Eight Trinity researchers receive Irish Research Council Awards

Posted on: 07 April 2021

Eight Trinity researchers have received awards from the Irish Research Council. The funds will support projects across diverse issues, including those affecting carers, senior citizens and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on wellbeing.

The awardees are:

AmandaPhelan Exploring experiences of carers in the Covid 19 pandemic
Damien Brennan The Social Contract for Care Provision in Ireland
Eve Patten Community Engagement Praxis for Research in the Arts and Humanities
Geraldine Foley Mutual support between patients and family caregivers for decision making in palliative care
Iracema Leroi Investigating COVID-19-related loneliness and social isolation in carers of people with brain health challenges in Ireland.
Katy Tobin Understanding the needs and caregiver burden among family caregivers of people with FASD in Ireland.
Simon McCarthy-Jones The right to freedom of thought in the 21st century
Tamasine Grimes Public and patient involvement with a descriptive qualitative study to explore household medication safety among people who are caring for those who are cocooning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2015, over 200 community, voluntary and charity organisations have engaged across various Irish Research Council programmes, 278 projects have been funded with an associated investment in excess of €6.5 million.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD said:

“These research collaborations are helping with some very important community and voluntary sector projects. I welcome the highest ever number of funding awards being made by the Irish Research Council to support these research collaborations with the community and voluntary sector. This vibrant sector plays such an important role in supporting different groups in society, including the more vulnerable or marginalised. Through partnerships with researchers, such as the projects announced, diverse community organisations can bring new evidence and insights to enhance their services and impact for those that need them.”

The New Foundations scheme also includes strands supported by government departments and agencies. In each of the past three years, a dedicated strand of the call provides opportunities for researchers to work on important areas of policy, including global development, crime, creativity and children.

Commenting on the funding partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Irish Research Council, Peter Brown said:

“The ongoing partnership between the Irish Research Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs under this programme is very welcome and continues to build a pipeline of research collaborations for future projects that support enhanced cooperation between the global north and global south, focusing on innovative responses to global challenges within the framework of the 2030 agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Extending partnerships with government departments and agencies is a key action under the Irish Research Council’s Strategic Plan 2020-2024. As the Covid-19 pandemic has shown, the expertise of researchers across diverse disciplines is a valuable resource for policy. Accordingly, we are also delighted to be announcing today the New Foundations awards made under strands funded by the Creative Ireland Programme; the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and the Department of Justice, respectively.”

The New Foundations scheme will run again this year and further information is available here.

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Sabina Eberle, Media Relations Officer | eberles@tcd.ie | 086 067 9315