Oliver Blacque

Professor Oliver Blacque is an Associate Professor at University College Dublin's School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, where he leads research on primary cilia biology and related human diseases. Based at the Conway Institute, he has established himself as a leading researcher in the field of cilia biology and ciliopathies, combining molecular, cellular, and genetic approaches to understand fundamental mechanisms of ciliary function and dysfunction.

Professor Blacque's educational background includes:

• BSc, MSc, PhD from University College Dublin
• PhD in Biochemistry supervised by Worrall M (1996-2001)
• Postdoctoral training at Simon Fraser University, Canada under Prof. Michel Leroux (2002-2005)

His research focuses on understanding the molecular basis of primary cilia assembly, function, and their links to human disease. Primary cilia are microtubule-based cellular organelles that serve critical sensory functions across many cell types. His laboratory uses Caenorhabditis elegans as a powerful model system to dissect ciliary biology through genetics and cell biology approaches. His work has significant implications for understanding and treating ciliopathies - genetic disorders including Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Joubert syndrome, and various organ-specific diseases affecting the retina, kidneys, and brain. His research spans intraflagellar transport mechanisms, ciliary membrane dynamics, protein targeting to cilia, and functional characterization of ciliopathy-associated genes.

His recent publications reveal a strong translational focus on ciliopathies, with particular emphasis on disease mechanisms through model organisms like C. elegans and zebrafish. His work bridges basic cilia biology with clinical applications, especially in retinal diseases and genetic variant interpretation. A significant portion of his research investigates how specific proteins (particularly RAB GTPases like RAB28) regulate ciliary structure and function, with direct relevance to human diseases including cone-rod dystrophy. His lab has developed innovative bioinformatics approaches like CilioGenics to predict novel ciliary genes and improve genetic diagnosis of ciliopathies.

Professor Blacque has received several prestigious awards:

• SFI Principal Investigator Award (2011)
• SFI President of Ireland Young Researcher Award (2006)

Professor Blacque actively mentors students and researchers in his laboratory at the Conway Institute. He has secured substantial research funding from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Health Research Board (HRB), and international collaborations to support his research program. His current grants include projects on cilia-related inherited retinal dystrophy, interpreting human genetic variation in cilia disease using C. elegans, and rare disease modeling and drug discovery. He serves on various committees including the SBBS Research & Innovation committee and has been involved in numerous peer review activities for major scientific journals.

Professor Blacque leads a research team at the Conway Institute's imaging facility, where he utilizes advanced microscopy techniques to study cilia structure and function. His laboratory combines genetic, cell biological, and biochemical approaches with model organisms to investigate fundamental questions in cilia biology. The lab maintains strong collaborations with clinical researchers and international consortia focused on ciliopathies, creating a translational research environment that bridges basic science and patient care.