Conway Fellows

Dr Carol Aherne

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focuses on epithelial barrier function in the context of inflammatory bowel disease. Our lab is investigating novel signaling molecules that promote epithelial cell proliferation and migration or restitution of epithelial cell junctions. Our research is designed to better understand epithelial barrier dysfunction in IBD with the goal of identifying possible novel therapeutic strategies.

Dr Olga Baron

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

We use the adult Drosophila (fruit fly) to study molecular mechanisms that are activated in peripheral somatosensory neurons (nociceptors) upon injury. This allows us to mimic nociceptive sensitisation similar to that seen in human chronic pain conditions.

John Baugh

Associate Professor

My team focus on translational research in heart failure, specifically on the development of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutics for diastolic dysfunction. We also investigate therapeutics for pulmonary fibrosis

Dr Despina Bazou

SFI-IRC Pathway Fellow

My research focuses on multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) and cell biology (cell culture, mouse models of disease, 3D tissue mimetic models) approaches to overcome treatment resistance in patients with haematological malignancies, especially multiple myeloma (MM).

Orina Belton

Professor

Our current programme of research investigates the fundamental mechanisms governing atherosclerosis regression. Our laboratory has established a novel model of atherosclerosis regression in vivo, achieved by administration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) apoE knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis.

Dr Antonio Benedetto

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focus is on the interaction between a new family of organic salts (room-temperature ionic liquids) with biosystems ranging from single biomolecules up to whole cells. The aim of my research is to determine the microscopic mechanisms behind the meso- and macro-scopic behaviour of biosystems doped with ionic liquids for applications in biomedicine, pharmacology and bionanotechnology.

Oliver Blacque

Professor

We employ genetics, cell biology and advanced imaging approaches to investigate the molecular basis of cilium formation and function. These microtubule based organelles extending from the surfaces of most eukaryotic cell types serve critical functions in cell and fluid motility, chemo-/photo-/mechano- transduction and developmental signalling. Defects in cilium function lead to many human diseases including polycystic kidney disease, retinitis pigmentosa, as well as multisymptomatic disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Billy Bourke

Consultant/Professor

My main laboratory research interest is in infectious diarrhoeal diseases of childhood and my group focuses particularly on Campylobacter jejuni, a major human intestinal pathogen and the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. We explore the manner in which pathogenicity is modulated by the host but also investigate the role of mucous and mucins in Campylobacter infection.

Paula Bourke

Professor, Head Of School

The ability to push biomedical science and engineering forward, requires microbial control to prevent or control infection in order to realise the safe and therapeutic advantages. My research will focus on cold plasma approaches for infection control in orthopaedic medicine and explore other opportunities for cold plasma and other non-thermal and nature based approaches for novel non-antibiotic interventions.

David Brayden

Professor

The science of oral peptide delivery addresses how to convert normally injected biotech peptides and proteins to convenient oral forms for patients, such as oral insulin. However, the problem is that such molecules are unstable in the gut and are poorly absorbed so they require nanoparticle-based technologies to address these issues. We have a range of technologies and bioassays to contribute. We leverage such technologies into other therapeutic areas with unmet needs, such as delivery of nanoparticle-peptides into joints for arthritis.

Donal Brennan

Professor of Gynae-Oncology

1. Obesity related carcinogenesis: We are using in vitro and in vivo models and also developing trials in patients with early stage endometrial cancer to ascertain if intentional weight loss can change cancer biology. 2. Precision medicine solutions for ovarian cancer: We are using ex vivo diagnostics to improve patient stratification and also develop predictive assays for immunotherapy.

Dr Eoin Brennan

Lecturer/Assistant

Diabetes is associated with complications due in part to chronic elevation of blood glucose levels and hypertension, leading to damage of arteries and small blood vessels of the kidney, eye and nervous system. My translationally-focused research objective is the identification of new treatment strategies for arresting the progression of vascular diseases, particularly in the context of diabetes. My investigations use preclinical in vivo models of diabetic (T1D, T2D) complications, novel pro-resolution medicines, micro-RNA therapeutics, clinical biobank specimens, cell model systems.

Dr Gary Brennan

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research is focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms which govern gene expression in the brain and how they contribute to the development of epilepsy. We are particularly interested in epigenetics and RNA biology. We hope that improved understanding of gene expression may illuminate novel treatment options for neurological diseases.

Lorraine Brennan

Professor

My research interests revolve around metabolism and altered metabolic pathways in health and disease. We currently employ nutrigenomic techniques (metabolomics, proteomics and transcriptomics) to further our understanding of the relationship between nutrition and health. Of particular interest is the development of metabolomics for nutritional research.

Geraldine Butler

Professor

Candida species are among the most common cause of fungal infection worldwide, and have high attributable mortality rates. We work predominantly with C. parapsilosis, which is of particular concern in premature babies and in the old. It grows as biofilms, or living mats, on indwelling medical devices. Biofilms are very resistant to antifungal drugs, making infections difficult to treat. We have identified regulators of biofilm growth that may lead to the development of new therapies.

Adam Byrne

Professor

A key function of the respiratory tract is the ability to maintain immune tolerance despite continuous exposure to inhaled antigens. Airway macrophages (AMs) are strategically positioned to mediate lung homeostasis. My research programme which seeks to explore key molecular mechanisms and pathways that dictate AM responses in the lung at homeostasis and during chronic diseases such as asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Annette Byrne

ProfessorPhysiology and Medical Physics

Visiting Professor and Associate Conway Fellow, Annette Byrne is based in Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Her group focus on the development of novel precision medicine approaches to treat cancer; to discover novel predictive biomarkers (genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic) and identify new therapeutic targets. They use highly disruptive multi-modality molecular imaging and next generation sequencing (NGS) approaches.

Dr Joseph Byrne

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research group works at the interface between carbohydrate chemistry and coordination chemistry, in particular focusing on the applications of carbohydrate-functionalised metal complexes as diagnostic and therapeutic tools against bacteria and other pathogens.

Gerard Cagney

Associate Professor

We use systems approaches to study problems of scientific and clinical interest. This means trying to study all the components of a biological system at the same time.

Dr Mert Celikin

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Our research team, Materials Design and Processing Group at UCD, focuses on the design, processing and characterisation of novel lightweight alloys for biomedical (craniofacial and orthopaedic) implants. Expertise in alloy design, fatigue and high- resolution electron microscopy allows for understanding phase transformation & deformation mechanisms to develop implants with superior performance.

Marguerite Clyne

Emeritus Professor (RTA)

My area of interest is how bacteria interact with human and animal tissue and cause disease. The group work with Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An area of particular interest is how bacteria colonise and live in mucus.

Dr Colm Collins

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focuses on the development of novel therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. My lab is currently assessing the impact of the endocannabinoid system on mucosal immunology. We have demonstrated a clear role for the endocannabinoid pathway in attenuating intestinal disease and are now working to understand a number of key components of that process.

Dr Eric Conway

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focuses on establishing the molecular mechanisms of chromatin and transcriptional regulation. Mutations in epigenetic regulators that control these processes often drive diseases such as cancer. We use next-generation genomics and molecular biology techniques such as Hi-C, CUT&Tag, ChIP-seq and RNA-seq to explore the function of these epigenetic regulators.

Dr Rebecca Corrigan

Ad Astra Fellow - Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research involves the characterisation of nucleotide-controlled stress signalling pathways in bacteria and their importance for infection and antibiotic resistance. My lab’s current focus is on the study of the stringent response alarmones (p)ppGpp in Staphylococcus aureus and their role in high-level resistant methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA).

Dr Christine Costello

I am interested in understanding the lung specific mechanisms through which hypoxia promotes structural changes in blood vessels and increased blood pressure in chronic lung diseases. Understanding these mechanisms may allow us to identify potential therapeutic strategies so as to target the disease process within the lung without causing unwanted adverse effects in other organs. We seek to identify lung-selective genes and lung-selective microRNAs that contribute to the unique response of the pulmonary vasculature to low oxygen levels.

Dr Derek Costello

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research examines the inflammatory processes in the brain that underlie neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. We assess the impact of the immune system on the brain, in response to lifestyle factors, metabolic disorders and systemic conditions that promote susceptibility to age-related dysfunction. We examine how the endogenous immune system can be manipulated for therapeutic potential, to restore function and alleviate the negative consequences of inflammatory conditions on the brain.

Dr Aisling Coughlan

Ad Astra Fellow - Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Our work is focused on leveraging epigenomic and functional genomics methods to find new therapeutic avenues in difficult-to-treat cancers. With a particular focus on haematological malignancies, we are using CRISPR-Cas9 screening to uncover therapy resistance mechanisms, and to identify novel sensitizing drug targets tailored to individual patients.

Dr Daniel Crean

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My group are currently looking at the role of NR4A genes in regulating NF-kB signalling in immune cells; the role of NR4A genes in the resolution of inflammation and fibrosis; novel therapeutics, such as BMP-7 mutants and incretin hormones, for the treatment of fibrosis and inflammation.

John Crean

Associate Professor

My focus is on the interplay between CCN proteins and the TGF? superfamily in diabetic nephropathy.

Dr Paul Crossey

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research interests are focused on a family of insulin growth hormone binding proteins (IGFBPs) which regulate IGF bioavailability and thus bioactivity. Reduced IGF-I bioavailability is a feature of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and there is growing evidence that this is an important factor in the pathophysiology of these disorders.

Mark Crowe

Full Professor

As part of the Reproductive Biology Research Cluster, we focus on specific aspects of female infertility in order to identify molecules in ovarian follicles, oocytes, embryos and the cervix and uterus that are responsible for, or are markers of, infertility. This is achieved by using established large animals of fertility/infertility, in vitro cell culture techniques and the latest technological advances in the biosciences to study the structure and function of complex molecules.

Dr Eoin Cummins

Associate Professor

The focus of our research is how different levels of the physiological gases oxygen and carbon dioxide contribute to cell signalling, particularly in the context of inflammation. Current projects are directed towards understanding the mechanisms underpinning the cellular sensitivity to carbon dioxide and cross talk between oxygen and carbon dioxide signalling pathways.

Dr Kevin Daly

Ad Astra Fellow - Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research utilises palaeogenomics - using DNA recovered from ancient material to study living things in the past. I have a particular focus on domestication of small ruminants, sheep and goats. I also explore the evolution of their pathogens, particularly zoonoses, those capable of infecting humans.

Kenneth Dawson

Professor

Understanding the mechanisms and spatiotemporal aspects of nanomaterial interactions with living systems will enable us to design new nano-based therapies and diagnostic platforms, as well as ensuring that nanomaterials not intended for human contact can be utilised safely.

Dr Monica de Gaetano

Lecturer/Assistant Professor (Ad Astra Fellow)

With my team, we are currently focusing on investigating pathogenetic and regression mechanisms of atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of the majority of cardiovascular diseases, by tackling the associated-‘residual inflammatory risk’, combining gold-standard drugs with novel pro-resolving agents, thus promoting the resolution of sustained low-grade-inflammation, charactering such complex disease.

Neil Gerard Docherty

Associate Professor

My research efforts are focused on understanding the mechanisms of action of bariatric/metabolic surgery with a special emphasis on attendant impact on renal microvascular complications of diabetes.

Dr Dearbhaile Dooley

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Over two million people are affected by spinal cord injury (SCI) worldwide. Following SCI, proinflammatory resident microglia and infiltrating macrophages dominate the pathological environment and can exert beneficial or detrimental effects, depending on their activation state. We aim to understand what drives these activation states in order to modulate the inflammatory response and ultimately improve recovery after SCI.

Joe Duffy

Adjunct Professor

Development of new biomarkers and therapeutics for breast cancer

Jim Egan

Professor

Guenther Eissner

Professor

My major research focus is on endothelial pathology in transplant medicine and on mesenchymal stem cells in transplant and regenerative medicine.

Paul Engel

Emeritus Professor (RTA)

We work on various aspects of enzymes, the agents that speed up and make possible every chemical process in our cells. We study ways in which they go wrong in various human genetic diseases. We also alter them deliberately by mutations in order to use them as vital tools for the chemical industry. We study them also in depth to understand just how these tiny molecular machines work and are regulated.

Alexander Evans

Full Professor

As part of the Reproductive Biology Research Cluster, we focus on specific aspects of female infertility in order to identify molecules in ovarian follicles, oocytes, embryos and the cervix and uterus that are responsible for, or are markers of, infertility. This is achieved by using established large animals of fertility/infertility, in vitro cell culture techniques and the latest technological advances in the biosciences to study the structure and function of complex molecules.

Paul Evans

Associate Professor

We are engaged in devising new methods for the chemical synthesis of natural products and their analogues with a view to both inventing and exemplifying new types of chemical reactions and also to investigating the biological activities of the synthesised targets. Targets include fatty acid metabolites and alkaloids with a range of biological effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, cytotoxic and CNS activity

Dr Judith Evers

Ad Astra Fellow - Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research interest is in preclinical models of neuromodulation therapies, specifically for Parkinson's disease. I focus on the electrode-tissue interface of deep brain stimulation electrodes, closed-loop deep brain stimulation and directional leads. I am interested in novel closed-loop algorithms, novel stimulation targets and non-invasive neuromodulation.

Aurelie Fabre

Clinical Full Professor

I provide national expertise in interstitial lung disease and in adult sudden cardiac death, working closely with respiratory consultants and cardiothroacic surgeons. At research levels, I provide expertise in tissue and cell morphology, image analysis, animal models and immunohistochemistry.

Oliver Fitzgerald

Clinical Full Professor

Key research disease area is inflammatory arthritis (IA) in particular psoriatic arthritis. At SVUH, we have built up a large clinical cohort of inflammatory arthritis patients with defined clinical and radiographic phenotype on a longitudinal database. Our bio-resource facilitates the study of disease mechanisms and mode of action of therapeutic interventions.

Dr Nicola Fletcher

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focuses on viral infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and a One Health approach to understand these diseases. My current research focuses on hepatitis E virus, an emerging viral infection that is of increasing importance as a cause of acute hepatitis in people.

Fiona Freeman

Associate Professor

Dr Freeman’s research team primarily focuses on using novel engineering techniques to understand and develop new therapeutics to treat injured and diseased musculoskeletal tissue."

William Gallagher

Full Professor

The identification and validation of biomarkers of breast cancer and melanoma is a major research focus in our group. Biomarkers act as a signature for a specific disease and are used to develop diagnostic tests, enable more targeted treatment strategies and can provide rapid information on the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

Dr Antonio Garzon Vico

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Originally a philosophy and business graduate, I currently conduct research on topics of business of biotech (cognitive biases, learning from success and failure) and teach business skills to science students (business planning, strategy and organisational behaviour). I also advise science-based startups on business planning and organisational behaviour.

Virginie Gautier

Associate Professor

My research programme focuses on the HIV molecular pathogenesis, the host-virus interface and HIV cure and, more recently, SARS-CoV-2 molecular pathogenesis.

Declan Gilheany

Full Professor

Nucleosides are an important drug class that includes some well-known anti-viral and anti-cancer drugs such as Zovirax (cold sores), AZT (HIV) and Gemzar (anti-cancer). There is a limitation on the development of such drugs as their activation within the target cells in the body often is not very efficient. We discovered an easy way to make phosphorus compounds for use in the structure of ‘ProTide’ drugs to enable the self-activation of these nucleosides.

Dr Jeffrey Glennon

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Research is directed towards the neuroscience of rule making and breaking. This employs neuropsychology in combination with brain MRI, neurophysiology and transcriptomic metrics in coordinated mouse and human clinical and population cohorts. Unwillingness to change strategy and rule learning may involve insulin, immune and GABAergic related mechanisms as key elements.

Catherine Godson

Full Professor

Our focus is on the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation, progression and potential regression of diabetic kidney disease; genome wide association study of diabetic kidney disease and lipoxins and lipoxin stable analogues as modulators of inflammatory arthritis

Stephen Gordon

Full Professor

My research interests are in the application of genomic technologies as a route to improved understanding of disease and the exploitation of this knowledge for improved control tools. Current research focuses on improved diagnostics for bovine tuberculosis and Johne's disease.

Aoife Gowen

Professor

My research focuses on advanced hyperspectral chemical imaging techniques combined with chemometrics and molecular dynamics simulations to uncover new knowledge on biodegradation, biofouling and biocompatibility of biomaterials. We use Raman chemical imaging and chemometrics to objectively assess prostate tissue, investigate microbial growth in food matrices and surfaces using hyperspectral imaging across different spatial and spectral modalities.

Andrew Green

Professor

Research interests focus on the application of modern genetic technology in a range of clinical conditions, including inherited neurological disease and cancer as well as ethical aspects of research in paediatrics and in genetics.

Dr Marie-Victoire Guillot-Sestier

College Lecturer

My research focuses on understanding the role of innate and adaptive immunity in brain health. In particular, our lab is investigating sex differences in neuroimmunological alterations occurring physiologically with age and in the context of Alzheimer's Disease. It aims to identify therapeutic targets for innovative patient-centred biotherapeutics against threats to brain health in ageing.

Patrick Guiry

Director

Our research group focuses on synthetic organic chemistry and the ability to synthesise molecules with a range of properties. In our work on inflammation, we prepare stable lipoxin analogues with an active region for biological activity but which resist, or more slowly undergo metabolism and have a longer pharmacological activity. We also have a long-standing interest in the chemistry and biology of amphetamines and substituted MDMA analogues.

Dr Jana Haase

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Understanding function and regulation of the serotonin transporter (SERT), a neurotransmitter transporter implicated in various mood and behavioural disorders and a key target of currently prescribed antidepressants. We are also interested in peripheral functions such as during platelet activation.

Dr Melinda Halasz

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Malignancies arising in children are rare; and differ from cancers developing in adults. However, treatment regimens for children often consist of drugs used to treat adult cancers; and current therapies are associated with long-term side effects in children. My group aims to identify less toxic and better personalised therapies for children with cancer. In particular, we focus on highly aggressive childhood cancers which are driven by the ‘undruggable’ MYCN or MYC transcription factors, such as neuroblastoma (NB) and Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL), respectively.

Dr Ronald Halim

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Our research aims to develop scalable sciences and technologies for cost-effective biorefinery production of food, animal feeds, fuels, and cosmetics from microalgae (and macroalgae) biomass. We adopt a holistic approach which integrates fundamental cellular biology and biosynthetic pathways into the development of novel algal cultivation and processing technologies.

Chandralal Hewage

Associate Professor

Our group is currently working on several research projects to look at the various ways to develop new drugs and alternative therapy in treatment of diabetes and other human diseases.

Dr David Hughes

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My current research in molecular epidemiology examines how nutritional, genetic, metabolic, microbial and lifestyle factors (together with their interactive impact on molecular mechanisms) may affect the initiation and progression of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC; area of most focus), and also current projects in liver, pancreatic, breast, and gastric cancer. Investigative approaches include nutritional, genetic, molecular and microbial epidemiology observational and experimental studies in large European cancer cohorts.

Dr Graham Hughes

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focuses on using comparative genomics, phylogenetics and bioinformatics to understand vertebrate evolution and how sensory perception has evolved across different lineages. I focus primarily on extant mammals and am also interested in the development of automated bioinformatics pipelines to carry out high-throughput analyses.

Suzi Jarvis

Director

We are concerned with the design of novel technologies for biomedical applications and the understanding of the structure and function of molecular interactions on the nanometre scale. Our research is mainly focused on the application of novel atomic force microscopy (AFM) instrumentation and techniques, to find solutions for biomedical problems, at both the cellular and molecular scale.

Dr Rory Johnson

Associate Professor

The human genome produces tens of thousands of enigmatic RNA transcripts that do not encode protein: “long noncoding RNAs” (lncRNAs). Our lab employs an interdisciplinary mixture of bioinformatics and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to identify lncRNAs underpinning cancer and eventually target them therapeutically.

Michael Keane

Full Professor

Cytokines in lung injury and remodelling

Breandán Kennedy

Professor

We focus on genetic pathways and the pharmacological agents that modulate visual function and disease. We use genetic approaches to identify genes and pathways that mediate eye development, development of visual function and cone photoreceptor function. In parallel, we apply random and targeted small molecule drug screens to identify novel compounds that inhibit intraocular angiogenesis in the eye or drugs that modulate vision function in vivo.

Boris Kholodenko

Full Professor

My group employs systems biology driven discovery and validation approaches to develop quantitative, dynamic models of signalling and gene networks that control cellular responses to external cues and thereby cell fate decisions

B. Therese Kinsella

Professor

We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of prostanoid-mediated intracellular signalling and of the factors regulating the transcriptional expression of the TP and IP genes with the objective of obtaining a detailed understanding of TXA2- and prostacyclin-regulated haemostasis and vascular tone as well as their contribution to cardiovascular disease.

Ulla Knaus

Full Professor

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in the host immune defence towards pathogens. We use using 3D cellular systems and/or in vivo models in order to gain a better understanding of the interaction between the immune system and pathogens. A current focus is on the complex relationship between mucosal host defence and bacteria that links signalling networks and functional changes in both in an intricate manner.

Sabine Koelle

Full Professor

My research is focused on reproductive medicine, especially on improving the results of assisted reproduction. Prof Koelle hopes to combine modern imaging techniques with molecular analyses in proteomics and genomics to create new diagnostic and therapeutic tools in subfertility and infertility.

Walter Kolch

Director

My research is focused across three areas: MAPK signalling, proteomics, and cancer research, especially in regard to using systems biology approaches.

Dr Arun Kumar

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

I have successfully directed several projects in preclinical / clinical pharmacology, specifically in cardiovascular pathophysiology, diabetic complications, medical devices, arthritis, and regenerative medicine, which has resulted in either patentable products and/or high impact publications.

Dr Stephen Lalor

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Our research focuses on T cell orchestration of chronic inflammatory disease and the impact of the airway microbiome on pathogenic mechanisms of disease, both within the respiratory tract and systemically.

Carel Le Roux

Professor

I have shown that early diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in obese patients can be reversed by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of such reversal will provide vital clues for innovative therapies and biomarkers of DKD regression/progression.

Gil Lee

Professor

My group works in the emerging field of bionanotechnology, primarily focused on the study of intra- and intermolecular forces in biological molecules responsible for the rich structural and functional behaviour of biological systems; and the synthesis of functional materials that are composed of biomolecules conjugated to nanoparticles.

Brendan Loftus

Professor

My primary research interest is infection biology and the interaction between host and pathogen using transcriptomics and bioinformatics. Other interests involve providing sequencing and bioinformatics in pathogen genomics; human genomics and analyses of personal genomes; using sequencing and bioinformatics to interrogate transcriptional response in infertility; evolution of the transcriptome across pathogen genomes.

Patrick Lonergan

Professor

As part of the Reproductive Biology Research Cluster, we focus on specific aspects of female infertility in order to identify molecules in ovarian follicles, oocytes, embryos and the cervix and uterus that are responsible for, or are markers of, infertility. This is achieved by using established large animals of fertility/infertility, in vitro cell culture techniques and the latest technological advances in the biosciences to study the structure and function of complex molecules.

David MacHugh

Professor

My research activities include functional genomics and systems biology of host/pathogen interactions in domestic animals, with a specific focus on mycobacterial diseases; genomic imprinting and economically important traits in livestock; evolutionary origins and population genetics of domestic cattle; genome mapping in domestic animal species; equine genomics; and application of genomics to commercial animal breeding and food production.

Patricia Maguire

Professor

We discovered new signalling machinery in platelets, termed WNT signalling, and can demonstrate that activation of a distinct subset of this machinery can negatively control platelet function. We now aim to investigate how the full complement of WNT machinery regulates platelet activity.

Kevin Malone

Professor

Clinical genetics of mood and psychiatric disorders

Dr Mario Manresa

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focuses on understanding the mediators and molecular mechanisms that define structural cell diversity, pathogenic activities and stroma-immune cell interactions in chronic inflammatory diseases.

Dr Simone Marcone

Lecturer / Assistant Professor

My research focuses on tackling cancer progression and response to therapy by targeting inflammation and metabolic reprogramming in GI cancers.

Adrián Mariño Enríquez

Consultant/Associate Professor

My goal as a physician scientist is to improve the clinical outcome of sarcoma patients through rigorous translational research. We use high-throughput functional and structural genomic approaches to identify therapeutic targets and exploitable vulnerabilities in cancer cells. On the clinical lab, we analyse sarcoma patient samples to identify diagnostic and predictive morpho-molecular biomarkers.

Margaret McGee

Associate Professor

Our research is focused on further understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell division and cell death and how crosstalk between these distinct processes regulates cell fate. We are examining the precise role of mitotic kinases and phosphatases as key upstream regulators of cell death.

Fionnuala McAuliffe

Professor

Key research areas are 1) Diabetes in pregnancy; research into the effect on mother and baby of pre pregnancy diabetes and of gestational diabetes 2) Nutrition in pregnancy; examination of the impact of maternal nutrition on maternal health and infant health 3)Ultrasound imaging in pregnancy; expanding the diagnostic role of ultrasound in its assessment of fetal health and fetal growth

Amanda McCann

Professor

My research interests focus on the mechanisms underlying Paclitaxel chemoresistance for patients presenting with epithelial ovarian cancer and breast cancer, specifically triple negative breast cancer. I also focus on how DNA methylation and histone modifications are altered in hypoxia and how this relates to ultimate chemoresistance and retention of cellular viability in the face of chemotherapeutic engagement.

Cormac McCarthy

Associate Professor

My research interests are in the molecular pathogenesis of rare parenchymal and interstitial lung diseases. Current area of focus is on the role of macrophage lipid homeostasis in the pathogenesis of fibrotic lung disease and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and the role of exosomes in epithelial to mesenchymal transition in lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Siobhán McClean

Professor

My research focuses on 1. Chronic respiratory infection, specifically pathogens that cause opportunistic infections in cystic fibrosis patients, including Burkholderia cepacia complex and P. aeruginosa 2. Vaccine development: we identified a number of bacterial adhesins using a proteomic approach, which showed potential vaccine candidates. 3. Host responses of epithelial cells; mechanisms of pathogenesis; mechanisms of bacterial adaptation during chronic colonisation.

Dr Fiona McGillicuddy

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

I am interested in the impact of obesity and inflammation on HDL function and cardiovascular health. A key goal of this research is to establish the effects of the obesigenic environment on the capacity of macrophages to mediate cholesterol efflux to HDL particles.

Edward McKone

Professor

Paul McLoughlin

Professor

https://people.ucd.ie/paul.mcloughlin

Dr Hilary McMahon

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My group works in the area of prion related disorders that affect both animals and humans and share similarities with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Abnormal processing of a disease associated endogenous protein is found in both systems. We are investigating the link between the prion protein and AD and also processes to eliminate prion associated disorders through the development of new decontaminants.

Tara McMorrow

Associate Professor

Our research focus is to investigate some of the causes of kidney disease. We have identified a number of proteins that malfunction during the development of kidney disease and are investigating the importance of these proteins in causing disease so as to identify novel early biomarkers and potential therapeutic strategies.

Walter McNicholas

Professor

Sleep apnoea

Dr Kieran Meade

Associate Professor

Controlling infectious disease at source is fundamental to support agriculture, protect the food chain and human health. My research focuses on host immunity; supporting resilience and the factors that contribute to disease susceptibility. I want to address knowledge gaps in bovine immunity using multiple disease models including tuberculosis, Johne's disease, endometritis and models for calf health.

Wim Meijer

Professor

Research in my group focuses on three areas: water quality, animal reproduction and foal pneumonia. The facultative intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi has many physiological and pathological similarities to the related pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Grace Mulcahy

Professor

My research group focuses on host-pathogen interactions, and is actively involved in understanding how helminths interfere with protective immunity to bacterial infections.

Cormac Murphy

Professor

My research group focuses on host-pathogen interactions, and is actively involved in understanding how helminths interfere with protective immunity to bacterial infections.

Keith Murphy

Professor

Our research group is dedicated to the identification of novel drug targets for the treatment of age-related neurological and neurodegenerative diseases such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Dr Madeline Murphy

Senior Scientist

The focus of my research is the identification and functional characterisation of novel therapeutic targets with the aim of developing improved therapeutics and diagnostics for fibrotic disease (including diabetic kidney disease) and more recently for cancer.

Dr Rajat Nag

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research focuses on source-pathway(air, water, food)-receptor modelling applied to a suite of environmental and human health risk assessment topics using probabilistic and stochastic modelling under climate change scenarios. These are microbial and chemical (heavy metals and metalloids, micro and nano plastics, bisphenol A, PFAS, and mycotoxins) risks.

Fionnuala Ni Ainle

Professor

My principal research focus is to investigate the role of coagulation and inflammation in human disease, particularly in disorders affecting maternal health. Current funded projects include investigating coagulation activation in early onset preeclampsia, a disorder associated with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality; and optimising low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) endothelial protective properties in an effort to identify novel prevention strategies in cancer metastasis.

Niamh Nowlan

Professor

Prof Nowlan’s research focuses on the role of mechanical forces in prenatal and postnatal development of the bones, joints and spine. The research is contributing to a better understanding of why babies and children suffer from conditions like developmental dysplasia of the hip and metabolic bone disease of prematurity, and our goal is to develop better diagnostic and treatment strategies for such conditions.

Dr Peter O'Brien

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

We have invented and validated a predictive cell-based assay for screening drug candidates for their risk of producing idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity and various other toxicities. We are further developing this method to enhance its user-friendliness and predictive effectiveness as well as adapting it for use in detection of on-going toxicity in vivo.

Dr. Eoin O'Cearbhaill

Associate Professor

I am interested in working with clinicians and scientists to identify clinical needs and develop appropriate solutions with a strategic focus on targeted, minimally invasive delivery of next-generation therapeutics.

David O'Connell

Associate Professor

My basic research is focused on the mechanism of action of calcium binding proteins. In applied research, we develop novel EF hand based affinity tags. This patented technology is now the subject of research collaboration with industrial and academic partners.

John O'Connor

Professor

My group are interested in neuron to neuron signalling in the brain and how the immune system interacts with this. We are particularly interested in how pro inflammatory molecules modulate synaptic plasticity (a model for memory formation) before and during hypoxic insults to neurons. We are currently investigating how neurons adapt to acute hypoxic exposure.

Kevin O'Connor

Professor

My research work uses bacteria and their enzymes to develop green technologies for polymer and chemical production.

Dr Tadhg Ó'Cróinín

Associate Professor

My group focus on discovering how microorganisms respond to changes in their environment and in particular how they alter their gene expression to cause disease under certain conditions. Much of our work is concentrated on studying the food borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni.

Donal O'Shea

Professor

The gut hormone regulation of innate immunity and innate immune cell regulation of weight in adult and paediatric obesity

Niamh O'Sullivan

Associate Professor

Research in my lab aims to uncover the role of the smooth ER in neurons and how disruption of this organelle, brought about by disease-causing variants in ER-shaping proteins, gives rise to neurodegeneration. By generating novel in-vivo and in-vitro model systems, we aim to better understand the functions of genes underpinning inherited neurodegenerative diseases.

Stefan Oscarson

Professor

Syntheses of biologically active oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates and development of methods to facilitate these syntheses. Both human, plant and microbial carbohydrate are of interest and synthesised. Biological applications are as antibiotics or vaccines.

Stephen Pennington

Professor

Current interests and funded projects focus on the discovery, measurement and evaluation of protein biomarkers. We aim to progress protein biomarkers from discovery to clinical utility in the areas of oncology and inflammatory disease. We also investigate mechanisms of disease progression focusing on prostate cancer and psoriatic arthritis. We have recently used LC-MS/MS methods to characterise protein expression in discrete regions of prostate tumour following isolation of tumour tissue material by laser capture micro dissection.

Dr Antoinette Perry

Associate Professor

My research interests are focused on translational prostate cancer epigenetics; understanding the role of epigenomic aberrations in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer and harnessing these aberrations to develop prognostic and predictive biomarkers. My group has a particular interest in studying DNA methylation changes in the prostate gland and in 'liquid biopsies' that can act as surrogates for non-invasive tumour detection and monitoring.

Dr Andrew Phillips

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research interests are in the development of sustainable catalytic processes utilising natural products; energy related catalysis, especially in the area of hydrogen storage from ammonia boranes; pioneering new multifunctional anticancer compounds with enhanced selectivity and inhibitor delivery; development of silver antibiotic drugs with biofilm inhibitor behaviour and activity against MRSA bacteria.

Dr Shirley Potter

Clinical Professor

Summary I am a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon with a strong research focus. I am involved in MelmarT Melanoma Margins Trial with Cancer Trials Ireland and developed a Melanoma Patient Research Group, with the aim of keeping patients involved in melanoma research.

Dr. Maria Prencipe

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My studies combine in vitro techniques necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms behind chemoresistance with robust patient validation. This integrated translational approach will contribute to the better understanding of the mechanisms of anti-AR therapy resistance in the clinical setting, leading to better and more efficient therapies in both breast and prostate cancer. Importantly, the availability of small-molecule inhibitors for our targets of interest can potentially lead to rapid translation into the clinic.

Prem Puri

Professor

My research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms causing some of the common congenital birth defects e.g. Vesicoureteral reflux, Hirschsprung's disease, congenital diaphragmatic hernia and oesophageal atresia.

Dr Sean Quinlan

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My main research focus is on the pathophysiology of seizures during early life development, and their role in epilepsy aetiology. Our group investigates the role of calcium activated potassium channels, and intracellular calcium channels receptors. Along with uncovering the spatial dynamics of cellular changes of the hippocampus in epilepsy.

Dr Arman Rahman

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

I focus on cancer biomarker development and validation using tissue-based detection techniques and lead the development of the Precision Oncology Ireland Tissue Imaging Platform. I also promote interactions between researchers and cancer patients, working with charity partners, so that patients can become more directly involved in the research activities taking place in the laboratory.

Dr. Rey-Keim

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

We are interested in delineating novel, non-canonical as well as canonical hypoxia- inducible factor (HIF)-α dependent mechanisms of oxygen sensing in cancer. To accomplish this goal, we utilize classical molecular and transcriptomic approaches in combination with top-down statistical modeling and high throughput transcriptomic analyses, both in vitro and in vivo.

Dr Emmanuel Reynaud

Adjunct Lecturer/Assistant Professor

The "R"lab (Renaissance) is a multidisciplinary laboratory that used sustainable and inclusive approaches to understand epithelial biology from choanoflagellates to human cancers. We are involved in new technology development from microcontact printing and laser nanosurgery to light sheet microscopy working with companies (e.g. Carl Zeiss; Lighsheet Z.1) as well as NGOs. The use of 3D bioprinted tissues and 3D cell culture techniques is our next goal to push forward 3D cell biology.

Dr Alison Reynolds

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

I work in eye-related research, using zebrafish as a model. I investigate the causes of inherited forms of blindness, I uncover new drugs and develop them as potential therapies for vascular and inflammatory forms of blindness (e.g. age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy) and dry eye disease. I also have an interest in retinal toxicology, examining drugs to see whether they are toxic in the developing retina.

Dr Clare Reynolds

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My current research focus centers on to identification of molecular targets which influence early life risk factors for obesity in offspring born to parents (both mother and father) who are obese or consume a Westernized diet. This work programme will also investigate dietary and exercise based intervention strategies during critical early life time-points (pregnancy, lactation and infancy) to examine the potential for reversal of negative health implications in the offspring.

Dr Claire Robinson

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

Summary Our research aims to understand how cell stress responses impact cancer initiation, development and progression with a view to targeting these responses in solid tumours. Our current focus aims to improve understanding of the role/s and targetability of a stress response called the unfolded protein response in pancreatic cancer.

Helen Roche

Full Professor, Director

Our Nutrigenomics Group focuses on the molecular basis of diet induced obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. There is a strong inflammatory aspect to our work, as we are particularly focused on how dietary/metabolic stressors trigger a pro-inflammatory insulin resistant state.

Brian Rodriguez

Professor

My research group focuses on functional biological materials and advanced scanning probe microscopy-based characterisation techniques of biological materials. In particular, we develop and employ techniques to measure electrostatic interactions and electromechanical coupling in biosystems at the molecular level. Our current emphasis is to explore physical interactions between biosystems and materials properties and structure through the use of charged probes and charge-patterned templates.

Dr Colm Ryan

Associate Professor

I am a computational biologist and use large-scale data science methods to understand how biological systems function. A particular focus of my group is the development of approaches to understand how mutations in cancer alter molecular interaction networks and to identify ways to target these alterations therapeutically.

Silke Ryan

Clinical Professor

Our research is focused on the identification of the mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We are specifically interested in inflammatory responses to intermittent hypoxia as the hallmark feature in OSA. Using a translational approach involving cell culture, animal and human studies, we are currently investigating the signalling mechanisms of intermittent hypoxia-induced adipose tissue inflammation and its interaction with obesity.

Dr Luana Schito

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

The long-term objective of my research program is to enhance our understanding of the role of hypoxia as an organising molecular principle in cancer pathophysiology, holding the promise of generating knowledge leading to effective treatments, designed to forestall or eradicate the disease.

Dr Noreen Sheehy

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research area is molecular virology and specifically relates to the investigation of the pathogenesis of the human retroviruses human T cell leukemia viruses types 1 and 2. Key focus areas are: 1) Regulation of cellular signalling pathways by HTLV Tax oncogenic proteins 2) Investigation of the pathogenesis of leukemia/lymphoma development in ATLL mouse animal model 3)Characterisation of novel HTLV /cellular protein/protein interactions

Denis Shields

Professor

https://people.ucd.ie/denis.shields

Jeremy Simpson

College Principal

My main area of work is focused on gaining a greater understanding of membrane trafficking pathways within mammalian cells, and how they are co-ordinated spatially and temporally. In particular, we are dissecting the molecular machinery responsible for trafficking from the cell surface to organelles of the early secretory pathway, and exploring the use of these pathways for their potential as drug delivery routes.

Albert Smolenski

Associate Professor

We are studying the mechanisms of platelet inhibition with the aim of identifying new diagnostic markers of platelet reactivity as well as targets for improved antiplatelet therapy.

Cormac Taylor

Professor

Current research is directed towards expanding our understanding of the mechanisms by which hypoxia regulates transcriptional events in the context of inflammatory disease and cancer. We focus on the regulation of inflammatory gene expression in response to hypoxia and the transcriptional regulators underlying such events particularly in the hypoxia inducible factor and the NF-kappaB pathways.

Emma Teeling

Professor

My research interests lie in the cross-cutting fields of mammalian phylogenetics and comparative genomics, with particular expertise in bat biology.

Dr Stephen Thorpe

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

The aim of my research is to leverage fundamental mechanobiology knowledge to direct cell behaviour through specific cell-matrix interactions and biophysical stimulation for regenerative medicine and to disrupt aberrant mechano-signalling in disease.

Desmond Tobin

Professor

My research is in the area of basic and applied skin/hair sciences, with a particular focus on the regulation of hair growth in health and disease especially those conditions with an immune-medicated basis, and on the biology of human melanocytes/pigmentation in health and disease.

Dr Martina Wallace

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

My research is centered around the role of metabolic pathway dysfunction in disease with a focus on obesity. I use stable isotope tracing, mass spectrometry and molecular biology approaches in vitro and in vivo to study this and have a particular interest in de novo lipogenesis and amino acid metabolism.

Wenxin Wang

Professor

Macromolecular design and engineering via controlled/living polymerisation techniques and click chemistry; Functional nanomaterials - knot and/or dendritic polymers as multifunctional carriers for targeted therapeutic drugs and DNA/RNA delivery; Skin gene therapy and the development of new DNA plasmid vectors; Bio-inspired responsive polymers as dressing/adhesive for wound healing; Injectable ECM biopolymer hybrid hydrogels for stem cells encapsulation and delivery; Biodegradable Medical Device - stent and conduit; Clinical targets: Skin wounds, bone & cartilage, cardiovascular disease

Dr Chris Watson

Reader

My research is primarily focused on biomarkers, novel therapeutics and unravelling mechanisms of disease (epigenetics) in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, & global health. Currently based in Queen's University Belfast, I have an adjunct visiting lecturer position with UCD School of Medicine and continue research activities in UCD while holding Associate Conway Fellowship.

Bill Watson

Professor

My focus of research is in prostate cancer with specific interests in 1) Biomarker discovery and validation for grade and stage of prostate cancer to inform appropriate treatment strategies; 2) Understanding the mechanisms of resistances to therapy of advanced disease.

Dr Jessica Whelan

Lecturer/Assistant Professor, Head Of School

My research focuses on addressing the challenges facing biomanufacture of medicines such as therapeutic proteins, cell and gene therapies and vaccines. I seek to build fundamental understanding of the relationship between cellular biology and bioprocess performance by applying methods such as process modelling, process analytical technology and robust experimental investigation.

Matthias Wilm

Professor

My research focuses on the field of mass spectrometry based proteomics. A mass spectrometric analysis allows the rapid identification of proteins within a sample of biological origin. The aim is to generate a deeper understanding how cellular processes work on the molecular level.

Gerry Wilson

Professor

Research focuses on athogenesis of inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases

Kenneth Wolfe

Professor

My research area is genome evolution in eukaryotes with a focus on yeasts as a primary system to work on. Current research projects underway are investigating gene gain and loss; orphan genes; gene order evolution; evolution of the yeast MAT locus system.

Dr Katharina Wollenberg Valero

Associate Professor

My research aims to advance the understanding the dynamics of environmental stress response and –adaptation at multiple levels of biological organisation, with a focus on functional and comparative genomics. I focus on ectothermic animals and the effects of climatic changes on them such as extreme heat or oceanic conditions.

Dr Junli Xu

Associate Professor

Research interests focus on applying spectral imaging combined with advanced data analysis (including machine learning) to solve challenging problems in different fields. My ongoing research project, funded by SFI-IRC Pathway Programme, aims to improve the understanding of the human health impacts in response to microplastics released from plastic packaging materials.

Dr Yan Yan

Associate Professor

My group works to understand how immune cells integrate signals at nanoscale with a particular focus on nanoparticle-innate immune interactions. Specifically, we are examining how nanoparticles are recognized and processed by innate immune cells, leading to the induction of cellular immunity. Also we are investigating how and to what extent such interactions can be used to create nanoscale intervention for immunotherapies.

Dimitrios Zevgolis

Professor

Research platforms: A. Biomaterial- and cell- based therapeutic, reparative and regenerative products for healthcare. B. In vitro pathophysiology models for drug discovery. C. Cellular agriculture and aquaculture meat products for food security. D. Tools and technologies that enable effective and efficient ex vivo cell propagation for the cell culture sector.

Dr Xiangming Zhu

Lecturer/Assistant Professor

We develop new methodologies for the synthesis of carbohydrate and glycoconjugates, including development of new glycosylation methods. Also, we are interested in the synthesis of thioglycoside analogues of natural carbohydrates and glycoconjugates .