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UCC and HSE SW Academic Health Sciences Symposium highlights the importance of collaboration in healthcare
Academic Health Sciences Partnership: Transforming Services through Innovative Healthcare Solutions
As part of UCC Innovation Week 2025, on April 10th, the College of Medicine and Health (CoMH) at University College Cork (UCC) hosted Academic Health Sciences Partnership: Transforming Services through Innovative Healthcare Solutions.
This symposium brought together colleagues from UCC, HSE South West, community and industry partners to explore how research and innovation can be more deeply embedded in healthcare delivery. For more information on Innovation Week, visit UCC Innovation Week 2025.
The symposium featured four presentations showcasing innovation at various levels of the healthcare system:
- The national HSE Spark Innovation Programme, empowering frontline staff to address challenges through design-led innovation.
- Health Innovation Hub Ireland's role in supporting commercially viable health technologies.
- A collaborative project between the Traveller Visibility Group, APC Microbiome Ireland, and UCC’s School of Public Health, presented by Mary Cronin and John O'Sullivan.
- The development of the Change & Innovation Hub in the South West, focusing on system transformation and inclusive care models.
A key takeaway from the event was the emphasis on fostering a culture of research and innovation within the HSE, with collaboration between academic institutions and industry partners identified as a crucial foundation. Participants highlighted the importance of creating environments that encourage such a culture, including co-location and aligned priorities, to lay the groundwork for a future Academic Health Sciences System in the South West region.
The symposium was opened by Professor Helen Whelton, Head of CoMH and Chief Academic Officer of HSE South West, concluded with remarks from Professor Gerard O’Keeffe, Vice Head for Research and Innovation at CoMH, and was moderated throughout by HSE Director of Research, Professor Denis O’Mahony. A thoroughly engaging panel discussion featured insights from Kevin Morrison and Fearghal Grimes, Portfolio Management Leads at HSE South West Strategic Transformation Office; Caitriona Heffernan, SPARK Innovation Lead at HSE; Tanya Mulcahy, Director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland; and Professor Geraldine Boylan, Director of the INFANT Research Centre and Professor of Neonatal Physiology at UCC.
This event underscored CoMH's commitment to strengthening academic-clinical partnerships, fostering a culture of innovation, and ultimately improving patient care through collaborative efforts.