Newry biologist takes her research to Parliament
Dr Maelíosa McCrudden, 34, from Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, is attending Parliament to present her biomedical research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges, as part of SET for Britain on Monday 7th March.
Maelíosa, now a postdoctoral research fellow at Queen’s University Belfast, was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to appear in Parliament.
Maelíosa’s poster on research about microneedle technologies will be judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind.
Microneedles are tiny projections on a plaster that take the sting out of injections as they can be used to painlessly deliver medications.
On presenting her research in Parliament, she said, “I’m delighted to have been afforded this opportunity to present some of the innovative research I’m involved in at such a prestigious event and venue.
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“I study microneedle devices, novel alternatives to regular hypodermic needle injections. As an early career researcher, I feel passionately about communicating my work to politicians and the public to make the work more accessible and to fully exploit its potential.
She added, “I look forward to meeting politicians, judges and other scientists and telling them about the exciting work we are carrying out at Queen’s University Belfast.”
Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, said, “This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers.
“These early career engineers, mathematicians and scientists are the architects of our future and SET for Britain is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.”
Maelíosa’s research has been entered into the Biological and Biomedical Sciences session of the competition, which will end in a gold, silver and bronze prize-giving ceremony.
Judged by leading academics, the gold medalist receives £3,000, while silver and bronze receive £2,000 and £1,000 respectively.
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