Engaging communities impacted by our research

At FutureNeuro, we work closely with national advocacy and patient organisations to support public awareness, meaningful engagement, and research-informed policy in neurological health. These partnerships help ensure our research is shaped by both scientific expertise and the lived experiences of people affected by brain conditions. 

Working with organisations including the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, Epilepsy Irl, MS Ireland, Dravet Syndrome Ireland, CDKL5 Ireland, TSC Ireland, and FND Ireland, we share research advances while building our understanding of public and patient priorities. Below are examples of these collaborations in action. 

Brain Awareness Week

FutureNeuro is proud to partner with the Neurological Alliance of Ireland to contribute to Brain Awareness Week, an annual initiative that promotes greater understanding of the brain and neurological conditions, while highlighting the importance of investment in services, research, and prevention. Explore our activities from previous years below. 

Epilepsy Research Matters

Epilepsy Research Matters is part of FutureNeuro’s ongoing commitment to making epilepsy research accessible, relevant, and shaped by the needs of those it aims to serve. Public and patient engagement is central to our work, and these events provide an important space for researchers, people with epilepsy, families, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to come together and share knowledge. 

In 2025, FutureNeuro once again partnered with Epilepsy Ireland to host an in-person Epilepsy Research Matters event, showcasing the breadth of epilepsy research currently taking place across Ireland. We were delighted to welcome RTÉ broadcaster and columnist Rick O’Shea as host for the evening, guiding audiences through a varied and engaging programme. 

The event featured a mix of in-depth and short ‘flash’ presentations from FutureNeuro researchers and collaborators, covering topics including seizure monitoring and detection, women’s health and epilepsy, genetics, brain stimulation, traumatic brain injury, and the development of new technologies to support epilepsy care. Together, the talks highlighted how multidisciplinary research is advancing understanding and treatment of epilepsy across the lifespan. 

This built on the success of our 2023 event, which featured a multidisciplinary panel discussion on future priorities in epilepsy research and the importance of lived experience in shaping research directions. We were pleased to welcome Dr Peter Widdess-Walsh, Consultant Neurologist at Beaumont Hospital, as keynote speaker, sharing updates on developments in epilepsy treatment. Explore the presentations from our 2023 event here. 

Supporting Patient Advocacy Conferences 

FutureNeuro actively supports and participates in patient advocacy conferences, recognising the importance of creating meaningful spaces where researchers, clinicians, people living with brain conditions, and advocacy organisations can connect. By contributing talks, panel discussions, and accessible research updates, our researchers help ensure that lived experience informs scientific priorities and that emerging research is shared in ways that are relevant and empowering for patients, families, and carers. 

Pint of Science 

FutureNeuro engages with diverse public audiences through initiatives such as Pint of Science, bringing neuroscience research into informal, community-based settings. In 2026, Dr Ronan Lordan, NeuroAdapt MSCA Fellow at FutureNeuro, will take on the role of Co-Director of Pint of Science Ireland, reflecting our commitment to open, accessible science communication. In previous years, FutureNeuro early-career researchers have delivered talks on topics including the blood–brain barrier, genomics, and electrophysiology, encouraging dialogue, curiosity, and public trust in brain research beyond traditional academic spaces.