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Irish Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Veterans brave blazing heat for National Day of Commemoration at RHK
'We've all lost someone, either at home or on overseas service, so it's important that we remember them on a daily basis, not just once a year,' says Paul Fagan. Sitting in the back row in the sun-soaked courtyard of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Military Road in Dublin, Mr Fagan sits beside three other veterans in decorated uniform. All four served from Post 11 at the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare, he says. Their missions abroad over the decades included time spent in Lebanon, Kosovo, Liberia and the Congo. They were among about 1,000 people to attend the annual National Day of Commemoration ceremony on Sunday. At the other end of the courtyard, queues formed for a cold water and SPF station before the ceremony to honour Irish men and women who died in past wars or on peacekeeping missions abroad. READ MORE 'We attend it every year – we try and get out to as many functions as we possibly can,' the 63-year-old, originally from Co Waterford, says, adding that those who have lost their lives 'served their country with pride and distinction'. 'We're here to represent them because they can't be here.' The deaths of friends throughout his service, he says, 'never leave you'. Sitting beside him is Joe Guidera, who joined the Defence Forces in 1960 and served until 1998 before working as a clerical officer for a further 13 years. Tom Sheedy (83), Tony O'Reilly (71), Joe Guidera (80) and Paul Fagan (63) He notes that he went to the Congo as a teenager. 'We learned a lot. We went out as schoolkids and came back as men,' he says. Pointing to a man in the distance, with whom the 80-year-old served in Cyprus and who he has not seen for years, he says the ceremony 'means everything to me'. 'It's a great opportunity to come back and meet the lads,' he says, adding: 'I met a guy the last time I was here and I hadn't seen him for 40 years.' The ceremony, attended by President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and several members of Government, was one of several held across the country. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said it was an opportunity to commemorate and thank those who have served the country over the years. In particular, he said, he was thinking of peacekeepers currently based in Lebanon under the Unifil mandate. Noting that there will be a 'big moment of decision' in August when the mandate's renewal is up for consideration by the UN Security Council, Mr Harris said the people of Lebanon need peacekeepers 'now more than ever'. [ Ireland issues formal protest letter to Israel over shots fired towards Unifil unit in Lebanon Opens in new window ] 'We're living in extraordinarily uncertain times,' he said, adding that he is beginning an Irish diplomatic campaign to try to 'build alliances' to ensure the mandate can be renewed. 'So while we're here today commemorating, I'm thinking of the diplomatic battles ahead to try and make sure Irish peacekeepers continue to serve in Lebanon,' he said.
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
ECM Therapeutics Receives FDA IDE Approval for U.S. Feasibility Study of ECMT-100 in Treatment of Anorectal Fistulas
WARRENDALE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ECM Therapeutics, Inc. ('ECMT') has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application for ECMT-100, a hydrogel derived from complete extracellular matrix (ECM) for the treatment of anorectal fistulas. This clearance allows ECMT to initiate a first-in-human clinical study evaluating the safety and early efficacy of this regenerative, non-surgical therapy. Anorectal fistulas are a painful and difficult-to-treat condition affecting approximately 70,000 to 100,000 patients annually in the United States. Existing treatments typically involve invasive surgery and carry significant risks, including loss of continence. 'This is a major milestone for ECM Therapeutics and for patients who currently have few safe and effective options,' said Paul Fagan, CEO of ECMT. 'We believe ECMT-100 can change the treatment paradigm by offering a non-surgical solution that promotes healing while preserving function.' The open-label pilot study will begin in 2025 and enroll patients across two U.S. sites. 'The IDE approval is a critical step in translating decades of ECM science into real-world patient impact,' said Dr. Stephen Badylak, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ECM Therapeutics. 'We're excited to assess the clinical potential of this approach in an area of true unmet need.' ECMT-100 is the first clinical product from the company's ECM hydrogel platform. ECMT's broader pipeline includes programs in muscle regeneration, ocular repair, and delivery of cell-based therapies. The company holds exclusive worldwide rights to an extensive ECM patent portfolio developed at the University of Pittsburgh. About ECM Therapeutics ECM Therapeutics, Inc. (ECMT) is a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company developing therapeutic products from naturally derived extracellular matrix (ECM). The company has two core platforms, ECM hydrogel and Matrix-Bound Nanovesicles (MBV), and is headquartered in Warrendale, PA. For more information, visit
