigh 2026 Is féidir le daoine agus le heagraíochtaí ar mian leo cur leis an bplé a bhfuil todhchaí aigéin na hEorpa á mhúnlú aige réamhchlárú anois. Chun ionadaíocht chothrom a chinntiú chomh fada is a bhaineann le beartas, taighde, tionscal agus sochaí, leithdháilfear áiteanna trí phróiseas iarratais. Bunaithe ar an leibhéal spéise a bhfuiltear ag súil leis ar fud na hEorpa agus in áiteanna eile níos faide i gcéin, moltar do rannpháirtithe a gcuid iarratas a chur isteach go luath. Críoch

Researchers have developed an implant that could deliver next generation therapies for ovarian cancer precisely where it is needed while simultaneously monitoring how the disease responds.  The project was carried out by a team at CÚRAM, the Research Ireland Centre for Medical Devices based at University of Galway, along with the collaborators from the University of Minnesota, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Wyss Institute.  The research has been set out in the scientific journal Device. It showed how the team developed a flexible, porous implant which is designed to sit inside the peritoneal cavity - the space surrounding the abdominal organs in a woman’s body where ovarian cancer predominantly occurs. The device is designed to connect to an external port through the skin, so it can be replenished with therapeutic agents as often as needed, without requiring further surgery.  Dr Aoibhín Sheedy, PhD graduate with CÚRAM at University of Galway and lead researcher on the project, said: "One of the most frustrating aspects of treating ovarian cancer is that we know localised delivery of therapy works better, but the tools we've had until now weren't built for the job. We designed this implant with ovarian cancer patients in mind. We wanted an implant that can deliver living cell therapies repeatedly, reliably, and with real precision to the tumour site."  Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at late stages, as symptoms such as bloating, pain and pelvic pressure are non-specific and can be overlooked. Treatment often involves surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, but currently targeted treatment and effective methods of detecting reoccurrence of the disease are impossible. There is a critical need for new therapeutic approaches for ovarian cancer.  The implant is made from a flexible biomaterial that conforms naturally to the body's internal contours, its porous membrane allows therapeutic cargo to diffuse gently and evenly into the surrounding tissue, reducing the risk of mechanical complications.  In preclinical studies, the implant remained fully functional for up to 70 days with zero implant-related complications and showed significantly greater control of the tumour over time, compared to conventional treatments. The team have designed this implant to deliver living cell therapies, the most challenging type of therapy to delivery, but it could be used to deliver a range of cell or non-cell based therapies.  Dr Martin Felices, co-senior author Associate Professor in Medicine at the University of Minnesota, said: "The tricky part about working with novel therapies, such as immunotherapies, in the setting of ovarian cancer is that repeated delivery is done with outdated materials that are not designed for this setting. It is also very difficult to sample through these systems. The delivery system, created by Dr Dolan's laboratory, allows for safer repeated delivery of cellular and biologic therapies in the context of the peritoneal cavity. It also allows us to sample the effects of those therapies in the tumour microenvironment in real-time, which is extremely exciting."  A key feature of the implant is its monitoring capability. By applying gentle suction through the same external port, a sample of fluid can be drawn from inside the peritoneal cavity during treatment, without any additional procedure.  Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at University of Galway Dr Eimear Dolan, and co-lead on the research, said: "What excites us most is the two-way nature of this approach. It doesn't just deliver living cell therapies, it lets us create a picture of what's happening inside the peritoneal space. Clinicians could use this to track how the immune cells are performing, whether the tumour is responding, and then adapt treatment accordingly. That kind of real-time intelligence is something we've never had access to before in this setting."  The researchers envision that the implant would be put in place during initial surgery that patients undergo to remove as much tumour tissue as possible, allowing it to then address any residual disease in the weeks and months that follow. The ultimate aim would be to leave the implant in long-term, to allow for local monitoring of disease recurrence and early retreatment if required.  Professor Melissa Gellar, Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Associate Director of the Clinical Research Masonic Cancer Centre at the University of Minnesota and co-lead on the research, said: “This work represents a shift in how we think about treating ovarian cancer, bringing therapy directly to the disease site while simultaneously learning from the tumour microenvironment in real time which provides important insight to guide precision care."  The research also highlights the exciting possibilities of cross disciplinary research and while further studies are needed before this approach reaches clinical trials, the team of engineers and clinicians believe its versatile design could ultimately benefit patients with other peritoneal cancers, including gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic disease.  The full paper is available at https://www.cell.com/device/fulltext/S2666-9986(26)00002-5  Ends