UCD innovator awarded for medtech commercialisation work

The rapid integration of AI into healthcare devices raises ‘fresh ethical questions’, says Eoin O’Cearbhaill.

Dr Eoin O’Cearbhaill is the most recent recipient of the NovaUCD Innovation Award, a recognition given to those with success stories in commercialising research emerging from University College Dublin (UCD).

O’Cearbhaill is an associate professor in biomedical engineering at the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, where his research focuses on developing minimally invasive medical technologies for diagnosing and treating disease.

He is also the director of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, and leads the UCD Medical Device Design Group within the centre, which aims to address clinical needs by developing novel medical devices with real-world applications.

The research group has assisted in the creation of spin-out companies LaNua Medical, Latch Medical and Lia Eyecare, and has filed more than a dozen patents.

O’Cearbhaill has also been a member of multiple Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund projects. He is a funded investigator with Research Ireland Centres Cúram and I-Form, and has consulted with a number of businesses including Boston Scientific, NeoGraft Technologies, Johnson & Johnson and CroíValve.

“A major focus of my work has been translating research from the lab into technologies that can ultimately improve patient care, including through university spin-outs and collaborations with clinicians, researchers and industry partners,” O’Cearbhaill tells SiliconRepublic.com.

What inspired you to become a researcher?

I was fortunate to grow up with parents who were always supportive of education and curiosity. Rather than one defining moment, it was a gradual realisation that research offered the opportunity to contribute something new.

Some time spent working in the medical device industry was also influential, as it gave me a practical understanding of how engineering can directly improve patient care. It showed me the importance of developing technologies that are not only innovative, but manufacturable, reliable and capable of making a real clinical impact.

Can you tell us about the research you’re currently working on?

Our research focuses broadly on minimally invasive technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ideally, we begin by identifying an unmet clinical need, often in partnership with clinicians, and then develop practical device concepts that could address it.

My own expertise is in mechanical-based design, but coming up with the best solution relies on teamwork. We work closely with experts in electronic engineering, materials science, pharmaceuticals and clinical medicine, both internal and external to our group, to bring the right mix of skills to each challenge.

Research rarely follows a straight line. Sometimes a technology developed for one purpose reveals an unexpected opportunity elsewhere. Being able to adapt and pivot is often essential if we want to maximise the chances of clinical translation and real patient impact.

Why is your research important?

Biomedical engineering research can improve lives directly through better diagnostics, smarter treatments and less invasive procedures. It also plays an important economic role. Research attracts talented people from around the world, helps build high-value industries, and creates the environment where the next generation of Irish start-ups can emerge.

Ireland has the ingredients to become a global leader in next-generation medtech if we continue to invest in talent, translational research and entrepreneurship.

What commercial applications do you foresee for your research?

My team and I have been fortunate to work with talented researchers and entrepreneurs who have already spun technologies out of UCD with the support of NovaUCD, into companies.

These innovations span areas such as microneedle-based drug delivery, tumour treatment technologies and device-based therapies for dry eye disease and include spin-outs such as Latch Medical, LaNua Medical and Lia Eyecare.

Medical devices require robust regulation, quality systems and clinical validation, so the path to commercialisation can be challenging. But when successful, it enables research discoveries to become real products that can benefit patients at scale.

UCD Medical Device Design Group. Image: University College Dublin

What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a researcher in your field?

One of the biggest challenges is attracting and retaining outstanding talent. PhD researchers and postdoctoral fellows are central to scientific progress, so it is important that stipends and salaries remain competitive with industry, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis.

Another challenge is the rapid integration of AI and smart technologies into healthcare devices. This creates exciting new opportunities, but also raises fresh technical, regulatory and ethical questions.

Are there any common misconceptions about this area of research?

People sometimes assume that creating a medical device is only about designing the hardware and now, particularly the software in next-generation smart devices. In reality, one of the most important challenges is understanding how that device interacts with the body over time.

We are particularly interested in the interface between implantable or wearable devices and surrounding tissue. Understanding that relationship is critical if we want devices to function reliably and safely over the long term.

What are some of the areas of research you’d like to see tackled in the years ahead?

There is enormous opportunity in remote patient monitoring, technologies that enable more outpatient procedures, and devices that shorten recovery times.

These kinds of innovations can improve patient experience while also helping healthcare systems manage growing demand more efficiently.

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