The ECORE project is focusing on developing and clinically validating an embolisation device that simplifies procedures and provides interventionalists with more options to treat their patients. 

A MedTech project led by (opens in a new window)LaNua Medical, an Irish medtech device start-up and a University College Dublin (UCD) spin-out, has successfully secured €6 million in funding under Call 7 of the (opens in a new window)Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF). 

The ECORE project, a collaboration by LaNua Medical with Integer Holdings and UCD, will focus on developing and clinically validating an embolisation device that swiftly blocks blood flow and facilitates distal delivery of other embolics or targeted therapies for vascular disorders and cancers, improving safety and effectiveness of procedures.

The DTIF is a €500 million fund, established under the National Development Plan, is managed by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland. 

The purpose of the Fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.

The ECORE project was one of eight projects which are receiving a total of €33.1 million in DTIF funding which have been announced by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless.

Dr Cormac Farrelly, Interventional Radiologist, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and a co-founder and CMO, LaNua Medical, said, “This represents another important milestone for LaNua Medical. The funding provides a real boost to this already exciting project and will enable more effective collaboration between ourselves, UCD and Integer Holdings.  It will accelerate the development and validation of our technology to be effective across a large range of sizes and different blood vessel types.”

The UCD researchers who will be working on the ECORE project include, Dr Eoin O’Cearbhaill, Professor Aisling Ní Annaidh, Professor Philip Cardiff and Associate Professor Mert Celikin of the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and the UCD Centre for Biomedical Engineering.