Welcoming Páraic Ó Ciaruáin to CORI

CORI is delighted to welcome new PhD student, Páraic Ó Ciaruáin, whose work will pioneer the use of the Biodesign innovation process in paediatric orthopaedics for the first time in Ireland. His research will directly address the shortage of devices designed specifically for children, aiming to deliver practical, clinically relevant solutions that improve care for young patients with complex musculoskeletal conditions.

Páraic joins CORI with a Gold Medal from the MEng in Biomedical Engineering at UCD, where his thesis focused on developing a prototype for a novel guided growth device. His experience includes internships with two medical device start-ups and a role as a research assistant with Prof Niamh Nowlan in translational biomechanics.

Páraic’s PhD will embed him in national and international paediatric orthopaedic departments. In these hospitals, he will work closely with surgeons, nurses, patients, and families to identify an urgent, unmet clinical need in paediatric orthopaedics, an area often overlooked by medical device innovation.

Once a need is validated, Páraic will design and develop a new medical device specifically tailored to children, using an iterative process with continuous feedback from clinicians, engineers, regulatory experts, and patient advocacy groups. 

Millions of children worldwide live with orthopaedic conditions, ranging from hip dysplasia to complex fracture non-unions, that can limit mobility, disrupt schooling, and lead to lifelong complications. Yet many of the devices used in their treatment are scaled-down versions of adult designs, despite major differences in anatomy, growth patterns, and biomechanics. Páraic’s research addresses this critical gap, helping CORI realise its mission of translating world-class research into tangible improvements in paediatric musculoskeletal care.

Páraic’s arrival strengthens CORI’s multidisciplinary research programme and marks another step towards establishing the centre as a recognised international leader in innovation for paediatric musculoskeletal health.

Joining CORI is an incredible opportunity for me to work closely with clinicians and engineers who share a clear vision for improving paediatric orthopaedic care. I’m looking forward to conducting research on the front lines of care and to helping improve outcomes through targeted, needs-driven innovation. - Páraic