Ayse Kont, worked on a collaborative project between Boston Scientific Cork, SSPC and the School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, from April to December 2024. This successful collaboration resulted in a fellowship application for the RD&I Industry fellowship programme under Research Ireland.
This project focuses on hydrogel beads and aims to not only benefit the existing products in understanding its features, and possible expansion of its application, but also an understanding of chemical processes used in combinational medical devices, a converging field of pharma and medical device industries. The methodologies and concepts developed during this project birthed real time benefits. As these findings are also transferable, this work will provide have far reaching efficiencies for Boston Scientific, offering a framework for handling newly acquired products within the same space.
The impact of this project was immediate and both Ayse, as the researcher, and Boston Scientific gained long term benefits. Ayse acquired valuable insights into cost, scalability and regulatory considerations, while Boston Scientific advanced its understanding of cutting-edge science. Beyond individual gains, the collaboration fostered a dynamic and interactive learning environment.
This collaboration enabled Ayse to hone her key strengths while also developing stronger soft skills via networking opportunities and presenting her complex ideas clearly and effectively to wider audiences, often including non- experts which is an essential skill for real-world impact. Overall, the experience has assisted Ayse to build confidence and clarity in her career direction.
