Services lacking for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder A study by NUI Galway health economists, lead author, Áine Roddy, is pictured, left , shows 74% of children and adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder had unmet service needs in Ireland. The study provided the first assessment of the level and nature of unmet service needs of children and adolescents with an ASD as well as debt related to meeting needs of such families in Ireland. The study found that addressing unmet needs is complex and requires careful planning and commitment on behalf of policymakers regarding designing and delivering autism specific services which are lacking in the community. One in 65 people in Ireland have ASD and it is recognized as the most expensive condition internationally. Autistic people and their families face significant daily challenges due to social and financial isolation.
Áine Roddy, study’s lead author.
Reproductive flexibility in the Galway Bay jellyfish
Hydractinia, a type of jellyfish, produces eggs and sperm more flexibly than humans, according to an NUI Galway study. This type of jellyfish reproduces in a similar way to humans but does so far more flexibly, findings which may have implications for the study of human infertility. Most animals, including humans, generate germ stem cells—the exclusive progenitors of eggs and sperm—only once in their lifetime using a gene called Tfap2. Hydractinia also uses this gene but performs this process throughout its adult life. Professor Uri Frank explained: “This broadens our understanding of the issues affecting reproduction in humans. By looking at these genetically more tractable animals, we hope to understand core processes that control cells’ decisions in development and disease.” Read the full article at: science.sciencemag.org/ content/367/6479/757 .
NUI Galway rises in QS World University Rankings When it comes to leading global universities, NUI Galway continues to perform strongly and is now in the top 1% in the QS World University Rankings. At 238th in the world’s top 1,000 institutions, this confirms its position among elite educational institutions, placing it in the top 1% of universities in the world, and in the top 20% in the QS World Ranking. Since 2014 NUI Galway has moved up 42 places and continues to perform strongly in its international scores, reflecting the welcoming and vibrant population of Galway city. In particular, NUI Galway has improved substantively with regard to its academic and employer reputation internationally. “Excellence is a core strategic value of NUI Galway with an objective to respect and support the ambition of our students and staff so they are enabled to be excellent in their contributions to our communities.”—Professor Ó hÓgartaigh, President, NUI Galway. The full rankings can be found at www.TopUniversities.com .
A young female Hydractinia .
Germ stem cells are shown in red; developing eggs in green.
Image credit: Dr Tim DuBuc
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