SLIGO GENERAL HOSPITAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION FOUNDATION COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

The Sligo General Hospital Research & Education Foundation (REF) is a charitable, company-limited-by-guarantee that has been supporting health-care research, training and education in the Sligo University Hospital catchment since 1991. Working closely with the hospital's Research Ethics Committee, the REF provides an independent governance framework for studies across all health-care disciplines, ensuring that research is conducted to the highest ethical standards.

Key services include an annual multidisciplinary research conference, open to regional and national presenters, and a suite of seed-grant awards that fund small-scale or pilot projects. Throughout the year the Foundation also runs practical research-skills workshops - covering topics such as core curriculum development, presentation techniques and statistical analysis - aimed at health professionals in the HSE North West Area. By offering grants, training and ethical oversight, the REF helps clinicians, academics and early-stage researchers turn ideas into impactful, evidence-based improvements in patient care.