Episode 08 Innovation in Healthcare podcast series

“Vaccination as a tool continues to excite me and to sort of offer up really innovative, novel, effective, safe solutions to these horrible diseases.”

In this episode, Prof Samuel McConkey, Head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the RCSI, and Consultant in General Medicine, Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Beaumont Hospital Dublin, and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, discusses the transformative potential of vaccination for human health, with Priscilla Lynch, Clinical Editor of the Medical Independent, and International Center for Journalism Health Innovation Journalism Fellow.  

Prof McConkey is Chair of the board of the European Vaccine Initiative, a leading European non-profit partnership that supports global efforts to develop effective and affordable vaccines against diseases of poverty and emerging infectious diseases that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. 

In this podcast, he highlights the successes of vaccination in tackling a huge range of diseases, and discusses the exciting ongoing advancements in new vaccination technology, such as mRNA vaccines, and their potential for preventing and treating cancers like melanoma and autoimmune diseases. 

In addition, Prof McConkey emphasises the importance of ensuring access to vaccines for those who need them the most, particularly in low-income countries, and highlights the challenges of vaccine rollout in very rural and conflict-affected areas. 

The conversation also touches on the importance of trust, communication, and sustained funding and support in advancing vaccine research and development.

This project was funded by the International Center for Journalists through the Health Innovation call.

In this episode, we host our first joint interview, featuring the two co-leads of the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI), a unique initiative that brings together cancer researchers and clinicians from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Prof William Gallagher, Professor of Cancer Biology at University College Dublin; and Prof Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen's University Belfast, speak about innovation in oncology research, and the fascinating journey of how AICRI came about, its successes to date, and the various areas it is working in.

The conversation highlights several key themes in oncology research and innovation, including the impact of environmental factors on cancer, the importance of further commitment to cancer prevention, the need for interdisciplinary research, as well as an increased focus on cancer survivorship and quality of life, the significance of international collaborations, and the use of data in driving advancements in cancer research and patient care. 

Prof Lawler and Prof Gallagher also share their personal journeys in oncology research and the motivation behind their work, emphasising the importance of collaboration, inclusivity, and patient-centred research. 

Their joint interview highlights the need to break down silos and work together to address the challenges in cancer care.

Episode 06 Innovation in Healthcare podcast series

“…It's been a pleasure really to be in this area, such an exciting area and even in my short window of 15 or 20 years involved now, so many things have changed, so many things for the better in my opinion and there's a greater acceptance. So it was the challenge, the innovation, looking forward. It had everything you wanted [as a specialty] from my point of view.” - Prof Dominic A. Hegarty

In this episode we interview Prof Dominic A. Hegarty, Consultant in Pain Management and Neuromodulation at the Orthopaedic and Spine Centre, Mater Private Hospital, Cork. 

Prof Hegarty has specialised in pain management for over two decades and is recognised as one of the country’s foremost interventional pain management doctors, who is constantly developing new techniques to deal with the most complex cases of pain. 

He co-founded the Division of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine in Cork University Hospital and South infirmary and Victoria Hospital in Cork, before joining the Mater Private Hospital Cork where he was appointed as Clinical Director in 2023. Prof Hegarty is also the first formal Professor in Pain Medicine at University College Cork, the current President of the World Institute of Pain, and Clinical Director of Pain Relief Ireland.

In this podcast interview, Prof Hegarty discusses the key challenges in pain medicine, and how innovation and being open to new technologies is vital in achieving better outcomes for patients.

In particular, he discusses the evolution and success of neuromodulation and implantable devices for various pain conditions, the appropriate use of different classes of analgesics to manage pain, and the different approaches in the private and public sector.

“I think we need to collaborate not only in health; I think I get a lot of my good ideas from friends and colleagues that work outside medicine and health –  engineers, computer people, business people who look at the health issues from a totally different perspective. So I think the more we can maybe step out of our comfort zone a little bit and interact with people outside pure medicine, really helps to innovate a lot.” - Prof Mary Horgan

Episode 05 innovation in Healthcare podcast series

In this episode we interview Prof Mary Horgan, one of Ireland's best known infectious diseases specialists and medical education leaders, who was recently appointed by the Government to lead the design of a new emerging health threats agency. 

Prof Horgan is currently Professor of Infectious Diseases at University College Dublin, and recently completed her second term as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the first female in this role since its establishment in 1654, and she is a former Dean of the Medical School in University College Cork.

During her career, Prof Horgan has spearheaded the development of many medical education initiatives in Ireland, alongside a distinguished clinical and research career. Prof Horgan's work to date in this field has been instrumental in reversing the downward trend in the uptake of the HPV vaccine, being heavily involved in Ireland’s Covid-19 pandemic response, and also in tackling the HIV epidemic in Ireland.

Truly a career dedicated to innovation in infectious diseases, medical education and public health.

In this podcast, she discusses what attracted her to infectious diseases, the importance of clear and ongoing communication about public health issues, and how collaboration is key for innovation and protecting public health.

Prof Doug Veale passed away in May 2024. RIP.

- Doug Veale

In the latest episode of our Innovation in Healthcare podcast series, Priscilla Lynch interviews Prof Doug Veale, one of Ireland's leading translational researchers in rheumatic disease, whose ground-breaking work is renowned internationally in the areas of early inflammatory arthritis, and autoimmune diseases including scleroderma.

Prof Veale is a Consultant Rheumatologist at St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, and a Principal Investigator at the Conway Institute for Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, at University College Dublin (UCD).

He set up the only EULAR centre of excellence in Ireland with a broad research team, funded by peer-reviewed grants from a range of national and international sponsors. Prof Veale has also been deeply involved in advancing patient-centred rheumatology care and research in Ireland, and has a long established relationship with Arthritis Ireland.

He recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Society for Rheumatology, where his impressive list of clinical and research achievements were honoured during a dedicated dinner ceremony, which attracted a full room of colleagues from across the country, the UK, and Australia. 

In this podcast, Prof Veale discusses what attracted him to rheumatology, details his many firsts in clinical practice, research, and healthcare advocacy, his professional research partnership with Prof Ursula Fearon, and how his latest innovative research is looking at the prevention of rheumatic and autoimmune disease.

“MS has gone from being a disease where we could do very little except use steroids in the context of a relapse and hope that the relapse would get better, to really effective disease-modifying therapies, at least for the relapsing remitting form of the disease. So even in the space of my professional lifetime, we've seen a disease that was really very frightening for people and associated with a lot of uncertainty and the likelihood of a lot of disability, to a condition where people live their lives really well, with minimal disability because the treatments are so good now. So, you know, I think that's been a really exciting part of my career as well, to look at diseases where this has really been happening and being able to be part of that story and then working in diseases where we know that could happen if we work hard enough to do it.” – Prof Orla Hardiman

In this episode we interview Prof Orla Hardiman, one of Ireland's leading researchers in neurodegenerative diseases whose ground-breaking work is renowned internationally in the field of motor neurone disease.

Orla is Professor of Neurology at Trinity College Dublin and head of the Academic Unit of Neurology housed in Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, as well as a practicing Consultant Neurologist in Beaumont Hospital Dublin. Having just completed her term as HSE Clinical Lead in Neurology, Orla now has almost 460 peer-reviewed papers to her name and has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards over the years.

In this podcast, she discusses what attracted her to neurology, details her many firsts in clinical practice, research, and healthcare advocacy, and reveals why she has no plans to take it easy anytime soon.

“You know, it's all about producing meaningful clinical input and scientific output. So all of the studies we've done so far have had direct patient benefit and have been published in the best journals because of that. And I think that's a really important thing to remember, that it starts with the patient and finishes with the patient.” – Prof Derek O'Keeffe

Takeaways from the conversation with Dr. Derek O'Keeffe and key points to consider:

1. Collaboration and Hive Mindset: Dr. O'Keeffe emphasises the importance of collaboration and teamwork, drawing an analogy from the honeybee hive. He highlights that working together as a collective is crucial for achieving better outcomes, and it's vital to acknowledge one's blind spots and embrace collaboration with experts from various fields.
2. Innovation From Clinical Problems: The conversation showcases how innovative solutions can arise from addressing real-world clinical challenges. The "diabetes drone" project and the use of quadruped robots stemmed from identifying critical medical needs and working towards creative solutions.
3. Patient-centred Approach: Throughout the conversation, Dr. O'Keeffe underscores the significance of putting patients at the heart of innovation. Involving patients in the development process, seeking their input, and tailoring solutions to their needs are essential for meaningful impact.
4. Digital Transformation and AI: The integration of technology, especially AI, holds immense potential in healthcare. The use of AI for analysing cough patterns to differentiate between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 coughs is an example of how AI can contribute to diagnostics and monitoring.
5. Public Patient Involvement (PPI): Dr. O'Keeffe discusses the importance of involving patients and the public in the early stages of research and development. Incorporating their insights ensures that solutions are practical, effective, and address genuine concerns.
6. Translational Research: The conversation highlights the value of translational research that bridges the gap between laboratory findings and real-world applications. Dr. O'Keeffe's lab focuses on ensuring that research directly benefits patients and contributes to clinical practice.
7. AI in Medical Practice: While acknowledging the potential of AI and large language models like ChatGPT, it's essential to consider the quality and accuracy of the data they rely on. Dr. O'Keeffe suggests that AI can enhance efficiency in medical practice, but it should only be integrated if it genuinely improves patient care.
8. Ethics and Veracity: It's crucial to address the ethical implications of AI and ensure that the information generated is accurate and reliable. Dr. O'Keeffe notes that while AI has immense potential, its application should be considered thoughtfully and responsibly.

The Medical Independent - Innovation in Healthcare Podcast: An interview with Prof Seamus Morris

In the first of our new podcast series on clinical innovation, we speak to Prof Seamus Morris. Prof Morris is Clinical Professor at University College Dublin School of Medicine, Consultant Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, and Director of Innovation at the Pillar Centre for Transformative Medicine in the Mater Hospital, Dublin.

Prof Morris talks to our host, Clinical Editor of the Medical Independent, Priscilla Lynch, about:

• The need for the Irish health service to develop innovative solutions;
• The value of design-thinking;
• Combining and using pre-existing technologies in novel ways;
• The processes required to attract investment;
• Nurturing an ecosystem at hospital-level that supports new projects;
• The benefit of a strategic national approach to innovation in healthcare.