Julie talks at RCSI PPI Ignite Network and Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland IBD Knowledge Exchange

Julie Gawenda, 2nd year MSc student, represented the Browne Lab at the IBD Knowledge Exchange, hosted by the RCSI Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) Ignite Network and Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland (CCI). The event highlighted ongoing research on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at Trinity College Dublin and RCSI and featured a diverse range of voices—including individuals living with IBD and a consultant gastroenterologist—exploring future opportunities for collaboration through PPI.

Julie discussed work ongoing in the Browne Lab, which seeks to understand the development of peristomal skin complications, a major complication of ostomies. She discussed insights into innovative lab-based approaches to understanding the skin-gut connection created in an ostomy, and its impact on skin cells and in vitro skin models. The event fostered a rich dialogue between researchers, clinicians, and the IBD community, underlining the importance of PPI in shaping meaningful scientific progress.