Owen Kavanagh

Dr. Owen Kavanagh is a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at York St John University's School of Science, Technology and Health. He holds a BSc in Pharmacology from University College Dublin (with a Biochemistry minor), a PhD in Veterinary Immunology from Queen's University Belfast, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (PGCHET), making him a Fellow of the Higher Education Authority (FHEA). His academic roles include serving as External Examiner for the University of Roehampton's Biomedical Science programs and Secretary to the British Society of Immunology's Teaching Affinity Group.

Research interests focus on biomarkers of stress-related conditions, inflammation, exercise-induced cancer prevention, and reducing animal use in biomedical research. Key projects include collaborations on burnout biomarkers (with Prof. Daniel Madigan), physiological inflammation markers (InSPIRe group), and anti-cancer drug improvement (Prof. Roger Phillips). He also advocates for methodological reforms to address animal testing bias through initiatives like the COLAAB consortium.

Teaching responsibilities span all levels of the Biomedical Science program, with contributions to module design and postgraduate supervision. Professional activities include editorial roles at the British Journal of Biomedical Science and advisory work for the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments (FRAME). During the pandemic, he provided virology expertise on Greatest Hits Radio.

Recent publications emphasize athlete and teacher burnout's health impacts, biomarker validation, and translational research ethics. His work bridges laboratory science with real-world applications, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and educational innovation.