Kerry based researcher, Dr Joanna Tierney from the Dept of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Shannon ABC, Munster Technology University (MTU) Kerry Campus was presented with the MTU Commercial Invention of Year 2021 at this year’s virtual ceremony.

The MTU Invention of the Year awards is an annual event that takes place as part of Innovation and Enterprise month at MTU.  The awards recognise and acknowledge the work and effort that staff have put into their invention declarations during 2021 and to encourage researchers to engage in the research commercialisation process.  MTU researchers submitted 20 invention disclosure forms (IDFs) to the Innovation and Enterprise Office during this time period. The IDFs were judged by an external panel - Dr Declan Weldon, Director of Innovation and Engagement from University of Glasgow and Dr Paul Dillon, Director of Technology Transfer Office, from University of Limerick.  Each submission was judged based on several criteria: scientific merit, innovative factor, development stage, potential benefit to society, marketability and patentability.

Dr Tierney’s work on the control of coccidiosis in poultry, funded by an Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund, earned her the award. Coccidiosis is caused by Eimeria protozoan parasites and is an important disease in poultry and neonates in animal farming. It causes diarrhoea, weight loss, emaciation, and in extreme cases, death. The invention employs natural, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial, immune-modulating and anti-oxidant activities as an alternative to the current industry treatments in use today for coccidiosis control.

Speaking about the award, Dr Tierney said "I’m delighted to receive this award, and I’m grateful to Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and MTU for their support over the last few years. I’d like to thank my colleagues at Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre, the Department of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the research office team in MTU. I would like to acknowledge and thank the people who I’ve worked with over the years on this project; Drs Michelle Ryan, Joanna Przyborska and David Kelly. Our work on developing an alternative coccidiosis control solution is critically important as poultry is set to become the world’s most consumed meat protein and poultry producers face increased pressure to control this parasite disease which contributes to significant economic loss as reflected in poor weight gains and reduced feed conversion."

The Commercial Invention of Year award was presented to Dr Joanna Tierney recently by the President of MTU, Professor Maggie Cusack. Another award was presented at the ceremony for MTU Technical Invention of the Year 2021. This was awarded to the CAPPA (Centre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis) project, PIXCAN.