CORA
Cork Open Research Archive (CORA) is UCC’s Open Access institutional repository which enables UCC researchers to make their research outputs freely available and accessible.
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Whole-body metabolic modelling and its prospects in precision nutrition
(Cambridge University Press, 2026-05-21) Nap, Bram; Thinnes, Cyrille C.; Thiele, Ines
Nutrition has long been investigated with respect to its influence on human health. With the availability of various omics data, such as metagenomics and metabolomics, novel insights have been obtained into the influence of nutrition, particularly concerning the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome plays an important role in the breakdown of food-derived compounds and in producing essential bioactive metabolites required for human health. However, this wealth of information made the interactions between nutrition and human health increasingly intricate, and unravelling these links is complex. This review covers the concepts of genome-scale metabolic modelling as a tool to understand the links between nutrition, the gut microbiome and human metabolism and its applications. Genome-scale metabolic modelling treats metabolism as a mathematical problem which was used to develop models of human metabolism that incorporate physiology and organ-specific metabolism, known as whole-body metabolic models (WBMs). WBMs can incorporate physiological data, such as sex, weight, and body fat percentage, as well as nutrition in the form of its metabolite constituents. Finally, the gut microbiome can also be incorporated through a mathematical representation of the species present, based on stool metagenomics. WBMs have already been applied to understand gut microbiome–host co-metabolism in various non-communicable diseases. However, challenges remain, as metabolites measured in food items in public databases typically cover only common metabolites, and engagement with end-users such as nutritionists and policymakers is limited. Nevertheless, WBMs represent a promising step towards digital metabolic twins and thus personalised nutrition and medicine.
Connecting early career researchers and policymakers
(Paradigm Publishing Services, 2026-06-01) Walsh, Kieran A.; Bamford, Connor G.G.; Doorley, Karina; Dowdall, Niamh; Farrell, Emma; Farrell, Niall; Kelly, Dervla M.; McMahon, Jennifer; Western, Agata; Wycherley, Niamh
Evidence-based policy-making refers to the practice of developing policies that are grounded in objective and rigorous evidence rather than ideology or anecdotal information. This approach prioritises the use of data, research findings and evaluations to inform decision making processes in public policy (Baron, 2018). Policy-making is complex. Researchers can make valuable contributions to the policy making process, for example by helping with policy design, by measuring the effectiveness of policy interventions and by disseminating findings to a wider audience (Ruane, 2025). Often policymakers are not specialists in particular sub-disciplines and can therefore benefit from linking in with researchers with relevant expertise. Internationally, there is increasing recognition of the importance of using the best available evidence to address societal challenges, particularly since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic where the situation changed quickly, evidence was emerging rapidly and there was a need to make informed decisions in real time, and to combat mis- and dis-information (Global Commission on Evidence to Address Societal Changes, 2022). In Ireland, the role of the National Public Health Emergency Team during the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of where a national, centralised structure was rapidly set up to provide recommendations to government based on available knowledge and expertise, with researchers from different disciplines playing a key role (Doyle, 2021). For Northern Ireland, as part of the approach across the United Kingdom (UK), the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies provided centralised scientific and technical advice to support government decision-making throughout the pandemic.
An audit of adherence to National Cancer Care Programme chemotherapy regimens and prescribing standards in systemic anti-cancer therapy prescriptions in an Irish hospital
(Oxford University Press, 2024-01-01) Carroll, Sinead; Murphy, Kevin
The availability and usage of systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) has increased significantly over recent years. Whilst SACT has undeniably benefited patients, it also poses a challenge to patient safety as the number of cytotoxic drugs increases. The National Cancer Care Programme (NCCP) has set out to design and implement national policies and practices for oncology medicine in Ireland in order to maintain high levels of patient safety.This study aims to evaluate adherence to NCCP national SACT regimens and prescribing standards at an Irish hospital.This study was a prospective analysis involving an audit of SACT prescriptions for adherence to NCCP regimens and prescribing standards. The study was conducted from June 6th to June 30th 2023; the cohort was defined as patients who were receiving cancer services’ treatment from the medical oncology and haematology department at the hospital. The data collection tool was developed using template in the NCCP Oncology Medication Safety Review Report 2014. A report was run to identify outpatient patients who received SACT on each working day. For inpatients, a daily scheduling Excel file was consulted. Prescriptions were evaluated to complete the data collection tool. Anonymised data was captured and the results were collated to show any trends in adherence to NCCP regimens and prescribing standards. Descriptive analysis of patient and clinical characteristics was performed.Pharmacy prescription records of all patients who received SACT during the four-week study period were analysed. A total of 410 SACT prescriptions were reviewed. The median patient age in the study cohort was 59 years (range 23-93 years). Overall, 86.3% of the audited prescriptions adhered to NCCP regimens. The oncology department exhibited a higher adherence rate of adherence to NCCP regimens compared to the haematology department (89.2% versus 82.3%). Melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, renal cell, prostate, sarcoma, and bladder cancer all had 100% adherence. The lowest adherence rates occurred for CNS (25%), mesothelioma (50%), leukaemia (76.5%), and metastatic colorectal cancer (77.3%). Only 7% of prescriptions were written on pre-printed forms. In this audit, over 98% compliance was observed for eleven of the twenty-four NCCP prescribing standards in the 410 prescriptions: including patient name, patient date of birth, diagnosis, name of supervising consultant, protocol/regimen name, name of drug(s), dose in mg or mg/m2, route of administration, signature of the prescriber and date prescribed. Areas for improvement identified include information about ward/clinic, renal/hepatic function, start date, cycle numbers and medical council numbers.This is the first audit of adherence to NCCP regimens using prescription data in Ireland, and the inclusion of 410 samples is a strength; however, the data are from a single site. This study has highlighted areas for improvement in prescribing practices. It emphasises the need for further multidisciplinary team education on adherence to NCCP regimens and prescribing standards. Healthcare professionals should ensure that pre-printed SACT prescription forms are used where available. Additionally, the use of regimen-specific pre-printed forms should be expanded.
An Internet of Sounds sonification prototype
(2025-01-01) Roddy, Stephen
This demo paper presents an overview of the design of a research prototype for the sonification of sensor-level data in the context of an Internet of Sounds network. After a short introduction and justification, the prototype design is presented in terms of its constituent subcomponents.
Exploring homophobia and transphobia in primary schools in Ireland
(University of Limerick, 2017-01-01) Neary, Aoife; McEvoy, Eileen; Iriwn-Gowran, Sandra; Horizon 2020