Dr Ian Woods, StAR Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine and FutureNeuro Research Ireland Centre and Principal Investigator in the RCSI Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG), has been awarded a prestigious Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellowship.

Dr Woods is one of three exceptional early-career researchers in Ireland to receive the highly competitive awards. The fellowships provide a share of over €5.5 million in funding over eight years to support independent, high-impact research careers.

Congratulating Dr Woods on the award, Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, said: “We warmly congratulate Dr Woods on receiving this prestigious Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellowship. This award recognises Ian’s exceptional potential as a research leader and the innovative nature of his work in brain repair. It is also a significant milestone for RCSI, marking the first time the University has been awarded this highly competitive fellowship. We look forward to supporting Ian as he advances research with the potential to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.”

The Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellowship is a flagship initiative designed to identify and support outstanding scientists who have the potential to become future leaders in their fields. In 2025, a total of 39 fellowships were awarded to exceptional researchers across the UK and Ireland, enabling them to pursue ambitious, curiosity-driven research with the potential for significant societal impact.

Dr Woods’ research project, MX-REGEN, aims to develop an innovative approach to repairing traumatic brain injury (TBI), a condition that can result in long-term disability, including memory loss, chronic pain and impaired mobility.

Currently, there are no established treatments capable of directly repairing damaged brain tissue. Dr Woods’ work explores how electrical stimulation can be used to encourage the regeneration of neurons, critical cells responsible for brain function. He will use advanced 3D printing techniques to create tiny, implantable structures that deliver controlled electrical signals directly to injured areas of the brain.

These implants will combine conductive micro-scale materials with supportive biomaterials designed to reduce scarring and create a favourable environment for cell regrowth. By refining the design and understanding how different structures influence nerve regeneration, the project aims to develop a minimally invasive, injectable implant that could be delivered as part of a neurosurgical procedure.

This novel approach has the potential to transform treatment options for patients with traumatic brain injuries, offering a new pathway toward functional recovery.

Welcoming the announcement, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said: “As reaffirmed in our Strategy launched earlier this month, Research Ireland is committed to building a world-class environment where talent can pursue curiosity-driven research with real impact. Through this partnership, the Royal Society-Research Ireland University Research Fellowships are providing outstanding, early-career researchers with stability and resources they need to advance Ireland’s future, for the benefit of both economy and society.”