AI and One Health drive new UCD² funding for UCD–UC Davis research
16 March 2026
Associate Vice-Chancellor Paul Dodd (UC Davis), Provost and Executive Vice-Chancellor Mary Croughan (UC Davis), Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD, Associate Professor Aifric O'Sullivan (UCD), Chancellor Gary S. May (UC Davis), Professor Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs (UC Davis), Micheál Smith, Consul General of Ireland in San Francisco, Professor Woutrina Smith (UC Davis) Credit: Sarah Olson (UC Davis)
One Health and artificial intelligence are at the centre of six new projects between University College Dublin and the (opens in a new window)University of California, Davis.
Backed by €120,000, the transatlantic research tackles global challenges in health and food systems through the 2025–2026 UCD² Joint Research Fund, an initiative under the long-standing UCD Squared partnership between the two universities.
This latest phase was announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, during a visit to UC Davis as part of the Irish Government’s St Patrick’s Day programme in the United States.
“Ireland and California are internationally recognised centres of excellence in agri-food research and sustainable food systems innovation,” said Minister Heydon.
“We share a strong focus on combining strong primary production with world-class research and a clear commitment to climate-smart agriculture.
“I was delighted to meet with Chancellor Gary S.May, Provost Mary Croughan and the senior leadership at UC Davis today and receive a tour of their facilities. By deepening collaboration, UCD Squared strengthens transatlantic research links and accelerates practical solutions for farmers, industry and society.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, added: “International collaboration is central to Ireland’s higher education and research strategy. Through Global Citizens 2030, Ireland is strengthening its global partnerships, supporting talent development and enhancing Ireland’s research impact.
“Research collaborations, the exchange of skills and ideas, make for better outcomes. The partnership between UCD and UC Davis reflects our national ambition, linking Ireland with leading institutions in key regions and advancing research excellence through strategic international cooperation.”
UCD President Professor Orla Feely said the expansion of the UCD Squared partnership reflected “University College Dublin’s commitment to breaking boundaries through global collaboration.”
“By connecting researchers across disciplines and continents, we are accelerating solutions to shared global challenges in areas such as One Health, sustainable food systems and data science.”
Chancellor Gary S. May added: “UC Davis is proud to stand alongside University College Dublin in strengthening a partnership that reflects our shared commitment to research excellence, public service and global engagement.
“By combining our expertise in sustainable agriculture, veterinary medicine, food innovation and data science, we are accelerating solutions that improve lives in California, Ireland and around the world.
“This investment supports the next generation of researchers and reinforces UC Davis’ commitment to impactful research, interdisciplinary collaboration and global engagement.”
The newly funded projects will address major global challenges across three key thematic areas: One Health, Sustainable Food Systems, and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.
One Health recognises the close interconnection between the health of people, animals, plants and the environment, and is a central focus of the collaboration between UCD and UC Davis.
The six projects selected for funding:
- AI in Veterinary Medicine for One Health - Led by (opens in a new window)Dr Conor McAloon (UCD) and Dr Pranav Pandit (UC Davis), researchers will develop predictive models and a digital twin system to detect and simulate livestock disease outbreaks.
- Brassica Bites - Led by (opens in a new window)Dr Marco Garcia Vaquero (UCD) and Dr Daniela Barile (UC Davis), the project aims to convert cabbage processing waste into safe, polysaccharide-rich flour ingredients using green extraction technologies.
- Bridging Disciplines: A Partnership for One Health Education - Led by Dr Marco Garcia Vaquero (UCD) and Professor Michael Wilkes (UC Davis), this initiative will develop new interdisciplinary educational approaches to train graduate students in addressing global health challenges.
- Circular AgriFood Bioeconomy Implementation Exchange (CAFBIE) - Led by Professor (opens in a new window)Nicholas M. Holden (UCD) and Assistant Professor Edward Spang (UC Davis), the project will engage transatlantic student teams to work with companies in Europe and the United States on strategies to reduce food waste and support circular food systems.
- FoodSpecAI - Led by (opens in a new window)Professor Claire Gormley (UCD) and Assistant Professor Jairo Fúquene Patiño (UC Davis), this project will develop interpretable artificial intelligence tools to analyse spectroscopy data and improve bacterial detection in food systems.
- PSYCHEhD - Led by (opens in a new window)Professor Eileen Gibney (UCD) and Assistant Professor Lauren Au (UC Davis), the project will explore how AI can support healthier and more sustainable food choices using personalised nutrition technologies.
Designed to leverage major international opportunities, including Horizon Europe and US federal research agencies, the Joint Research Fund aims to show that global collaboration is essential to creating equitable, sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
The UCD Squared partnership builds on more than a decade of engagement between UCD and UC Davis supporting joint research, education and innovation to strengthen transatlantic links in science and technology.
“Since its establishment in 2014, the collaboration between UCD and UC Davis has expanded across agrifood, veterinary medicine, environmental science, health sciences and law. It reflects a shared commitment to global engagement and research excellence,” said Professor Dolores O’Riordan, UCD Vice-President for Global Engagement.
“This new phase of UCD Squared increases both the scale and ambition of our partnership, reinforcing its role as a leading transatlantic platform for joint research, doctoral training and industry collaboration.”
Daniel Kearns, Talent & Innovation Attaché at the Consulate General of Ireland in San Francisco, Associate Professor Edward Spang (UC Davis), Associate Professor Aifric O'Sullivan (UCD), Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD, Associate Professor Lauren Au (UC Davis), Chancellor Gary S. May (UC Davis), Professor Daniela Barile (UC Davis), Micheál Smith, Consul General of Ireland in San Francisco Credit: Sarah Olson (UC Davis)
UC Davis Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, Mary Croughan added: ”Together, UC Dublin and UC Davis will strengthen meaningful connections between our faculty, creating opportunities for collaborative discovery. By investing in early-stage research partnerships, we are fostering innovative, interdisciplinary collaborations.”
“These projects deepen our academic ties, expand opportunities for graduate education and mentorship, and reinforce our shared commitment to research excellence in service of the public good.”
Highlighting the deep expertise of UC Davis and UCD in sustainable agriculture, veterinary medicine, food science and data-driven innovation, UC Davis Vice Provost and Dean of Global Affairs, Professor Joanna Regulska remarked: “The UCD Squared partnership enables us to align that expertise in ways that are scientifically ambitious and globally relevant.
“This investment supports both established leaders and emerging talent, enabling high- impact collaboration that delivers advances with real-world applications across food systems and One Health.”
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
