2025 JUN 29 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at
VerticalNews Health -- Tuesday, 10 June 2025: RCSI University of Medicine and Health
Sciences has announced the appointment of Professor Garry Duffy as the university's
30th Professor of Anatomy and Head of Department of Anatomy and Regenerative
Medicine.
Professor Duffy joins RCSI from the University of Galway where he was Professor of
Anatomy and Regenerative Therapies. Having previously served as Associate
Professor and Principal Investigator (PI) in RCSI's Department of Anatomy and Tissue
Engineering Research Group, he brings with him a unique combination of institutional
knowledge and a fresh leadership perspective to this new role.
With expertise spanning traditional anatomical sciences and translational medicine,
Professor Duffy's appointment supports RCSI's strategic focus on integrating excellence
in health sciences education with innovative, patient-centred research.
An award-winning educator and researcher, Professor Duffy has led numerous
innovations in anatomy teaching over the past 16 years and has secured over [Euro]65
million in research funding as PI and co-PI. As coordinator of three major EU-funded
projects (AMCARE, DRIVE and DELIVER), co-founder of two campus companies and
an experienced leader in technology transfer to major medical device companies, he
has a strong track record of translating scientific discovery into clinical and commercial
outcomes. His spin-out companies include FeelTect, which is developing remote
sensing technology to manage chronic wounds, and Fada Medical, which has
developed a novel infusion technology that extends cannula lifespan, that has been
shaped by the patient voice from its origin at patient innovation workshops.
His research has been published in leading journals including Science Robotics and
Nature Biomedical Engineering, with over 100 publications, a h-index of 41, and 57
patents / invention disclosures. Professor Duffy was named a 2024 Falling Walls Global
Winner in Life Sciences for pioneering work in soft robotic drug delivery systems. He
was recognised with the 2021 Science Foundation Ireland Prize for Industry Partnership
and was shortlisted for the 2023 Times Higher Education Outstanding Research
Supervisor of the Year.
Commenting on his new appointment at RCSI, Professor Garry Duffy said: "My vision
as Chair of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine at RCSI, is to build on our
distinguished heritage of anatomical education and research by enhancing how we
teach and study the human body. We will integrate cutting-edge technologies, including
dynamic imaging and anatomical simulation, into our teaching while pioneering research
that bridges classical anatomy with regenerative medicine."
"By combining our traditional strengths in clinical anatomy with emerging fields such as
tissue engineering, MedTech and soft robotics, we will position RCSI as a global leader
in understanding not just how the body is structured, but how it can be rebuilt and
regenerated for the benefit of patients."
Professor Cathal Kelly, Vice-Chancellor, RCSI congratulated Professor Duffy on his
appointment: "I am delighted to welcome Professor Garry Duffy back to RCSI as
Professor of Anatomy and Head of the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative
Medicine. Professor Duffy is an exceptional academic leader whose career has been
defined by innovation, collaboration and impact. His unique combination of anatomical
expertise and pioneering research in regenerative medicine brings with it huge
potential for the translation of impactful health technology that will drive improvements in
human health worldwide. I am confident that under his leadership, the department will
continue to advance excellence in teaching and innovative research at the frontiers of
regenerative medical science."
In previous leadership positions, including Vice Dean of Research Innovation and
Graduate Studies at the University of Galway, Professor Duffy helped secure
record-breaking research funding, launched new innovation programmes, and played a
role in establishing the Institute for Clinical Trials and the Institute for Health Discovery
and Innovation.
Professor Duffy previously held roles at RCSI from 2008-2016 during which he was a
Fullbright Scholar and Visiting Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School and MIT. He
holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering Sciences and a First Class Honours BSc in
Anatomy from the University of Galway.
Alongside his appointment at RCSI, Professor Duffy will retain a role at the University of
Galway as Professor of Health Technology Innovation. Professor Duffy succeeds
Professor Clive Lee who retires as Professor of Anatomy this month.
ENDS
About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is ranked fifth in the world for its
contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, in
the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2024.
Founded in 1784 as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with responsibility for
training surgeons in Ireland, today RCSI is an innovative, not-for-profit, international
university exclusively focused on driving improvements in human health worldwide
through education, research and engagement.
RCSI is among the top 300 universities worldwide in the World University Rankings
(2025) and has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender
practice in higher education.
In 2025, RCSI will open a new public engagement space, dedicated to health and
well-being, at 118 St Stephen's Green in Dublin city centre. The space is designed to
engage the public in dialogue about living longer, healthier and happier lives through
dynamic events and exhibitions. Our aim is to bridge the gap between health sciences
research, professional expertise, and public understanding, empowering people to
make informed decisions about their health.
Visit the RCSI MyHealth Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a
range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their
knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to
better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in
their area of expertise.
Keywords for this news article include: RCSI, Biotechnology, Tissue Engineering,
Biomedical Engineering, Biomedicine, Bioengineering, Public Education, Health
Technology, Medical Technology, Health and Medicine, Regenerative Medicine
RCSI already has an active Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine department, now led
by Professor Garry Duffy, who’s got a lot of experience in research and working with
companies. He wants to make RCSI a global leader in regenerating the human body,
using things like tissue engineering, soft robotics, and medical tech to actually turn
discoveries into treatments for real people. But it’s not all easy—there’s the challenge of
getting enough funding, making sure what works in the lab works in patients, and
figuring out how to use these new technologies in teaching and in real clinical work.