Driving solutions which focus on prevention, equity, and continuity of care

“Green background graphic showing the Taighde Éireann Research Ireland logo and the text ‘Innovating in Health and Wellbeing Challenge.’ A hand holds a glowing circle labelled ‘WELLBEING,’ surrounded by simple green icons connected in a ring.”

Blog 1 minutes 13 February 2026

Following review by an international panel of experts, seven projects have been awarded over €2.1million funding under the Research Ireland – Innovating in Health and Wellbeing Challenge.

This Challenge programme was developed to support novel, potentially disruptive, ideas to drive affective, scalable and sustainable solutions that address complex health and wellbeing challenges in Ireland.

Ireland’s healthcare system is undergoing a critical transformation, underpinned by the need to embrace a whole-system, life-course, person-centred approach to healthcare, that addresses the wider foundational factors of health and wellbeing. Research and innovation are cornerstones of Ireland’s strategic approach to improving healthcare design and delivery, providing better health and wellbeing services, promoting long and healthy lives for all, and reducing health inequalities across the population.

Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO, Research Ireland, said:

Through the Innovating in Health and Wellbeing Challenge, we are empowering research teams to take bold, interdisciplinary approaches to some of the complex issues facing our healthcare system. Together, these seven projects will address the health and wellbeing needs of diverse population groups – from infants & children to older adults, and individuals with chronic conditions – reflecting the programme’s ambition to create better health outcomes for everyone.

These projects have the potential to reshape care pathways, improve outcomes, and ultimately contribute to a better healthcare system for all. We are proud to support these teams at the start of their journey and look forward to seeing their progress over the coming months.

Challenge-based funding is designed so that research teams work to develop a solution for a specific problem in collaboration with key stakeholders. Interdisciplinary research teams funded under this programme will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders in the sector, including but not limited to healthcare professionals, patients and patient groups, policymakers, educators, and businesses, to ensure they are solving the right problem and developing the best solution.

Teams receiving funding are as follows (alphabetical by project title):

Lead: Dr Paul D’Alton, University College Dublin; Co-Lead: Professor Brian O’Donoghue, University College Dublin and Societal Impact Champion: Louise Mullen, National Cancer Control Programme, HSE

Lead: Dr Stephen Behan, Dublin City University; Co-Lead: Dr Deepu John, University College Dublin and Societal Impact Champion: Barry Horgan, Sport Ireland

Lead: Dr Adnan Elahi, University of Galway; Co-Lead: Professor Martin O’Halloran, University of Galway and Societal Impact Champion: Mark O’Donnell, Croí, The West of Ireland Heart & Stroke Foundation

Lead: Dr Daniel Murphy, Dublin City University; Co-lead: Dr Silvana Togneri MacMahon, Dublin City University and Societal Impact Champion: Alana Ward, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

Lead: Professor Caitriona Lally, Trinity College Dublin; Co-Lead: Dr Larisa Florea, Trinty College Dublin and Societal Impact Champion: Professor Michelle Flood, PPI Ignite Network Lead, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Lead: Dr Kellie Morrissey, University College Cork; Co-Lead: Dr Brendan O’Flynn, Tyndall National Institute and Societal Impact Champion: Susan O’Driscoll, Cork University Maternity Hospital

Lead: Dr William Farrelly, Atlantic Technological University; Co-Lead: Dr Martin O’Neill, Atlantic Technological University and Societal Impact Champion: Luke Gavigan, Riada Care Irish nursing home and healthcare group

The Innovating in Health and Wellbeing Challenge is a structured programme with three phases: Concept, Seed and Prize. During the initial Concept Phase, the teams will be supported to develop a deeper understanding of the challenge/problem they have identified via extensive stakeholder engagement and to explore the feasibility and viability of the solution they propose. The selected teams, upon successful progression through the Concept and Seed Phases, will have the opportunity for additional funding in the final phase of the programme, where prize funding of €1million will be on offer to the most competitive team.

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