In the News..

A research team from University of Galway has captured a rarely observed ocean mixing process during an expedition to the Greenland Sea, a finding that could improve our understanding of Arctic climate change. The research team spent several weeks at sea during the summer of 2023 aboard the Marine Institute’s research vessel RV Celtic Explorer, carrying out surface ocean measurements in one of the most remote and climate sensitive parts of the world. The team focused on a phenomenon known as cabbeling. This process involves the temperature and salinity (concentration of salt) in the ocean, which together make up the ocean density. Cabbeling occurs when two water masses with different temperatures and salinities, but the same density, are mixed together. The result is a denser mixture than either of the original water masses, a consequence of the non-linear behaviour of seawater. This denser mixture then sinks, triggering turbulence and vertical mixing. Cabbeling has important implications for melting Arctic sea ice as it can increase the amount of heat from below to the ocean surface. The study has been published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. To observe the cabbeling process, the team deployed a robotic instrument known as the Air-Sea Interaction Profiler (ASIP), which is a unique instrument specifically designed to study small-scale processes at the ocean surface. The ASIP is 2.8 metres in length, weighs about 90 kilograms, and is completely autonomous. Repeated dives and ascents by the robotic instrument carry its sensors through the upper 100 meters of the upper ocean, making fine-scale physical measurements including turbulence, temperature, and salinity. The results have implications for improving scientists’ understanding of cabbeling and its potential role in models of sea surface warming and Arctic ice loss, particularly as climate patterns shift. The Greenland Sea is expected to experience increased freshwater outflow from melting ice in a warmer climate, altering the regional dynamics. Understanding and incorporating the effects of cabbeling will enhance the accuracy of predictions of ocean heat transport, especially in polar regions where warming is accelerating and sea ice is in decline. The study was led by PhD candidate Kevin McGraw, Professor Audrey Morley and Professor Brian Ward from University of Galway, and took place along the East Greenland Polar Front, an area where cold, fresh Arctic water meets warmer, saltier Atlantic water.             Kevin McGraw, PhD candidate at the School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, said: “Cabbeling is rarely observed because it is sporadic and short-lived, with its intensity and reach varying across Polar Regions. Our underwater robotic platform, Air-Sea Interaction Profiler, is a unique instrument designed specifically to study the upper ocean without interference from the ship. Because it can capture rapid changes on the scale of seconds to minutes, it allowed the team to detect cabbeling in action which would have been nearly impossible with conventional methods.”             Professor Audrey Morley, Professor of Marine Geology at the School of Geography and Archaeology, University of Galway, said: “The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm water north and cold water south thereby distributing heat around the globe. Density gradients have been identified as a main driver of the AMOC, which may be altered by high-latitude cabbeling in a warming ocean. This suggests that the cabbeling effect needs to be considered to explain past and future AMOC variability.”             Professor Brian Ward, Professor of Ocean Physics at the School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, said: “These observations are a good example of the subtle processes associated with climate change and how small-scale processes can have broader implications. New methods of detection, such as the Air-Sea Interaction Profiler instrument, are required to fully understand the coupled ocean-atmosphere system.” The research highlights the importance of combining innovative ocean technology with field observations to improve our understanding of fine scale mixing processes that shapes regional and global climate patterns. The full study is available to read here: https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JC022567. Ends Media queries to pressoffice@universityofgalway.ie

University of Galway, Galway University Hospitals, LIfT BioSciences and Hooke Bio awarded funding from the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund   Clinical researchers are set to launch immune-cell therapy clinical trials aimed at tackling treatment resistance in solid tumour, supported by a €11.9 million grant from the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. The project is being spearheaded by a consortium from LIfT BiSciences, University of Galway, Galway University Hospitals and Hooke Bio. The funding award, announced by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D., is the largest single grant awarded by the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund to date, with €5.9 million in direct funding going to University of Galway. The consortium will launch the first-in-human clinical trials of a ground-breaking neutrophil-based cancer immune-cell therapy developed by LIfT BioSciences, a client of Údarás na Gaeltachta with an Irish base in An Spidéal, Co. Galway. Neutrophils are part of the first line of defence in the body’s immune response. The trial will focus on patients with metastatic cervical and head and neck cancer who have exhausted all standard treatments, including checkpoint inhibitors. Trials, which will be conducted at Galway University Hospitals, are expected to begin in 2026. The grant will support the clinical development of LIfT BioSciences’ next-generation cell therapy designed to overcome resistance in solid tumours, known as Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs). University of Galway will contribute its deep expertise in oncology and cell therapy clinical trials, as well as in translating laboratory research into clinical applications, including predictive biomarkers. Hooke Bio will provide advanced analytical tools to optimise and assess how patients respond to this novel therapy. The study will first establish the safe and effective dose of immune-cell cancer therapy and then combine this treatment with other immune-based therapies to overcome resistance to these cancer treatments observed in some patients.             Professor Sean Hynes, Consultant Histopathologist and Translational Cancer Researcher from University of Galway’s School of Medicine and Lead Academic of the award said: "In partnership with LiFT BioSciences and Hooke Bio, we are very excited about University of Galway and Galway University Hospital being at the forefront of delivering on new oncological cellular therapies by using neutrophils, the body's own first responders, in the fight against cancer and ensuring patients in the West of Ireland have access to such cutting edge treatments."             Professor Fidelma Dunne, Director of the Institute for Clinical Trials at University of Galway, said: “The Institute for Clinical Trials is proud to support this collaboration and look forward to working closely with Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund partners LifT BioSciences and Hooke Bio, and with academic and clinical colleagues at the University and Galway University Hospital. The programme will bring a new therapy to patients with an unmet critical need. This will be a truly inspirational journey from basic science to a first in human trial as we deliver this novel cell therapy to cancer patients.”             Dr Michael McCarthy, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Principal Investigator at University Hospital Galway, added: “Cancer remains one of the most complex and dynamic diseases. IMANs have the potential to overcome key limitations of current cancer treatments by activating both the innate and adaptive branches of the immune system. This dual stimulation enables a comprehensive anti-tumour response, representing a transformative advancement in cancer therapy. We are pleased to receive this grant in collaboration with LIfT and Hooke Bio, and we look forward to accelerating the clinical development of this groundbreaking immunotherapy."             Dr Andrew Finnerty Manager of the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland at University of Galway, said: “We at the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland (CCMI) at the University of Galway look forward to delivering on our cellular manufacturing role within this project.  The awarding of this The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund paves the way for CCMI to truly expand and develop as a manufacturing hub for cellular therapies and to deliver on this ground-breaking neutrophil immuno-cell therapy. This will build on our Good Manufacturing Practice certified status and proven track record on delivering clinical therapeutic products.”          HSE West and North West Regional Executive Officer Tony Canavan said: “One of the key priorities for the cancer programme across the west and north west region is to increase the number of patients participating in clinical trials and ensure that our communities have access to new and better therapies. This ground-breaking immunotherapy trial demonstrates the power of collaboration between academic, industry and healthcare partners to drive innovation in cancer research and to improve patient outcomes.” The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. It is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland. Ends

International citizen science project reveals streetlights are only one part of the growing light pollution problem, with residential and commercial lighting also playing major roles A major international citizen science project, with contributions from University of Galway, has revealed that streetlights are far from the only source of light pollution affecting our night skies. The study, published in Nature Cities, challenges the common assumption that streetlights are the primary contributor to urban light pollution and indicates that residential, commercial, and other non-street lighting sources play a significant role in brightening our night skies. Many of these sources remain on well after midnight, creating unnecessary light spill and contributing significantly to night-time skyglow and its environmental impacts. More than 250 citizen scientists, mostly located in Germany, used a mobile app called Nachtlichter (‘Nightlights’) to examine over 230,000 individual light sources during 3,868 night-time surveys.             The study was led by Christopher Kyba, former geographer at Ruhr University Bochum and the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, who said: “Both energy and lighting policy as well as research on the effects of artificial light on the environment have generally focused on street lighting. Our findings indicate that a broader approach that considers all lighting is necessary in order to understand and reduce the environmental impacts of light in cities.” The research has direct relevance for Ireland, where there is currently no national legislation or policy to mitigate light pollution. With the EU requiring member states to address light pollution through Nature Restoration Action Plans, these insights offer valuable direction for future policy. University of Galway researcher with the School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, Georgia MacMillan contributed to the study by coordinating surveys in multiple Irish locations around counties, such as Mayo and Galway, including the University of Galway campus.             Georgia MacMillan said: “Using the NightLights application to conduct pilot surveys for this project helped us to consider the different sources of light pollution. This is something we need to do on a larger scale in Ireland and we hope to use the application for future studies in collaboration with other Irish University campuses and community groups.” A Research Ireland Employment-based PhD Scholar, MacMillan is examining the role of dark sky tourism and community engagement in addressing light pollution, supervised by Dr Thérèse Conway and Professor Marie Mahon from the University’s School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies.              Dr Thérèse Conway said: “Through her role, Georgia has been instrumental in the successful bid by Dark Sky Ireland to host the Artificial Light at Night Conference (ALAN), which will take place in County Mayo later this year. It is the first time that Ireland will host this leading interdisciplinary event which will be attended by global specialists in light pollution and dark sky preservation such as Dr Christopher Kyba, lead author of the Nature Cities paper.” The full study in Nature Cities is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-025-00239-5 The Artificial Light at Night Conference will take place from 28-31 October 2025 at the Westport Woods Hotel, Mayo.  More information on the conference can be found at www.artificiallightatnight.org. Ends