Technology – Ideas in ALL

The ERC funded PatentsInHumans Project – Year One Project Report And Reflections!

Research Stream: Social Technologies

Authors: Professor Aisling McMahon, Principal Investigator (ERC PatentsInHumans Project) & Sinéad Masterson, Project Manager (ERC PatentsInHumans Project)

It is hard to believe that the PatentsInHumans Project has passed the one-year point having commenced in November 2022! And what a quick and busy year it was! Alongside recently publishing our Year 1 Report which gave us pause to reflect on the project, we were delighted to write this article for the IDEAS in ALL Blog to mark the first year of the project and to provide a snapshot of the research and other activities the PatentsInHumans team have undertaken during this time.

The PatentsInHumans Project:

PatentsInHumans Public Launch Event: An Overview

Social Lives

Authors: Professor Aisling McMahon, Principal Investigator (PI) & Sinéad Masterson, Project Manager, PatentsInHumans

Professor Aisling McMahon presenting to attendees — Professor Aisling McMahon

On 20^th April 2023, the PatentsInHumans team were delighted to host the public launch event for the European Research Council (ERC) funded PatentsInHumans project in Maynooth University. The event was attended by over 45 individuals, including, members of the public, students and academics working in a range of disciplines (including law, biology, political science and business), practising lawyers, and technology transfer specialists.

The PatentsInHumans project, based in the School of Law and Criminology and ALL Institute at Maynooth University, commenced on the 1^st November 2022 and is a large interdisciplinary five-year project. It is funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant and led by Professor Aisling McMahon. Alongside Professor McMahon, the PatentsInHumans team includes project manager, Sinéad Masterson, and postdoctoral researcher, Dr Opeyemi Kolawole. As the project develops, we will be recruiting more researchers to join the team in the coming months and years ahead.

Rapid Neonatal and Maternal Sepsis Detection in Resource Limited Environments

Social Technologies

Authors: Nicola Mountford, Assistant Professor, School of Business, Assisting Living and Learning Institute (ALL), Maynooth University and Sean Doyle, Professor, Department of Biology, Maynooth University

Neosepsis project logo, Sean Doyle, Nicola Mountford

Over 32,000 neonatal deaths occur per annum in Uganda, with sepsis accounting for 20% of this death rate – that’s 6,500 newborn babies who die of sepsis in just one country in the world. That’s not all, sepsis also accounts for almost a quarter of maternal deaths in Uganda. Our project, NEOSEPSIS, aims to reduce these numbers by introducing an easy-to-use, 15 minute lateral flow test to help to better diagnose sepsis in resource limited environments, such as Uganda.

The test detects Serum amyloid A, or SAA – a globally validated biomarker of sepsis. The lateral flow test used in this process is very similar to the type of antigen test that you might have used to help diagnose whether or not you had Covid-19. It is just as user-friendly, rapid, and equipment-free as one of those Covid antigen tests. This makes it particularly suited to environments where it might be difficult to take, store and transport samples.

Assistive Technology & Beyond: Benefits of Technology Supports for All Students in Higher Education

Stories/Lived Experiences

Author: Dr Ruchi Palan, Assistive Technology Specialist, Maynooth Access Programme (MAP), Maynooth University

Birdseye image of table with 5 laptops various handheld devices and headsets. People appear to be working and there is tea on the table also. — Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash

Technology advancement and innovation have reduced inequities in access to, and facilitated greater participation in, education for students with disabilities. In particular, assistive technology (AT) can significantly improve the overall educational experience of students with disabilities. Research has found a positive link between AT use and education and psychosocial benefits such as academic self-efficacy, increased well-being, adaptability, self-esteem, and competence. Hence, AT is not only an enabler but also serves to empower students with disabilities.

However, AT that is commonly associated as a support for students with disabilities can also benefit those without disabilities. At the same time, with advances in technology, mainstream technologies now offer many assistive features. There is arguably a shift in perception of what constitutes AT and who can benefit from it.

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