IdeasInALL – Ideas in ALL

Intellectual Property Injunctions over Health-Related Technologies: Balancing Patient Interests and Intellectual Property Rights

Research Stream: Social Structures

Author: Sharon Adedapo Research Assistant, PatentsInHumans Project, ALL Institute and Department of Law and Criminology

There are a range of different types of intellectual property rights (IPR), including patents which offer protection over inventions, copyright protection which can be used to offer protection to literary or artistic works, and trademarks which can be used to protect for example, certain commercial symbols, images associated with a product etc. There are also various justifications for different types of IPRs, however, in the case of patent rights a key rationale often relates to how such rights can offer an incentive to inventors to develop new inventions by enabling such inventors to gain recognition or financial benefits from their work. For instance, patents enable rightsholders to develop a financial return from a patented technology because patents are exclusive rights (granted for a minimum of 20 years). When granted a patent means the rightsholder can control various aspects such as the use, production, and sale of their inventions for commercial purposes. If others wish to use that patented technology for commercial purposes, they must seek permission or a license from the rightsholder, which is typically granted in return for payment or other exchange.

Pharmaceutical worker in gown, mask and gloves, preparing a large silver machine for work in pharmaceutical factory. Image credit: iStock — Image credit: iStock

Patents and Health

Patents are often seen as particularly significant in the context of health technologies, and within the pharmaceutical sector. This is largely due to the fact that the research and development process for new health-technologies can take several years, and is a costly process that requires significant investment. Therefore, it is sometimes argued including by industry that patents and other IPRs are a key incentive for such investment. Having said this, patents and other IPRs can also have a considerable impact on access to health-technologies , including medicines, vaccines, and tests. Accordingly, while patents have an important role in the healthcare sector, a careful balance is needed in relation to considering their potential incentivising role alongside their potential impact on access to health-technologies.

Injunctions as a Remedy to Patent Infringement

Where rightsholders of the patent perceived there has been an infringement of their patent right, they may seek to enforce these rights against the infringer. One legal tool for enforcing a patent is to seek an injunction which is an equitable remedy that is issued at the court’s discretion. There are various types of injunctions, but the two main types that will be discussed in this article are interlocutory/interim injunctions and perpetual/permanent injunctions. Interlocutory injunctions are granted at the early stages of a court case to maintain the situation until the full trial. Perpetual injunctions are granted at the conclusion of the legal proceedings and permanently prohibit a party from engaging in a specific action. In the patent context, for example, an injunction could be applied for seeking a legal order to prevent the alleged patent infringer from continuing to carry out the alleged infringing act. For example, if a company, A, is producing a medicine and that medicine is found to be an infringement of company B’s patented medicine, company B could seek an injunction to stop the production of the infringing product.

Balancing IPRs and Patient Interests: Tailored Injunctions & Patent Infringement

However, such scenarios give rise to difficult questions where the patented product is a health-technology. For example, imagine a situation where a medical device which is being used to improve patients’ condition is found by the court to be infringing another party’s IPRs and that other party seeks an injunction against the infringer to halt their use/production of that technology. Should the courts grant an injunction to immediately cease its use which could impact the availability of a suitable device for other patients/procedures? What happens if there are no alternative suitable devices available for patients in such cases? Such scenarios give rise to a range of potential legal issues, including tensions between upholding rightsholders IPRs and the implications this may have for patients or health-care systems.

In some cases, courts have sought to balance such interests, including by tailoring the injunctive relief grant. An injunction is tailored when the court modifies the court order to fit the particular circumstances of the case and the parties involved. It can be done, for example, by prohibiting or requiring certain actions, setting a time frame, or delaying the granting of the injunction. Such scenarios were recently considered by English courts in the cases of Edwards Lifesciences v Boston Scientific [2018], and Evalve v Edwards Lifescience [2020].

Recent English Cases – Tailored Injunctions, Patent Infringement and Health-Technologies

These two recent English cases on this topic provide an illustration of some of the issues at stake. First, in Edwards Lifesciences v Boston Scientific [2018], Boston Scientific applied for an injunction against Edwards Lifesciences to prevent the continued sale and use of Edwards’ Sapien 3 transcatheter heart valve. In deciding on whether to grant the injunction, the court considered the impact of granting this on patients who were using the Sapein device. Ultimately, while the court held that Edwards device infringed Bostons’ patent, they acknowledged that a certain group of patients relied on the Sapien 3, and thus tailored the injunction. The court issued a 12-month stay on the injunction to give clinicians time to retrain alternative devices that could be used (paragraphs 22-31). Additionally, the court allowed patients with no other appropriate alternative to continue using the Sapien 3 for as long practitioners determined were necessary until a suitable alternative was available (paras 52-54 and 68-71). This could be seen as a reflection of the court using the proportionality principle to weigh public interests involved and private interests in protection of IPRs.

More recently, the role of public interest in the issuance of injunctions was considered by the English courts in Evalve v Edwards Lifescience [2020]. In this case, Evalve was the owner of patents for the MitraClip device, which is used to treat mitral valve regurgitation, and the High Court held that Edwards’ PASCAL device infringed Evalves’ patent. Edwards argued that an injunction would harm patients who could only rely on their PASCAL device. The court acknowledged that, in certain rare circumstances, the public interest can justify the denial of an injunction, specifically if the infringing product is the only effective treatment available for certain patients (paras 73-91). In this case, the court held that the MitraClip was generally suitable and thus the injunction was granted. However, the court tailored the effect of a full injunction by creating an exception where it would not apply for specific cases when the PASCAL device was the sole device available for certain patients.

Conclusion

The enforcement of patent rights in the healthcare sector via private law remedies, including questions around the grant or refusal of injunctions, highlights tensions which can arise in certain contexts between balancing the need for protection of IPRs and also ensuring access to life-saving treatments. While patents are an important tool for fostering medical and pharmaceutical advancements, in certain contexts their strict enforcement can have unintended negative consequences for patients. The recent English court cases demonstrate that courts are increasingly recognising this tension, leading to more nuanced approaches which consider public interests on a case-by-case basis. A flexible approach to IP enforcement by tailoring injunctions, delaying enforcement, and allowing exceptions in cases of life-saving treatment can present a useful avenue for balancing IP rights with public health needs.

As part of the ERC PatentsInHumans project, together with Prof Aisling McMahon (PI), we are currently conducting research on injunctions as a remedy for IP infringement and the scope of courts to consider patient and other third-party interests in the health context, including how such issues are being addressed by the recently established unified patent court.

You can find out more about the PatentsInHumans project, including ongoing work at: https://patentsinhumans.eu/

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This research is funded by the European Union (ERC, PatentsInHumans, Project No. 101042147). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The Advocacy Shift: From Silence to Empowerment in Clinical Psychology

Research Stream: Stories/Lived Experience

Author: Sarah Hooney, Research Assistant, Integrated Advisory Services, Maynooth University Assisting Living and Learning (ALL) Institute.

During my undergraduate degree, I completed a three-month assistant clinical psychologist placement in the Mater Misercordiae University Hospital, working within the National Centre for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (NCIMD). This experience deepened my understanding of clinical psychology – not just as a tool for diagnosis and treatment, but as a form of advocacy and justice.

The NCIMD is a multidisciplinary team treating rare genetic metabolic disorders, such as phenylketonuria (PKU) and Hunter’s Syndrome. Metabolic disorders can have very complex symptoms, including both medical and psychological impacts. For example, severe symptoms of untreated PKU include behavioural problems, developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and even seizures. In the NCIMD unit, I observed that the psychologist’s role involved assessing cognitive and behavioural challenges in clients and helped develop care plans. Additionally, I saw psychologists offering mental health support for those navigating life with chronic illness. This involved providing the appropriate therapeutic methods or referral to a psychiatrist if alternative testing is required.

Clinical Team in a room with a screen with some wearing medical uniforms

Throughout my placement, I shadowed the team’s clinical psychologist, speaking with clients one-on-one and providing behavioural assessments where necessary. From the first week, it became immediately clear that the job description given to us prior to starting placement barely scratched the surface of what the job looked like day-to-day. I noticed how the psychologist often acted as a bridge between the client and the medical team—speaking up for them, supporting them beyond medical intervention, and helping their voice be heard. At times, while the consultants might be focused on what’s considered the best clinical option, the client may face negative psychological side effects that make treatment more burdensome than beneficial. In those cases, the psychologist seemed to advocate on the client’s behalf to help find a more balanced solution – one which improves the client’s quality of life but is also medically sound. In-clinic sessions appeared to allow clients to vent openly about the situational difficulties they are facing. In these sessions, the psychologist gains key insights and communicates with the rest of the team to help the development of collaborative, person-centred care plans.

Working with this group presented several ideas that I had the privilege of never having to consider before. The NCIMD is the only specialist centre in the country for metabolic disorders, meaning many clients travel long distances, face transport difficulties, or require disability accommodations to attend appointments. These issues can become significant barriers in both access to care and client wellbeing – and are central to whether a client can even engage with the services available to them. During my placement, I struck me how the psychologist often found themselves dealing with these concerns and ensuring that the care was as accessible as possible. Genetic conditions don’t account for geography, but these individuals still require the same level of care regardless of location. In these moments, the psychologist seemed to take on the advocacy role – not just offering emotional and cognitive support – but also helping ensure that no one is left behind due to where they live or the barriers they face within the system.

I had the opportunity to spend a brief time shadowing the senior clinical psychologist of the Renal Medicine Unit, which highlighted the nuanced differences in psychological work across medical specialties. In renal care, a multidisciplinary team – including consultant physicians, nurses, nutritionists, medical social workers, and psychologists – collaborate to support clients navigating the emotional challenges of chronic illness and managing mental health alongside physical symptoms. Psychologists contribute by assessing patients’ readiness for transplant by looking at treatment adherence, and by advocating for patients during major clinical decisions. Through building relationships with vulnerable individuals, psychologists provide insights that can influence outcomes, including decisions around eligibility for life-changing transplants.

Throughout my time at the Mater, I gained invaluable insights into the collaborative dynamics of patient care. I observed that, alongside assessments and therapeutic interventions, psychologists play a vital role in patient advocacy, ensuring that care plans are both clinically effective and personally meaningful. This experience underscored the importance of each team member’s contributions in delivering comprehensive and client-centred care. My main takeaway from the experience was that in clinical psychology, empathy, communication, and advocacy are just as crucial as clinical expertise. This experience strongly aligns with the mission of the ALL Institute, which is committed to interdisciplinary research that enhances the lived experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses. Just like in the ALL Institute, the clinical psychologist’s role involves advocating for systemic flexibility and finding creative solutions that make an inherently unfair situation as equitable as possible.

Sarah Hooney – Author

New Voices, Same Mission: Meet the new Editors joining Ideas in ALL

Research Stream: Editorial & Stories/Lived Experiences

Authors: Rachel McGettrick, Sharon Adedapo & Lauren Kane

Dear readers of Ideas in ALL,

As new editors joining the blog, we are extremely happy to take on this position. As we take up our role, we will strive to maintain the excellent standard and energetic impetus attained by our fellow editors and predecessors. The blog has become an influential academic commentary on contemporary physical, social, political, and conceptual dimensions of society in the twenty-first century.

Each of us wish to add a personal note below on our motivation and commitment to this blog, so that you get to know us better!

Rachel McGettrick

I’m Rachel and I am so excited to join the amazing Ideas in ALL team! I am a PhD researcher who first joined the ALL Institute in 2022 during my undergraduate degree in psychology, working as a research intern with the STEM Passport for Inclusion. This is an initiative led by Professor Katriona O’Sullivan that empowers young women from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue STEM education. This experience sparked my love for research and helped me see a future for myself in such a meaningful environment. Now, as a PhD researcher at Maynooth University, I feel incredibly fortunate to continue my journey within the ALL Institute—a space dedicated to inclusion, accessibility, and meaningful research impact.

Inclusion remains at the heart of everything I do. Alongside my continued work with the STEM Passport for Inclusion, I contribute to two interconnected projects – Pathways and Promote – which aim to foster a more equitable research environment, particularly for women and early-career researchers. These projects reflect the ALL Institute’s commitment to tackling systemic inequalities and ensuring that research is shaped by diverse voices. I am also involved with the Maynooth Access Programme (MAP), which encourages under-represented groups to enter third level and provides these groups with support through their time at Maynooth. As I embark on my PhD journey under Professor O’Sullivan’s supervision, I am exploring the impact of parental alcohol misuse (PAM) on children in Ireland. This research seeks to highlight an often-overlooked issue and develop an intervention to support these vulnerable children – in line with the ALL Institute’s broader mission, contribute to evidence-based policies and person-centred support systems.

Sharon Adedapo

I am delighted to join Ideas in ALL as part of the team! I recently joined the PatentsInHumans project as a Research Assistant, working under Professor Aisling McMahon at the ALL Institute. I completed my Undergraduate degree in Law and Business from Maynooth University in 2023 and recently completed my Master of Law (LLM) in 2024.

The PatentsInHumans project bridges the gap between bioethics and patent law, exploring how patents over health-related technologies, such as medicines, medical devices, gene editing techniques, and neurotechnology, interact with fundamental ethical considerations. The ultimate aim of the project is to reimagine European patent decision-making to better integrate bioethical principles.

What drew me to Ideas in ALL is the commitment to inclusive, accessible, and interdisciplinary research. My background in Intellectual property law, human rights, and technology has fuelled my interest in how emerging health technologies are governed, and the ethical challenges they present. I look forward to bringing these perspectives to the blog, helping to share research that sparks conversation, promotes accessibility, and drives meaningful change.

Lauren Kane

My name is Lauren, and I recently joined the ALL Institute as a Research Assistant on the ERC funded PatentsInHumans project, led by Professor Aisling McMahon. PatentsInHumans aims to explore the bioethical implications of how patents are used over health technologies related to the human body, with a view to reimagining the European patent system to adopt a more person-centred approach.

My interest in this area was sparked by the Myriad Genetics case, which related to an (ultimately successful) challenge to the patenting of genetic mutations which predicted a significantly elevated risk of breast and ovarian cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2). Essentially, these patents were being used in such a restrictive manner that diagnostic testing could only be provided through Myriad Genetics, and at a significant cost which prevented access for many women. As someone who had personally undergone BRCA testing, this case made me consider how fortunate I had been to obtain access, and how I may have felt and the impact it could have had if this had not been possible. This really opened my eyes to the impact that the manner in which patents related to the human body are used can have over people’s health and motivated my interest in this area of research and social justice. As such, I was delighted to have the opportunity to join the PatentsInHumans team and Ideas in ALL Blog team. The core values of the Ideas in ALL Blog, such as inclusivity, accessibility, respect for diversity and participation really resonate with me. I feel excited to be part of the Ideas in ALL Blog team as I am passionate about accessibility and greatly value the opportunity to contribute to the blog and participate in the dissemination of interdisciplinary research which is accessible to all.

We are all excited to join this team and contribute to the values and mission of the Ideas in ALL blog. All three of us look forward to bringing our different experiences and areas of interest together to foster new collaborations and inspire innovative insights in both this blog and the ALL Institute as a whole. If you are interested in contributing to the Ideas in ALL Blog, please feel free to get in touch via email at ideasinall@mu.ie.

Breaking Barriers: New Tools to Make Culture More Accessible

Research Stream: Social Structures

Authors: Elodie Makhoul & Alessia Palladino, Research Assistants, ERC DANCING, Maynooth University

On Thursday, 13 March 2025, the ERC DANCING Project published two complementary outputs, a Toolkits for Cultural Organisations and a Resource List, both geared at cultural organisations and professionals in the Cultural and Creative Sector (CCS). These outputs aim to support the CCS in advancing cultural participation of people with disabilities, both as audience and professionals.

These outputs contribute to DANCING’s overarching aim of challenging the cultural exclusion often faced by people with disabilities and advancing cultural diversity and inclusivity across the European Union (EU). In particular, the Toolkit and the Resource List aim to raise awareness about barriers faced by persons with disabilities in the cultural domain and to highlight how cultural organisations can ensure inclusion and accessibility and ultimately inspire societal change.

The deployment and publication of this Toolkit and Resource List stem from DANCING’s empirical research and from a close collaboration with persons with disabilities and cultural professionals.

One of the main reasons underpinning the publication of these outputs is the recurring ‘loss’ of good practices. The empirical research undertaken in DANCING showcases that one of the challenges often faced by cultural organisations is that good practices developed remain isolated and often are ‘forgotten’. This happens because good practices are developed within distinct projects and are discontinued at the end of the project, or rely on the distinct expertise of certain employees, artists or cultural workers, and run their course following the exit or retirement of such experts. Further, while there are several good practices across the EU, there is no mutual learning. These outputs aim to address and counter these challenges and to provide guidance and useful information to cultural organisations, with a view to support the creation of a community of practice and the sharing of breakthrough practices.

DANCING Logo

The Toolkit is dedicated to support cultural organisations in their inclusivity journey towards ensuring greater accessibility in cultural spaces and enhancing diversity. The Toolkit provides cultural organisations with key information and recommendations to improve and advance the inclusion and cultural participation of people with disabilities in the CCS both as professionals and as an audience. This Toolkit raises awareness and improves the reader’s understanding of what facilitates cultural participation of people with disabilities and how to foster cultural diversity. It also presents all the preliminary information required to successfully develop an accessible and inclusive disability policy. By prioritising accessibility and inclusion, cultural organisations can reflect the inherent diversity of society, and reimagine the cultural landscape to fully involve people with disabilities both as audience and cultural professionals.

The second output is a non-exhaustive Resource List showcasing existing initiatives improving the cultural participation of people with disabilities as well as the relevant fundings making these efforts possible, both at the EU level and at the local level in all the EU Member States and in the UK. This Resource List developed by DANCING complements the Toolkit. By highlighting relevant projects, initiatives, toolkits, reports and other resources produced by other projects or organisations advancing the cultural participation of people with disabilities, it aims to foster collective learning and knowledge sharing. Further, this Resource List can also support a better understanding of suitable funding streams which could enhance inclusion of people with disabilities in the CCS.

Advancing the cultural participation of people with disabilities requires reaching a large and diverse body of stakeholders, from cultural institutions to organisations of persons with disabilities and from policymakers to civil society. Hence, DANCING has developed tailored tools and resources designed to meet the specific needs of various stakeholders who have the potential to contribute to greater inclusion. By customising tools and strategies for each of these stakeholders, DANCING hopes to support the development of meaningful change that is both practical and impactful. The Toolkit for Cultural Organisations and the Resource List are developed within DANCING’s objective of creating ‘Tools for Change’. While DANCING – as an ERC funded project – has primarily a scholarly focus, it has also developed tools addressed to a wider audience. This approach aligns with research findings that highlight the importance of raising awareness of academic blue-sky scholarship (Linden, 2008) and of ‘democratising’ academic advancements. This approach also aligns with the ethos of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ensures that people with disabilities can reap the benefits of cutting-edge research.

On the whole, these ‘Tools for Change’ developed by DANCING advance the dissemination and enhance the impact of the project, reaching specific stakeholders and ultimately improving the right to cultural participation for people with disabilities.

GoGreen Routes in Burgas: Nature-Based Solutions for a Healthier City

Research Stream: Social Lives

Author: Tom Hall, Research Assistant, Go Green Routes Project, Maynooth University

GoGreen Routes

The GoGreen Routes project lead by Principal Investigator Dr. Tadhg McIntyre carried out research in six “Cultivating Cities”: Burgas (Bulgaria), Lahti (Finland), Limerick (Ireland), Tallinn (Estonia), Umeå (Sweden) and Versailles (France). This blog focuses on research undertaken in Burgas (Bulgaria) at “Healing Island” nature-based solutions site in June 2024. Here Tadhg was joined by GoGreen Routes Research Assistant Tom Hall and Project Intern Solène Caron. Assistance was provided by Ivalo Trendilov from the EU Projects Team in the Burgas municipality. The team spent four days collecting observational, interview, environmental and air quality data in order to assess the overall impact that Healing Island is making for the people of Burgas.

The picture shows an overhead view of the park. There is a circular fountain at the center, a raised platform to the left side of this, and a wooden walkway on the right.

GoGreen Routes Aims

GoGreen Routes is a large-scale multinational project which aims to enhance the physical and mental well-being of urban residents by increasing their connection to nature in an inclusive way. To achieve this aim, the project has implemented a collection of nature based solutions (NbS). These solutions center around the use of green corridors, linear parks, pocket parks and shared walkways. By maximizing the available public space, people have greater opportunities to move about cities more actively, enjoy their free time and interact with others. Other NbS benefits include: reduced air and noise pollution, improved urban ventilation and providing ecosystem services and habitat to plant and animal species.

Reclaiming Public Space

The creation of NbS such as Healing Island are crucial due to the lack of green spaces in European cities. Research from the European Environmental Agency (EEA) on public accessibility to green infrastructure (allotments, private gardens, parks, street trees, water and wetlands) indicates that there is limited accessible space available. Here it was found that whilst green space makes up on average 42% of the city area in 38 EEA member countries, publicly accessible green space amounts to 3% (on average) of the total city area. This being so, the focus must be on reclaiming public space and maximising the area available.

“Healing Island”

As the site where Healing Island sits had previously been the location of a derelict and abandoned building, Healing Island represents a fine example of how urban locations can be reclaimed as a green space. Healing Island is so-called due to its proximity to three nearby hospitals. As such, the park provides a place where people can relax and recuperate. Shaded seating areas help cool the park and a running fountain built from local volcanic rock adds to the peacefulness of the environment.

The park can be navigated along bright paths made from recycled granite paving stones. A podium in the centre of the park provides a versatile space for health-related activities such as yoga or Tai-Chi, and can also be used as a stage for events. Beyond this, there is a soft wood-chip play area for children, as well as carved wooden animals and bug hotels for insects. A seesaw made from recycled timber along with interactive and musical features dotted around the park add to the variety of activities available. Despite the park being located close to the city centre, there is a diversity of birdlife which can be seen and heard about the park. Among these is a nearby seagull nest and the sounds of various birds including a woodpecker. Taken together, these features make Healing Island stand out as a sustainable nature-based solution which can be used by all to benefit diverse groups in society.

Access to Green Spaces

A key component of the GoGreen Routes research carried out in Burgas was to examine access to Healing Island. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises the contribution that access to green areas has on the health and wellbeing of urban residents. It recommends that citizens should have access to public green spaces which measure at least 1/2 football field and is located within 300 metres’ linear distance (around 5 minutes’ walk) from their homes.

The consequences of not achieving this WHO target were examined in a study led by GoGreenRoutes project partner ISGlobal. This research used satellite imagery to assess the impact of green space on mortality in 922 European cities. As part of the study, it was found that 62% of the urban populations have lower green space access than recommended. Consequently, it was estimated that 42,968 annual natural-cause deaths in these cities could be prevented if the WHO standard was brought about.

With this in mind, the GoGreen Routes team recorded the numbers of citizens using Healing Island over three days. Walking interviews with local residents added context to how people use and perceive the park. The data recorded at this time will be compared with similar data recorded a year earlier (before the park was constructed). In the final report on the project, these figures will indicate how successful Healing Island has been in attracting increased footfall.

360 Degree Health Approach

Beyond the number of people using the park, their activities (such as walking, standing, biking etc.) were recorded to allow for physical and psychological health measurements to be assessed. This is part of 360-Health approach taken by the GoGreen Routes project. This approach integrates multiple health domains. It focuses on mental health and well-being, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, cognition and performance, social health, human-nature interaction and sustainability in relation to urban nature. The results of the research in these areas are important as they can indicate the impact of Healing Island on the well-being of residents in a very powerful way.

Provisional Results

Among the provisional results of data collection in Burgas, local residents expressed their happiness at the building of Healing Island, stating that it was a much-needed amenity. Some reflected on the usefulness of the park as a place to relax and spend time with family and friends. Others including local planning professionals, pointed out that there is a future need for more green areas similar to Healing Island in the city of Burgas.

Overall, the GoGreen Routes research in Burgas has demonstrated that infrastructure projects such as Healing Island represent a viable naturebased solution which benefits people as well as nature. This can be achieved by reclaiming public spaces and providing accessible and safe places where all residents’ physical and psychological health and well-being needs can be met.

Funding Acknowledgement: The GoGreenRoutes Project is supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreeement No 869764.

Celebrating the Fourth Anniversary of the ‘Ideas in ALL Blog’: A Note from ALL Co-Directors

Research Stream: Symposium

The year 2024 has seen several elections, new and old conflicts, and instability in many parts of the world. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, global challenges have continued to grow. Our blog, set up on 3 December 2020, has given account of these challenges and has shown how interdisciplinary research be a powerful catalyst for change, bringing new hope and enhancing the wellbeing of people. In fact, well-being is the key word of this symposium which aims to showcase how our research, by shining a light on often neglected areas, such as mental health and social infrastructures, social services, cultural goods, and assistive technologies, addresses issues affecting our overall quality of life. In that regard, the yearly symposium (and the Ideas in All blog as a whole) situates at the cutting edge, tallying with the renewed scholarly attention to wellbeing from multiple disciplinary perspectives.

A Note from the Editors of the Ideas-In-ALL Blog to Start the Semester

Research Stream: Editorial

Editorial Team: Cassandra Murphy, Hannah Casey, Matthew McKenna, Neasa Boyle

After a brief, restorative hiatus over the summer months, the blog has now returned full time and is ready to once again highlight and facilitate the communication of strong, important research happening in the ALL community. As always, we aim to share knowledge that best encapsulates our ethos, a task that is made all the more possible by the diverse and exciting range of projects under the ALL Institute banner.

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As always, we look forward to hearing from the researchers behind these projects, who have historically contributed generously to us, both in our regular postings, and across our three symposiums, the fourth of which will be posted this coming December. We have been fortunate enough to witness the progress of these projects over the last four years and look forward to doing so again by affording researchers the opportunity to submit posts to us, in which they tell us about their ongoing achievements in their own words. Therefore, as we enter a new academic year, we the editors wish to drop our readers a brief note to highlight the continued excellence of the ALL Institute, and to give a brief overview of the work that we hope to feature on the blog in the coming months.

To this end, the remit of the ALL Institute continues to expand, forging strategic connections across a diverse network of professional researchers and organisations. It incorporates a synergistic array of state-of-the-art research projects that, at their core, seek to promote person-centred and inclusive digital, social and technological development into the future.

In the words of the ALL Institute, “We work across disciplines, sectors and while remaining committed to independent research, we collaborate with civil society, policy makers, industry, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies and most particularly individuals, especially those belonging to different marginalised groups”.

Principles of inclusivity, human rights, accessibility, respect for diversity and equal participation guide the research projects taking place at ALL Institute. Flagship projects include, ADVANCE CRT, AT 2030, ERC Project DANCING, Digital Wealth, Global Collaboration on Assistive Technology (GATE), GoGreenRoutes, PatentsInHumans, ReCreating Europe, SHAPES, STEM Passport for Inclusion that well epitomize the ALL ethos and mission to advance accessibility, equality and human rights for all persons in a digitalising society. Two of the above projects, ReCreating Europe and SHAPES, have recently concluded, bringing together years of invaluable work while furthering and strengthening the mission and impact of the ALL Institute in the process.

In the space of a few years, the Ideas-in-ALL blog has helped to significantly enhance the public profile of the ALL Institute. The blog complements the work of the ALL Institute and continues to raise awareness of the importance of ensuring that person-centredness, human rights and inclusivity underpins technological advancement and digitalisation in our societies. As such, the blog provides a platform for our diverse array of partners to draw attention to, and explain in straightforward terms, the importance of each research project and initiative taking place in ALL. Invaluable blogpost contributions from ALL members, external stakeholders and independent voluntary submissions, have greatly enhanced general civic interest in the work of the ALL Institute.

We look forward to continuing to hear the voices from the wide variety of projects ongoing within the institute, alongside potential posts from those which have recently concluded or that are coming towards the end of their journey. We strive to provide learning experiences for all, so hearing from PIs and researchers working on these successful projects helps to develop best practice principles in our own research and contributes to the generation of new ideas and collaborations. As a group our aspiration is to engage more external stakeholders in the blog process, hearing from those who are directly impacted by our research and exploring the beneficial nature of what we do as an Institute. We have some exciting posts coming up from several of our ongoing projects so stay tuned.

We appreciate your engagement with our posts as we continue to share commentary on the intersection between our principles and the wonderful research activities happening internally within the ALL Institute and externally with our partners. ALL Institute - Maynooth University

My Experience as Project Manager of DANCING… Some Personal Reflections on the First Four Years

Research Stream: Social Lives

Author: Hilary Hooks, Project Manager, Protecting the Right to Culture of Persons with Disabilities and Enhancing Cultural Diversity in EU Law: Exploring New Paths (DANCING) Project

As the Project Manager for the ERC-funded DANCING Project, led by PI, Prof. Delia Ferri, my role has been to manage the project’s administrative and operational aspects and supporting the PI in ensuring that the project stayed on track with its key milestones.

I have endeavoured to create a robust project management framework. This involved developing a suite of tools, including a spreadsheet to track finances, another to track project activities and deliverables and another to record meetings—ensuring that we met all milestones efficiently. With a project of this scale, managing a €2 million budget requires close attention, and by working closely with other university offices, I ensured compliance with all relevant regulations. The administrative side of the project is complex and involves coordinating with multiple university offices, as well as external entities like graphic designers, filmmakers, and dance companies, the latter two through a tendering process. By managing these details, I freed up our researchers to focus on their work without worrying about the operational hurdles.

Competition Law Enforcement in the EU and Access to Health Technologies: An Overview of the EU 2024 Competition Law Report on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Technologies – Update on Competition Enforcement in the Pharmaceutical Sector (2018-2022)

Author: Dr. Opeyemi Kolawole Post-doctoral Researcher, PatentsInHumans Project, ALL Institute and Department of Law and Criminology

Research Stream: Social Technologies

Competition law is pivotal in maintaining market equilibrium and safeguarding consumer welfare. In the European Union, competition law principles are enshrined in Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). While Article 101 prohibits the formation and enforcement of agreements that have the object or effect of distorting competition, Article 102 prevents a dominant firm from abusing its dominant market position.

Competition in healthcare services is critical to providing access to affordable medicines and medical technologies, ensuring expensive pharmaceutical and medical technologies do not significantly strain public and private finances. With their proactive enforcement of competition rules, the EU Commission and the 27 National Competition Authorities (NCAs) have been instrumental in this regard. In the recent Report on Competition Enforcement in the Pharmaceutical Sector, published in January 2024, the EU Commission provides an overview of how EU competition rules have been enforced to prevent and rectify business practices which may harm competition in the common market and consumer welfare. This article examines some of the key decisions reached by the Commission and some of the NCAs and highlights potential improvement opportunities to maximise consumer welfare.

‘Lived Fiction’ Goes on Stage: Reflecting on a Major Milestone for the DANCING Project and the Collaboration with Stopgap

Research Stream: Stories / Lived Experiences

Author: Eva Krolla Research Assistant DANCING, in dialogue with Professor Delia Ferri and Lucy Glover, Executive Producer at Stopgap Dance Company

Image on the left shows Eva Krolla smiling and wearing white, image in the centre shows Professor Delia Ferri smiling and wearing black, image on the right shows Lucy Glover smiling and wearing navy.

On 11^th April, the contemporary dance piece ‘Lived Fiction’ premiered at Dublin’s Lir Academy Theatre in collaboration with Project Arts Centre (PAC). The piece was commissioned by DANCING, a European Research Council (ERC) funded academic research project based at the School of Law and Criminology of Maynooth University. It was created by Stopgap Dance Company’s Deaf, Disabled, neurodivergent and non-disabled creatives under the lead of co-artistic director Lucy Bennett. Stopgap are a global leader of disability access in dance and are based in the UK. ‘Lived Fiction’ artistically embeds accessibility for dancers and audiences through an integrated creative access approach.

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