Fourth day of Taoiseach’s visit to US sees New York healthcare leader honoured with St Patrick’s Day Medal
A new partnership between Ireland and the US will aim to deliver world-leading research, while fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Research Ireland and the US National Science Foundation have signed a five-year agreement that will create an international government-academia-enterprise partnership on both sides of the Atlantic.
The announcement, made on the fourth day of Taoiseach Michéal Martin’s St Patrick’s week trip to the US yesterday, will see the delivery of training programmes and early-career researcher supports to support the development a diverse talent pipeline, and a more connected research ecosystem between the two countries.
“Ireland and the US have a long-standing and deep collaboration in research, development and innovation – one that is greatly valued,” said Research Ireland deputy CEO Dr Ciarán Seoighe.
“This new partnership signed here today builds upon that and paves the way for the development of specific funding opportunities, coordinated peer review processes, joint conferences and workshops, staff exchanges to facilitate shared learning and develop dialogues, and alignment of larger investments, including collaboration on facilities.”
National Science Foundation director Sethuraman Panchanathan added: “We look forward to the partnership promoting knowledge transfer, innovation, and research and enterprise opportunities for both our countries across a range of priority sectors.”
The agreement comes as the Taoiseach presented the Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day Medal to Mr Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, and Prof Richard Kearney, Charles B Seelig professor in philosophy at Boston College.
The medal recognises the contribution of academic and industry leaders in the US across all disciplines, from science and engineering to the arts, humanities, and social sciences. These experts contribute to the research ecosystem in Ireland and to collaboration between research in Ireland and the United States.
At the presentation event in Washington, D.C., the Taoiseach congratulated the recipients, saying: “Their significant achievements in the fields of philosophy and healthcare respectively illustrate the exceptional work being carried out by the Irish research diaspora across the United States.
“The leadership and innovation of Prof Kearney and Mr Dowling have been impactful across diverse areas, from aiding peace agreements to improving healthcare access. The Government of Ireland and Research Ireland are delighted to support transformative research such as this, which has wide-reaching benefits across Ireland and the US.”
Prof Richard Kearney holds the Seelig Chair of Philosophy at Boston College and has served as a Visiting Professor at University College Dublin and the University of Paris. He is the author of over 30 books on European philosophy and literature.
Michael Dowling is one of the healthcare industry’s most highly respected voices. As President and CEO of Northwell Health, he oversees the largest healthcare provider in New York State, caring for over two million people annually through a network of 21 hospitals and over 900 outpatient facilities.
Mr Dowling has invested heavily in Northwell’s research arm, the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, transforming the treatment of conditions like lupus, arthritis, sepsis, cancer, psychiatric illness and Alzheimer’s disease.
Mr Dowling has also developed a novel approach to medical education, working on innovative medical school curricula and creating a corporate university. Throughout his career he has initiated numerous programmes to expand primary care access to medical care, particularly to those who are uninsured.
On receiving his award, Mr Dowling said: “In our work, it is vital to remain open to new knowledge. Partnerships with Irish companies continue to provide new perspectives that help to improve patient care in the US, Ireland and beyond. Maintaining close ties with Ireland continues to be of deep importance to my career.”
