Our Research Team at My Moving Brain: Fun Connections and Sports Inclusivity at Maynooth
- familygenomics
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
This past weekend, the Family Genomics team had the pleasure of participating in the My Moving Brain community connect event at Maynooth. Hosted at Maynooth Post Primary School on June 28th, 2025, this inspiring initiative by FutureNeuro - funded by Research Ireland - aims to raise awareness around brain health and promote inclusivity in sports for individuals of all ages impacted by brain conditions across Ireland.
Representing our lab were PhD students Aung Myat Phyo, Jacob Kennedy and Seán Farrell, Research Assistant Angeline Anjani, and Postdocs Cathy Wyse and Mailton Vasconcelos. Together, they brought science to life through engaging activities and conversations with the community.
From colouring sheets and assembling paper brain-hats to interacting with our beloved Touca the toucan mascot, the team showcased a bit what our research in chronobiology and mental health looks like. The event marked a special moment for us: the launch of recruitment for our FamilySleeps project. We introduced participants to the tools we use in this and other ongoing projects, including Ambient-BD, featuring activity wristbands (Axivity) and standalone sleep monitors (Somnofy).
A highlight of the day was the TimeAlign project engagement activity, which drew attention with Touca’s timed tablets - an interactive activity where participants matched medication timing with one of our pill box sensors. We also had a fun and educational way to explore chronobiology: participants of all ages enjoyed discovering their chronotype through a quick quiz or by talking to us, earning a sticker to proudly wear their sleep trait.
The event unfolded in two vibrant blocks. In the first, our research team engaged with attendees in the sports hall, while inclusive sports activities and hands-on science experiences filled the open area. The second part of the day featured talks from specialists and individuals with lived experience, sharing insights on inclusivity in sports and society. These conversations were deeply moving and thought-provoking, reminding us why we do the research we do.
It was a day of connection, learning, and inspiration - and we’re already looking forward to the next one. Look out for the next My Moving Brain in Cork!
This blog post was refined with the assistance Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4), an AI language model, to enhance clarity and maintain the original tone and style of the author.
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