As summer winds down, parents, guardians, and educators prepare for primary and secondary schools to reopen. This makes for a particularly timely moment to review the recently published research by the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Ireland team, which highlights health and social behaviours of children and young people. The HBSC study is a cross-national research effort that monitors health behaviours, health outcomes, and social environments of school-age children. The study is carried out every four years in countries across Europe, Canada, and Central Asia in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe. The HBSC Ireland team is based at the Health Promotion Research Centre here at University of Galway.

A former teacher from Ayr, Scotland, Derek Stewart was treated successfully for cancer of the larynx in 1995, and subsequently became involved in numerous aspects of patient involvement. Derek has made significant contributions to Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in research in the UK, holding many important roles over the years. He was awarded an OBE in 2006 for his services to health, and in particular to cancer care.

As part of our focus on University of Galway College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Executive Dean Professor Martin O’Donnell discusses the FutureCare strategy, which focuses on the development of new educational healthcare programmes and a new research institute.