Category: News

New AI digital platform developed by an oncologist at University Hospital Galway is set to be a gamechanger in the delivery of clinical trial education and patient care

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Pictured Mr Michael McCarthy, a consultant medical oncologist at University Hospital Galway

8th May, 2023 Galway, Ireland – Mr Michael McCarthy, a consultant medical oncologist at University Hospital Galway, has developed a digital platform aimed at helping healthcare professionals keep pace with practice-changing studies, a key part of continuous medical education (CME) and professional development. Mr McCarthy approached Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) to help develop the platform, which uses AI to capture and analyse randomized controlled clinical trial reports.

The University of Galway has been awarded a Commercialisation Fund Feasibility Study grant from Enterprise Ireland to determine the commercial viability of Mr. McCarthy’s OncDB platform. The online platform is specifically designed to help clinicians, nurses, students, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to integrate up-to-date clinical trial data into their clinical practice, teaching, and training. It will reduce the burden of documenting CME activities, which is a statutory requirement for physicians to retain their Medical Council registration in Ireland and most developed countries worldwide.

The development of the OncDB platform has been made possible through the collaboration of a team of experts, including Conor McNally, ADAPT; Dr John McCrae, University of Galway; Thomas Melia, Enterprise Ireland (EI); HIHI, and the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) in University of Galway. Dr McCrae’s expertise in machine learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) will be critical to the development of the platform, while Mr. McCarthy’s understanding and experience in the area of clinical medicine has ensured that the platform meets the needs of healthcare professionals in the field.

Unlike competing solutions, the OncDB platform is specifically designed to address the difficulty of keeping pace with an accelerating rate of practice-changing publications experienced by healthcare professionals in public and commercial sectors. The platform is expected to provide significant efficiencies and time-saving for healthcare professionals, delivering value to both individual prescribers and institutions.

It is unique in offering AI-supported critical appraisal, rapid repackaging, and re-use of key learnings. It is also portable, providing access from the bedside to the clinic, the classroom, and the conference hall. The platform will provide authors with detailed user-engagement metrics for their published works, enabling wide-scale AI-supported peer-review of published clinical trials, and provide users with AI-driven tailored content suggestions to provide a 360° up-to-the-minute view of any declared field of user-interest.

Mr Michael McCarthy, consultant medical oncologist at University Hospital Galway and the developer of the platform outlined the benefits for patients and clinicians. “We believe this problem is worth solving because keeping up with the latest clinical trial data is crucial for healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care for their patients,” said Mr McCarthy. “By providing a digital platform that captures and analyzes randomized controlled clinical trial reports in real time, we can help clinicians, nurses, students, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals stay up-to-date with the latest treatments and therapies, ultimately improving patient outcomes. We want to test our assumptions regarding the appetite for such a platform in the broader medical and allied healthcare fields, as well as the likelihood of institutional adoption of our platform by public healthcare training bodies and in commercial sectors, and the financial value attachable to the efficiencies and time-saving that would be delivered by the platform.”

Dr Steven Griffin, Clinical Innovation Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland welcomed this new AI solution “We are excited to be supporting Mr. McCarthy and the team at the University of Galway in the development of this innovative digital platform. The potential benefits for healthcare professionals, patients and the broader medical community are clear. By enabling clinicians, nurses, students, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest clinical trial findings, this platform has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs and enhance professional development. We look forward to seeing the results of the feasibility study and the impact that this technology could have on healthcare in Ireland and beyond,” said a spokesperson for the Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

Dr John McCrae, Research Lecturer, University of Galway “As a researcher in natural language processing, I am excited to contribute to the development of this platform that aims to bridge the gap between clinical trial reports and healthcare practice. By leveraging AI and NLP, we can create a system that can efficiently”.

About HIHI

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) drives collaboration between the health service and enterprise. We offer companies the opportunity to pilot and/or participate in clinical evaluation studies to prove their products. We provide the health service access to innovative products, services and devices that they may not otherwise be exposed to. HIHI is built on the recognition that collaboration with enterprise can benefit patient care, patient pathways and outcomes. We assess all concepts for healthcare innovation from those on the frontline. We encourage healthcare professionals to get in touch with HIHI if they have an idea or solution to how something in your job might work better. HIHI was established by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Health and is supported by Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

About ADAPT – SFI Centre for Research in AI Driven Digital Content Technology

ADAPT, the world-leading SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, brings leading academics, researchers and industry partners together to deliver excellent science, engage the public, develop novel solutions for business across all sectors and enhance Ireland’s international reputation. Coordinated by Trinity College Dublin and co-hosted by Dublin City University, ADAPT’s partner institutions include University College Dublin, Technological University Dublin, Maynooth University, Munster Technological University, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, and the University of Galway.

About University of Galway Technology Transfer Office (TTO)

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) accelerates the impact of the University of Galway’s research and innovation by engaging with researchers, enterprises, government and society. The TTO enables engagement, collaboration, knowledge transfer, research commercialisation, and supports the region’s start-up and innovation ecosystem.

The TTO is the primary entrepreneurial support and intellectual property commercialisation function within University of Galway. The committed team has a strong sense of purpose and its remit is linked to strong metrics for the university. The team have a strong track record of leveraging funding, filing patents for novel technologies, collaborating with industry, and creating new companies and start-ups.

About Enterprise Ireland

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. They provide supports for early-stage innovations by funding, mentoring, and advising companies through their various programs. They offer a wide range of financial supports such as seed capital, venture capital, and equity funding for startups, as well as funding for product development and commercialization. Enterprise Ireland also provides access to a network of industry experts, mentors, and partners to help companies develop their products and enter international markets. They also provide resources and training to help entrepreneurs develop the necessary skills and knowledge to grow their businesses. Their goal is to help Irish companies to start, scale and succeed in global markets.

 

 

Health Innovation Hub Ireland invites you to a HIHI Speaker Event featuring Jos Knaapen “the Innovation figure” of Isala hospital in the Netherlands

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Spaces are limited so book now  https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/speaker-event-jos-knaapen-tickets-631468207407

About the Speaker

Jos Knaapen is the ‘Innovation Figure’ of Isala, one of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands. His main focus is making measurable improvements to patient care while making work more enjoyable for everyone. The results are numerous: the first medical drone in the Netherlands took off into the air in a meadow near Isala’s hospital in Meppel, Isala won the Dutch TopClinical Innovation Award with a VR-education tool focussed on recognizing and discussing violence ‘behind closed doors’ and using VR glasses as a tool to distract and manage pain in children during procedures.

In 2019 Jos took on the role of ‘coordinator innovation’ for the Dutch cooperative alliance ‘mProve’, in which seven clinical hospitals are united in their efforts to make Dutch healthcare future proof. In May 2023 he started the mProve FUNxLab, in which ‘functional’ technology (with an emphasis on ‘FUN’) for scarce healthcare personnel is the main focus. The FUNxLab’s ‘modus operandi’ is exchanging knowledge and inspiration, scaling up those interventions with measurable positive effect on productivity and job satisfaction, and ensuring dialogue with industry, education and health care insurers on new technology to support the hospitals for the future.

 https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/speaker-event-jos-knaapen-tickets-631468207407

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teleatherapy gets HSE approval after trials of its tech for Parkinson’s patients

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Blathnaid O’ Dea at the Silicon Republic recently highlighted Teleatherapy’s new tech for Parkinson’s patients.

Dr Tanya Mulcahy, Director Health Innovation Hub Ireland welcomed the news. “This is a great Irish product with the potential to impact Parkinson’s patients globally,” said Dr Tanya Mulcahy, director of the Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

HIHI recently worked with Teleatherapy to pilot their product with the HSE in Tullamore.

Teleatherapy recently raised €700,000 in pre-seed funding from Enterprise Ireland and private investors to grow its business.

Cork-based medtech start-up Teleatherapy has reached a significant milestone with its software performing well in clinical trials conducted by the HSE in Laois and Offaly.

Teleatherapy makes tech that helps provide speech therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease. In February of this year, the company raised €700,000 in pre-seed funding from private investors and Enterprise Ireland to expand its business.

The company has been working with the HSE and Health Innovation Hub Ireland to pilot its tech in a clinical setting in January. The HSE’s speech and language therapists trialled Teleatherapy’s platform on patients.

Teleatherapy’s founder Clare Meskill is herself a speech and language therapist. She founded the company to devise a tech-based product to make delivering care to Parkinson’s patients easier and more expedient.

Speech and language therapists can use Teleatherapy’s app to prescribe exercises to patients and monitor their progress.

Meskill, who founded the start-up in 2020, said that it was great the company could collaborate with the HSE “to build and improve the platform as we learn together”.

Of the speech and language therapists Teleatherapy worked with on the trials, she said that “their enthusiasm and dedication has been fantastic”.

Aoife Carolan, speech and language therapy lead on the pilot, said she had noticed improvements for patients and professionals alike.

Carolan has worked with Teleatherapy since 2022 to trial its tech in her department.

“I have noticed that clients are more motivated to practice consistently as they know their HSE clinician is monitoring the quantity, quality and frequency of their practice at home – with obvious results evident in terms of their speech function and less need for face-to-face routine reviews.”

She noted that the tech also helped with therapists’ caseload management. “There is good potential for waiting list reduction with an initiative of this nature. It also means there is more time during face-to-face sessions to focus on more complex or bespoke issues, outside of the daily therapy which we now know is being completed well and consistently with the aid of this app and the feedback it gives us.”

Following the successful pilot, Teleatherapy is now looking to work with other HSE clinics.

Read the full article here Teleatherapy gets HSE approval after trials of its tech for Parkinson’s patients (siliconrepublic.com)

 

St. James’s Hospital Dublin ICU Team develops new innovative medical device to tackle Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)

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ICU Team develop new healthcare solution that will change the lives of mechanically ventilated patients

Pictured left to right Consultant intensivist and Professor of Medicine in TCD Prof Ignacio Martin-Loeches and Emily Naylor Clinical Nurse Facilitator, St. James’s Hospital

5th April, 2023. Enterprise Ireland through Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin (TCD), is supporting a team from St. James’s Hospital Dublin, to assess the commercial feasibility of a novel medical device for tackling Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP). The team, consisting of two intensive care unit nurses (Emily Naylor and Beatriz Tejada Rios) and a consultant intensivist and Professor of Medicine in TCD (Prof Ignacio Martin-Loeches) who deal with the problem of VAP on a daily basis, have developed a novel and innovative solution to tackle this serious medical condition. The feasibility study will assess and map out the route to market for their product, with the ultimate aim of getting the product into the hands of clinical teams treating ventilated patients.

VAP is a serious healthcare problem that affects many ventilated patients with a high mortality rate and is associated with significant health and economic costs. The incidence rate of VAP is a common complication among mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units, with some studies reporting an incidence rate ranging from 5% to 30%. The total costs of VAP can include direct costs such as hospitalization, laboratory tests, and antibiotics and indirect costs such as lost productivity, decreased quality of life, and mortality. The cost of VAP has been reported to be substantial, with some estimates indicating that it can range from €40,000 to €50,000 per episode.

Emily and Beatriz identified VAP as a healthcare problem that could be minimised through innovative technology, along with Prof. Martin-Loeches, the team, worked with HIHI, a medical device designer to develop the concept. This was reviewed by TCD’s Technology Transfer Office for patentability, allowing for a patent to be filed on the design. The team will work with Associate Prof. Eduardo Ruiz-Hernandez, TCD, to develop a prototype.

With the patent on the way and a solid solution direction identified, Enterprise Ireland has supported these clinical innovators via their Commercial Case Feasibility grant, recognizing the potential of their solution to address this life-threatening condition in a meaningful way.

This project is a great example of the Irish clinical, academic, and government systems working together to support frontline healthcare innovators and improve patient outcomes.

Dr Steven Griffin, Clinical Innovation Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland welcomed this new solution to VAP.

“At Health Innovation Hub Ireland, we are committed to fostering innovation in healthcare and supporting the development of early-stage ideas into viable products. Emily Naylor previously worked with HIHI before returning to clinical practice in ICU Department of St James’- I like to think our innovation process rubbed off on her, but the reality is that frontline staff understand the problems better than anyone and between them the team at St James’ were driven to develop a solution to VAP. The collaboration with St. James’s Hospital Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and Enterprise Ireland on the development of a novel solution to tackle Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP) is a prime example of how Health Innovation Hub Ireland can support innovative thinking and bring positive change to the healthcare system. We are excited to see the potential impact this project can have on patient outcomes and the healthcare industry as a whole.”

Emily Naylor, Clinical Nurse Facilitator, St. James’s Hospital commented that: “The support from Enterprise Ireland is crucial in our efforts to tackle Ventilator-associated Pneumonia, a serious medical condition affecting many patients. Our team, in collaboration with the Health Innovation Hub Ireland and Trinity College Dublin, have developed a novel solution to address this issue and bring positive change to patient outcomes. With Enterprise Ireland’s funding and resources, we are confident in our ability to bring our innovative product to market and make a meaningful impact for patients, carers and the healthcare system”.

 

About HIHI

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) drives collaboration between the health service and enterprise. We offer companies the opportunity to pilot and/or participate in clinical evaluation studies to prove their products. We provide the health service access to innovative products, services and devices that they may not otherwise be exposed to. HIHI is built on the recognition that collaboration with enterprise can benefit patient care, patient pathways and outcomes. We assess all concepts for healthcare innovation from those on the frontline. We encourage healthcare professionals to get in touch with HIHI if they have an idea or solution to how something in your job might work better. HIHI was established by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Health and is supported by Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

About TCD – Technology Transfer Team at Trinity Innovation

The Technology Transfer Team at Trinity Innovation supports and enables the research community to translate innovative research excellence into outputs for maximum societal and economic impact. Commercialisation, intellectual property protection and knowledge transfer is an integral component of the technology transfer journey and is supported by Trinity Innovation. The team at Trinity are actively nurturing alliances with Hospital-based innovation initiatives – this project is a great example of a group of clinical professionals with an idea for a health innovation, connecting with Trinity Innovation resources to move the project forward in partnership

 About EI

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets. They provide supports for early-stage innovations by funding, mentoring, and advising companies through their various programs. They offer a wide range of financial supports such as seed capital, venture capital, and equity funding for startups, as well as funding for product development and commercialization. Enterprise Ireland also provides access to a network of industry experts, mentors, and partners to help companies develop their products and enter international markets. They also provide resources and training to help entrepreneurs develop the necessary skills and knowledge to grow their businesses. Their goal is to help Irish companies to start, scale and succeed in global markets.

 

 

Smart D8 Opens New Call for Pilots for Health and Wellbeing Demonstrator – Population Health, Positive and Healthy Ageing, and Connected Patients in the Community

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‘Smart D8’ is an urban demonstrator providing opportunities for indigenous and international innovators to investigate how smart technology and innovative approaches can be used to improve health and wellbeing in an urban population.

Today, Smart D8 announces the launch of a new call for pilots.

Smart D8 is looking to engage and collaborate with private companies, academics, healthcare providers and public organisations who want to demonstrate their innovative solutions with the local community.

The initial work of Smart D8 focused on significant community research to measure unmet population health and wellness needs.

Following on from this research, a number of pilot projects were actioned to directly respond to this community feedback. A range of innovations have already been rolled out with positive impacts on population health and wellbeing – reaching over 5,000 citizens in and around the Dublin 8 district, before scaling nationally. These initiatives include Heart of Our City which aimed at improving awareness around and management of cardiovascular disease in the community, Civic Dollars which enabled people to earn digital currency through spending time in local parks, and Ways To Wellbeing which boosted the wellbeing and mental health of elderly people by giving them the chance to connect with young people in their community in a meaningful way.

Smart D8 is now seeking applications for a new round of pilot projects focused on Population Health, Positive and Healthy Ageing, and Connected Patients in the Community to continue health and wellbeing innovation in Dublin 8 and beyond. 

Stephen Brennan, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at The Digital Hub and Chair of Smart D8, said:

“Smart D8 opens our third round of pilot project calls and is responding to real health and wellbeing needs of citizens in Dublin 8 and beyond – and looking for the best solutions to challenges in Population Health, Positive and Healthy Ageing, and Connected Patients in the Community. We are especially interested in working with those who want to demonstrate their products, services and research in real-world conditions.”

Jack Lehane, Smart D8 Ecosystem Manager, said:

“Community outreach has been at the heart of Smart D8 since its inception. This new call provides a great opportunity to expand this forward-looking approach to healthcare innovation. By providing access to communities and local infrastructures, we will provide a platform for innovation to thrive and taking a health and wellness approach will help reduce the number of people who get sick in the first place.”

The lead partners are joined in the Smart D8 consortium by the Guinness Enterprise Centre, HSE Digital Transformation, Tyndall National Institute, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Trinity College Dublin Research & Innovation, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, National College of Art & Design, and Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

Applicants can apply here at https://smartdublin.ie/smart-districts/smart-d8/

Health Innovation Hub Ireland launches another successful FemTech case study with Nua Surgical

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Nua Surgical founders Padraig and Marie Therese Maher and Barry McCann
NUA Surgical is a Galway based, start-up company dedicated to innovating in women’s health. The company, which is a spin-out from the University of Galway and BioInnovate Ireland, was founded in 2019 by Barry McCann (CEO), Marie-Therese Maher (COO) and Padraig Maher (CTO). They have developed the patented SteriCISIONTM C-section retractor, which aims to improve access and visualisation during caesarean surgery and provide multiple benefits to clinicians, patients and healthcare systems.
The Enterprise Ireland backed high potential start-up has been recognised nationally and internationally with multiple awards for its innovative approach to improving maternal health outcomes. These include overall winner of IntertradeIreland Seedcorn Competition (2020), EIT Health Headstart winner (2020), Parkview Health Global Maternal Health Innovation winner (2021), and overall winner at the National Start-Up Awards (2022).
NUA Surgical’s SteriCISIONTM retractor has been designed alongside obstetricians to answer their unmet needs when performing a caesarean delivery. It will provide superior access to the uterus, enabling hands free management of the surgical incision space and therefore reducing the opportunity for bacteria transfer into the wound. The self-retaining retractor will be provided as a sterile, single use disposable device which is also important to reduce the risk of infection.
Its ergonomic design enables easy, safe and fast retraction, mimicking the natural hand movements of the obstetrician and the soft-touch adjustable paddles cater for their visualization needs on each patient’s anatomy. Ultimately, SteriCISIONTM will provide suitable access and visualization for clinicians to safely deliver the baby, identify any bleeds and repair the uterus in a time-sensitive surgery.
Speaking on completion of the case study Barry McCann CEO of Nua Surgical spoke about working with HIHI.
“The insights are invaluable! We are grateful for the support of the HIHI team and are excited to be involved with their FemTech programme moving forward.”

Health Innovation Hub Ireland announces another successful case study with Gasgon Medical

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Gasgon Medical has developed a novel closed-system air trap, the AirVault. As a single-use device, AirVault is designed to provide a safe, easy and effective technology to prevent the impact of Air-in-Line, a common disruptor of infusion therapy, which will result in improved safety for patients and healthcare staff. Gasgon has just frozen its design so that it can focus on a multi-centre study designed to capture clinical evidence and contribute towards CE mark and FDA accreditation. Gasgon Medical approached HIHI to get feedback on its AirVault medical device from clinical experts to ensure it will meet the needs of healthcare professionals and their patients.

Through its clinical network, HIHI identified suitable clinicians to attend five focus groups in three different hospitals in Cork and Dublin. HIHI facilitated the focus groups, advised on the key questions which were addressed by over 35 experts in nurse practice development, nursing management, infection control,
oncology, pharmacy, quality risk management and biomedical engineering.

The company received valuable feedback and suggestions, which assisted them in the final design of the AirVault. The clinical feedback also highlighted other use-cases for this technology which HIHI is currently helping the company to explore.

Read the full case study here: https://hih.ie/downloads/case-studies/HIHI-case-study_Gasgon_Medical.pdf

Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) announces the launch of a pilot study in collaboration with Whyze Health Ltd at Blackrock Health Galway Clinic

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Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) announces the launch of a pilot study in collaboration with Whyze Health Ltd at Blackrock Health Galway Clinic

A new platform aims to deliver more informed prostate cancer treatment plans

As part of Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) Pilot Call 2022, HIHI is delighted to collaborate with WHYZE Health Ltd. and Blackrock Health Galway Clinic in a pilot study of WHYZE Health’s platform.

What is the platform and what does it hope to achieve? Through the WHYZE Health Platform, patient-reported outcomes and health data can aid the delivery of informed prostate cancer treatment plans, providing physicians with the necessary information to select the best treatment options for their patients. By analyzing these data systematically and in real-time, the portal allows for real-world outcome feedback to be provided to patients and their care teams for the first time. This, in turn, streamlines the care provided by physicians, reduces diagnostic timelines, and improves patient outcomes. The study aims to demonstrate the real-world evidence (RWE) power of patient-reported outcomes to improve health outcomes and quality of care.

Dr Tanya Mulcahy, Director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland welcomed the launch of the pilot. “HIHI is thrilled to work with WHYZE Health and Blackrock Health Galway Clinic to showcase the efficacy and value of the WHYZE Health Platform in a live environment. By giving patients more control over their care and streamlining treatment options for physicians, the WHYZE Health Platform has the potential to improve health outcomes and advance the transition to patient-centred healthcare”.

The platform tracks the patient’s progress and collects relevant RWE throughout the entire health cycle of the patient’s treatment plan, including follow-ups. This easy-to-use tool empowers patients to take control of their care, considering individual risk factors and desired outcomes for each patient. The benefits are that providers can share healthcare data with patients and allow online scheduling of upcoming appointments. Additionally, the platform drives a patient-centred transition to healthcare by bringing health and research opportunities directly to healthcare providers and patients, advancing global awareness of clinical trials, and enabling better health outcomes. Integration of digital technologies into hospital services is key to the connection and communication with patients and will be the future of healthcare.

Dr Steven Griffin, Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland, University of Galway explained the value of HIHI pilots to the healthcare system and to patients in Ireland. “These pilots highlight the benefits of novel solutions to patients, healthcare staff, and the healthcare system. In turn, successful pilots demonstrating value should be must-haves for modern patient-centred healthcare systems.”

 

Photo caption – From left to right: Prof. Frank Sullivan, CMO WHYZE Health and Director Radiation Oncology, Prostate Cancer Institute (NUIG) Blackrock Health, Galway Clinic; Phil Blackwell, Chief Technology Officer, WHYZE Health; Dr. Tanya Mulcahy, Director, Health Innovation Hub Ireland; Frances Abeton CEO, WHYZE Health; Evelyn Smyth, Interim CEO, Galway Clinic; Abby Langtry, Chief Patient Officer, WHYZE Health; Alyson Banks, Patient Safety Executive, Galway Clinic (Photo: Business Wire)

 

Dr Tanya Mulcahy talks to 96FM news about the HaPPE apron

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Listen back to Dr. Tanya Mulcahy’s interview with Mairead Twohig on 96FM News.

https://www.96fm.ie/news/96fm-news-and-sport/cork-entrepreneurs-create-sustainable-product/

A compostable PPE apron has been developed by two Cork entrepreneurs to tackle the single use plastic increase due to PPE usage during Covid.

According to the WHO, during the pandemic, plastic production more than doubled.

Dr Mary O’Riordan and Lisa O’Riordan created the HaPPE Apron which is CE approved and has been piloted at the South Infirmary in Cork.

The product was a winner of the Health Innovation Hub Ireland Open Call 2022.

Speaking to Cork’s 96FM & C103 News, Director of the Hub, Dr Tanya Mulcahy says pilots in other hospitals are planned.

Dr Mary O’Riordan says the product takes five weeks to degrade while the standard LDPE apron takes about 50 years.

Our news reporter Mairead Twohig has more

 

Irish start-up HaPPE Earth develops sustainable PPE for healthcare

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Irish start-up HaPPE Earth develops sustainable PPE for healthcare

New PPE apron has been trialled in Cork hospital

At the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital wearing the HaPPe apron: Charlotte Bennett, phlebotomist; Elaine Byrd, phlebotomist; and Niamh Allen, Health Innovation Hub Ireland clinical liaison and HSE clinical nurse manager.

Ciara O’Brien
Wed Feb 8 2023 – 17:58

An Irish start-up has developed a more sustainable alternative to traditional personal protective equipment (PPE) in a bid to help cut carbon emissions from healthcare.

The “green” PPE apron from HaPPE Earth is made from a proprietary resin that is composed of compostable bioplastics. It matches the safety parameters of current, medical Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) single-use aprons, is CE approved and suitable for use in healthcare.

It also produces lower levels of carbon emissions in its manufacture. Overall, the apron has a carbon footprint 75 per cent lower than a standard PPE apron, with no waste in the manufacturing process and using sustainable energy sources for production. Because it is compostable, it places less burden on the non-clinical waste services of hospitals.

Developed by Irish entrepreneurs Dr Mary O’ Riordan and Lisa O’Riordan, the HaPPE Apron is being piloted at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) in Cork, and a second trial is due to begin at Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin.

“To see our compostable apron being used by frontline staff in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and to get such support from the HIHI team was invaluable to us. It is through collaboration like this that we bring practical solutions to our health system,” the co-founders said. “We want to make an impact on sustainability within healthcare – the HIHI programme is extremely well organised and supportive, we were delighted to be part of it”.

The product was one of 11 winners of the Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) Open Call 2022, leading to the pilot assessment in Cork. Some 7,000 HaPPE Aprons were tested for wearability, acceptability, sustainability and durability, across the elective orthopaedic ward, the orthopaedic rehab ward and across the hospital catering and kitchen services.

“Worldwide, the healthcare sector is responsible for as much as 4.6 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. If Ireland is to make an impact, we need to look at innovative products that reduce carbon emissions while maintaining safety,” said Dr Tanya Mulcahy, director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland. “The HaPPE apron is safe, equivalent to current PPE and is addressing sustainability – it’s also Irish. I am delighted that HIHI and SIVUH have demonstrated that this is a viable option for Irish and global healthcare.”