Bernal Institute Members Secure Over €1.5 Million in Funding for ‘High-Risk, High-Reward Projects’
Professor Daniel Granato and Associate Professor Shalini Singh have been awarded more than €1.5 million in funding under the prestigious Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme. The funding will support their groundbreaking, high-risk, high-reward research projects, which have the potential to make a significant impact in their respective fields.
Bernal Member Professor Daniel Granato, from UL's Department of Biological Sciences, has been awarded €727,520 for his APPLE-BIO project. This project will focus on creating innovative, functional dairy beverages using bioavailable compounds extracted from Irish apple pomace, targeting the link between obesity-related inflammation and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, Bernal Member and Associate Professor Shalini Singh, from the Department of Chemical Sciences, has received €819,775.20 for her NANOABZ project, which aims to accelerate the discovery of new semiconductor nanocrystals through advanced colloidal synthesis methods.
The Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future Programme provides funding to researchers engaged in innovative and collaborative research with the potential for transformative societal and economic impact. It also fosters opportunities for high-risk, high-reward projects with the promise of significant breakthroughs.
Professor Granato's APPLE-BIO Project
The APPLE-BIO project addresses the growing public health concern of obesity by focusing on dietary fibre consumption, which is alarmingly low across Europe. The project will use polyphenols and fibre extracted from Irish apple peels—a by-product of apple processing—encapsulating them into functional dairy beverages. Through cutting-edge research, the team will study the effects of these apple compounds on inflammation and oxidative stress, offering insights into healthier food alternatives. The project also supports the environmental sustainability of Ireland’s agroindustry by promoting circularity in food production.
Associate Professor Singh's NANOABZ Project
Associate Professor Singh’s NANOABZ project will explore the discovery of novel ABZ nanocrystals with potential applications in a range of technological fields. By using a combination of experimental and computational approaches, the project will explore reaction kinetics, surface chemistry, and structure-property relationships to identify previously unknown, functional materials that could revolutionize semiconductor technology. This innovative research is poised to accelerate the discovery of non-toxic, earth-abundant nanocrystals that could serve as alternatives to traditional semiconductor materials.
A total of 40 projects, collectively worth €26 million, are being funded under the programme, spanning 12 research institutions across Ireland. The initiative reflects Ireland’s commitment to supporting cutting-edge research in fields ranging from health and sustainability to technology and material science.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, praised the selected projects, stating:
"I am pleased to announce the Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future projects, which support high-risk, high-reward research endeavours. The selected projects, spanning 12 research institutions, bring fresh and innovative ideas that will help boost business and benefit society."
Celine Fitzgerald, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Research Ireland, added:
"The Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future programme helps to build research capacity, expertise and reputation. This latest round of grants will support a diverse range of research positions and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas."
Other projects receiving funding include groundbreaking research into gene therapy for spinal cord injuries, climate science, childhood neurological disorders, electric vehicle battery technologies, and biosensors for food printing.
Discover more about Professor Daniel Granato's and Associate Professor Shalini Singh's research
