One of the major areas of inquiry in biomedical science is in the study of infectious diseases and their biological triggers. Once a cause of a disease is known, research into what can prevent or lessen its effects can potentially help save many lives.

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain, from which the Irish Sea separates it.