Find Academic Supervisors

• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Synthetic and systems biology
• +8 more

Tanja Narancic is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science at University College Dublin (UCD). She is also an academic collaborator at the Bioeconomy Research Centre BiOrbic, where she coordinates multiple research projects among PIs, PostDocs, PhD students, and designs projects proposed by industrial partners. Dr. Narancic earned her PhD in Applied Microbiology from the University of Belgrade, Serbia in 2012, followed by postdoctoral research at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering in Belgrade. In 2013, she joined University College Dublin as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow under Prof. Kevin O'Connor, where she investigated microbial metabolic pathways using proteomics, metabolomics, and synthetic biology tools as part of FP7 and H2020 projects. She became a Research Fellow at BiOrbic in 2019 before advancing to her current position as Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on elucidating bacterial metabolism and leveraging synthetic biology tools to exploit bacteria for producing high-value products. Key research areas include: Proteomics, Metabolomics, and Transcriptomics for microbial pathway analysis Metabolic engineering for bioproduction Biocatalysis and enzyme optimization Protein engineering and purification Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production from waste streams Plastic upcycling and biodegradation technologies Dr. Narancic's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on converting plastic waste into valuable biodegradable materials through innovative biotechnological approaches. Her recent work has centered on developing microbial systems for upcycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefins, and other recalcitrant plastics into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and other high-value products. She has made significant contributions to understanding the metabolic pathways involved in plastic monomer conversion and has developed engineered strains with enhanced capabilities for plastic upcycling. As a principal investigator, Dr. Narancic leads multiple significant research projects including the Ad Astra Studentship (2023-2028), the UPLIFT project on sustainable plastics for food packaging (2021-2025), and the PROMOFER project (2024-2028) on optimizing PHB production. She also serves as a reviewer for numerous prestigious journals including Enzyme and Microbial Technology, Journal of Applied Microbiology, and Microbial Biotechnology. Her teaching portfolio includes coordination of multiple modules such as Bioprocessing, Metabolism and Disease, and SynBio for Bioeconomy, demonstrating her commitment to educating the next generation of scientists in both fundamental and applied aspects of biomolecular science.

• Food Safety
• Food Chain Integrity
• Microbiological Risk Assessment
• +6 more

Professor Francis Butler is a Full Professor at University College Dublin's School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, where he has been since 1990. His academic roles include research leadership in food safety, food chain integrity, and microbial risk assessment. He leads the UCD Institute for Food and Health and the UCD Centre for Food Safety as a Principal Investigator. Education: BE, Grad Dip University Teaching & Learning, MBA, and PhD from University College Dublin. Research Focus: His work centers on food safety hazards, quantitative risk assessment, and next-generation sequencing for pathogen identification. Recent projects include Listeria monocytogenes growth modeling, norovirus in oysters, and hepatitis E in pork products. He has secured over €6 million in research grants, including EU-funded projects like FOODINTEGRITY and SIGMACHAIN. Awards & Recognition: European Food Safety Authority Fellowship, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship, and UCD Teaching Grant. He coordinates international educational programs, including the UCD MSC Food Safety and Risk Analysis. Professional Activities: Member of EFSA advisory committees, editorial boards (e.g., Microbial Risk Analysis ), and international conference chairs. His work bridges academia, industry, and policy to enhance food safety standards globally.

Annette ByrneView profile

Professor

• Precision Medicine
• Molecular Imaging
• Angiogenesis
• +7 more

Professor Annette Byrne is a leading academic at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences , where she serves as Professor of Physiology and Head of the Precision Cancer Medicine (PCM) Group. She has held this position since 2019 after progressing through roles as Lecturer (2008), Senior Lecturer (2013), and Associate Professor (2017). Her research focuses on precision medicine approaches for colorectal and brain cancers , integrating multi-modality molecular imaging , Next Generation Sequencing , and patient-derived xenograft models . PhD in Cell Biology (University of York, 1999) John Kerner Fellowship in Gynaecologic Oncology (UCSF, 1999-2001) Scientist at Pharmacyclics Inc. (2001-2003) Senior Scientist at Angion Biomedica Corp. (2003-2005) Principal Investigator at UCD Conway Institute (2005-2008) Her research interest lies in precision cancer medicine , particularly elucidating predictive biomarkers (genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic) and identifying novel therapeutic targets . Key methodologies include radiomics , fluorescence-guided surgery , and systems modeling of apoptosis pathways. She has pioneered Ireland's first Tumour Xenograft Facility and Translational In Vivo Imaging Centre . Recent publications highlight her work on cross-species radiomics , cell-free DNA analysis , and glioblastoma microenvironment subtyping . Her Marie Curie networks (Gliotrain, Glioresolve) and COLOSSUS project have trained 25+ PhD researchers in brain cancer therapeutics. Over €45M in national/international grants Member of Royal Irish Academy (2025) Highly cited in Cancer Discovery , Annals of Oncology , and Nature journals She supervises multiple PhD candidates and leads the RCSI Precision Cancer Medicine Group , which utilizes computational approaches and molecular imaging to improve cancer treatment outcomes. Her GLIORESOLVE and EDIReX projects focus on tumor microenvironment manipulation and distributed PDX infrastructure.

• Prostate Cancer
• Cancer Biology
• Translational Research
• +7 more

Professor Bill Watson is a Full Professor of Cancer Biology at the University College Dublin, School of Medicine , where he serves as Head of Pathology and Director of the Biomedical Health and Life Science BSc program. With a PhD in Biochemistry (University College Cork, 1995) and post-doctoral training at the University of Toronto, he has led translational research in prostate cancer since returning to UCD in 1997. His work focuses on biomarker discovery, therapy resistance mechanisms, and clinical decision tools through the Prostate Cancer Research Consortium and iPROSPECT collaborations. Education: BSc (University College Dublin), PhD (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (Toronto General Hospital) His research integrates genomic, epigenetic, and proteomic biomarkers to improve prostate cancer stratification and treatment selection, as demonstrated in the Movember Global Action Plan and ToPCaP initiatives. Recent studies include validating a six-gene MCRS signature for biopsy-based prognostics (2025) and developing beta mixture models for DNA methylation analysis (2024). Scientific Awards include the Alton Prize (2000), Presidents Awards for Teaching (2000, 1998), and Young Investigator Award (1995). He has received grants such as the UCD Equip Scheme (2021) and Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer (2009-2015) . Professional Leadership: Irish Association for Cancer Research (President 2014-2017), Cancer Trials Ireland (Chair of Translational DSSG 2014-present), and Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (Fellow since 2006)

• Breast Cancer
• Endocrine Therapy Resistance
• Cancer Metastasis
• +4 more

Professor Leonie Young holds a Professorship in the Department of Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), based at York House in Dublin. Her academic career includes roles as Associate Professor (2011–2018) and Professor (2018–present). Her research focuses on uncovering mechanisms of endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer, particularly involving Steroid Receptor Coactivator (SRC) proteins and metastasis to the brain. She leads the Endocrine Oncology Research Group, leveraging primary patient-derived cell cultures and clinical datasets to identify predictive markers and therapeutic targets. Research Interests: Prof. Young’s work spans breast cancer biology, endocrine resistance, translational oncology, and targeted therapies for metastatic disease. Her group employs high-throughput methods, molecular modeling, and spatial genomics to study SRC-mediated resistance pathways. Current projects include the GeTTMet initiative addressing brain metastasis through genomic adaptations. Grants & Collaborations: She has secured funding from institutions like Science Foundation Ireland, Breast Cancer Ireland, and the EU. Notable grants include the GeTTMet program (2024–2028) targeting brain metastasis via genomic approaches. Her lab collaborates on projects like the OECI Comprehensive Cancer Centre and AICRIstart precision medicine initiatives. Labs & Teams: Leads the Endocrine Oncology Research Group at RCSI, focusing on translational research to bridge molecular insights with clinical applications. The group investigates nuclear receptor interactions, tumor heterogeneity, and novel therapeutic strategies.

Kathleen CurranView profile

Professor

• Artificial Intelligence
• Machine Learning
• Computer Vision
• +3 more

Prof. Kathleen Curran is a Professor at University College Dublin (UCD) and director of the UCD machine learning in medical imaging and diagnostics innovative research lab ( https://www.ucd-ml-mi.com/ ). She serves as an Affiliated Principal Investigator in the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, an INSIGHT funded investigator, and a funded investigator in the Science Foundation Ireland centre for research training in machine learning (ML-Labs). Her research integrates artificial intelligence, computer vision, and clinical medicine to develop interpretable AI solutions for medical diagnostics. Key focus areas include fetal ultrasound imaging, cardiac MRI reconstruction, neuroimaging for Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis, and biomarker discovery for conditions like lymphangioleiomyomatosis and placenta accreta spectrum. She pioneers techniques in diffusion models, explainable AI, and multi-modal learning to address challenges in low-data medical scenarios. Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant trends in applying generative models for medical data augmentation, developing uncertainty-aware diagnostic systems, and creating interpretable clinical AI tools. Her work consistently targets high-impact clinical applications including fetal development monitoring, cardiovascular disease management, and neurological disorder detection, with strong emphasis on real-world clinical implementation. Scientific recognition includes: 2019 InterTrade Ireland FUSION Project Exemplar Award (with Axial Medical Printing Ltd.) Three Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund awards as Principal Investigator Horizon Europe consortium funding for SMASH-HCM project (Stratification, Management, and Guidance of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients using Hybrid Digital Twin Solutions) Prof. Curran leads significant research funding initiatives including Horizon Europe and multiple Enterprise Ireland awards. Her group actively collaborates with industry partners like Axial Medical Printing Ltd. and participates in national research centers such as INSIGHT and ML-Labs, driving translational AI research from bench to bedside. The UCD machine learning in medical imaging and diagnostics lab ( https://www.ucd-ml-mi.com/ ) serves as her primary research hub, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations between computer scientists, clinicians, and biomedical engineers to advance clinical AI solutions.

• Molecular Oncology
• Cancer Biology
• Genomics
• +4 more

Prof Darran O'Connor is a Professor of Molecular Oncology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), leading the School of Postgraduate Studies. His academic journey includes postdoctoral training at Columbia University and the University of Glasgow, followed by roles at UCD and RCSI. He specializes in molecular determinants of cancer progression, focusing on genomics, drug resistance, and therapeutic development. His lab is funded by SFI, EU, and cancer-focused foundations. Awards include the St Luke's Young Investigator Award and EMBO fellowships. Education: PhD in Cancer Biology, Trinity College Dublin/RCSI (1995–2000) MSc in Biological Sciences, Dublin City University (1994–1995) BA (Mod) Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin (1990–1994) Research Interests: Molecular oncology, cancer genomics, spatial transcriptomics, tumor microenvironment, and translational therapeutics. His work integrates functional genomics, in vitro/ex vivo models, and clinical translation using tissue microarrays. Grants & Awards: Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), EU, Susan G. Komen Foundation 9th St Luke's Young Investigator Award (2012) EMBO and Human Frontiers Science Programme Fellowships Labs & Teams: Leads a multidisciplinary team at RCSI's Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics department, focusing on cancer biology and precision medicine. Collaborates globally with institutes like Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Netherlands Cancer Institute.

Cormac TaylorView profile

Professor

• Hypoxia
• Cellular Physiology
• Gene Expression Regulation
• +4 more

Professor Cormac Taylor is a Full Professor at the School of Medicine, University College Dublin, where he leads a research group at the UCD Conway Institute. His research focuses on hypoxia-mediated transcriptional regulation in epithelial cells, with applications in chronic inflammatory diseases. He holds a PhD in Pharmacology from University College Dublin (1996) and completed postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School. His research investigates: Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathways Metabolic reprogramming during oxygen stress Epithelial cell responses to inflammatory stimuli Therapeutic targeting of hypoxia pathways in disease Host-microbe interactions in gastrointestinal inflammation Research outputs demonstrate consistent focus on hypoxia-mediated metabolic adaptation, with recent work exploring HIF's role in cancer, diabetes, and infection biology. Articles show advanced techniques in metabolomics, transcriptomics, and molecular pathway analysis. Awards & Honors: Elected to Royal Irish Academy (2013) - Highest Irish academic honor Nature Award for Mentoring in Science (2014) Takeda Distinguished Researcher Award (2016) - First non-US recipient Research Leadership: Maintained continuous funding from Science Foundation Ireland since 2002 with additional grants from Wellcome Trust and NIH. Successfully supervised 16 PhD students. Serves as Managing Editor of Frontiers in Biosciences and Editorial Board Member for American Journal of Physiology. Laboratory: Leads hypoxia research group at UCD Conway Institute investigating therapeutic targeting of hypoxia pathways in chronic inflammation and cancer.

• Animal Nutrition
• Swine Health
• Poultry Diets
• +7 more

Cormac O'Shea is a Professor and Head of Department at the Faculty of Science and Health, Department of Bioveterinary and Microbial Sciences. His research focuses on animal nutrition, feed efficiency, and gastrointestinal health in swine and poultry systems. Recent publications highlight trends in dietary supplementation with marine extracts (laminarin, fucoidan), mineral dynamics in broiler chickens, and metabolic implications of feed efficiency in laying hens. Key subfields include transcriptomic profiling of digestive organs, microbial ecology in livestock, and functional feed additives. While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the provided text, his work has been covered by media outlets such as the University of Technology and University of Nottingham. His research spans nutritional interventions to improve productivity, organ health, and welfare in commercial livestock systems.

David FitzpatrickView profile

Professor

• Microbial Evolution
• Fungal Genomics
• Oomycete Biology
• +7 more

David Fitzpatrick is a Professor and Principal Investigator (PI) of the Genome Evolution Laboratory at Maynooth University since 2024. He also holds a Visiting Professorship at Leeds Beckett University. Previously, he served as Associate Professor (2020–2024) and Lecturer (2009–2020) at Maynooth University. His academic journey includes postdoctoral fellowships at University College Dublin (2005–2009) and Maynooth University (2004–2005). Education: Fitzpatrick earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biology from NUI Maynooth (1996–2000), a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics (2000–2004), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (2015–2016), all from Maynooth University. Research Interests: His laboratory focuses on the evolution of unicellular microorganisms, particularly fungal and oomycete species. Techniques include genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics, comparative genomics, phylogenomics, and synteny analysis to study gene and genome evolution. Key projects involve analyzing hybrid pathogens like Phytophthora xalni, developing molecular diagnostics for mushroom strains, and exploring biocontrol agents against fungal pathogens. Scientific Awards: He received the Doctoral Student Prize of Achievement in Science and Engineering (2005) from Maynooth University, an IRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005–2007), and an HRB Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2007–2009). Advising & Grants: Fitzpatrick has supervised seven PhD students, including Dr. Eoin O'Connor (2020) and Dr. Jamie McGowan (2021). His research has been funded through projects like the Biocontrol of Mushroom pathogens (€88,000), Analysis of Introgression in Prokaryotic Genomes (€96,000), and OMICs-based investigations of novel plant pathogens (€96,000). Labs & Teams: As PI of the Genome Evolution Laboratory, he collaborates on initiatives such as the Oomycete Gene Order Browser (OGOB) and the Pangloss pan-genome analysis tool. His work integrates genomic and proteomic data to address challenges in agriculture, forestry, and medical microbiology.

Gary BrennanView profile

Assistant Professor

• Epigenetics
• RNA Biology
• Epilepsy
• +2 more

Dr. Gary Brennan is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, and a member of the Conway Institute. He is a Funded Investigator at the FutureNeuro Research Center and has held affiliations with institutions including the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the University of California-Irvine. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of epilepsy, particularly epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation, RNA modifications, and neuroinflammatory pathways. Education: PhD in Physiology & Medical Physics from RCSI (2015) Postdoctoral Training: University of California-Irvine (2012-2015) under Prof. Tallie Z. Baram; RCSI (2016-2018) under Prof. David Henshall His research program addresses three critical challenges: (1) understanding molecular reprogramming after brain insults, (2) developing RNA-based therapies targeting epigenetic processes, and (3) identifying peripheral biomarkers for epilepsy prediction. Key contributions include studies on microRNA regulation of seizure networks, m6A RNA methylation in temporal lobe epilepsy, and systemic delivery of antagomirs timed with blood-brain barrier disruption. His work has been published in journals like Nature Reviews Neurology , JCI Insight , and Molecular Brain . Recent funding includes grants from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Health Research Board (HRB), and the European Union. He has received awards such as the CURE Taking Flight Award and Marie Curie Fellowship. Dr. Brennan also supervises PhD students and coordinates modules on CNS diseases and multicellular systems.

• Non-coding RNAs
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Cystic Fibrosis
• +4 more

Chiara De Santi is a Lecturer in Immunology at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences , Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin. She holds a PhD from the University of Siena and has held academic roles including Postdoctoral Researcher (2016–2020) and Research Fellow (2021–2022). Her research focuses on non-coding RNAs' therapeutic potential in lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis, employing stem cell-derived organoids and ALI cultures for drug discovery. Education: BSc in Biological Sciences, University of Pisa (2007–2010) MSc in Molecular Biology, University of Pisa (2010–2012) PhD in Molecular Medicine, University of Siena (2012–2016) Research Interests: Non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, circRNAs) in lung pathologies Stem cell models for disease modeling Therapeutic modulation of inflammatory responses Cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis mechanisms Grants & Funding: RCSI Grant: The role of non-coding RNAs in alveolar epithelial damage (2023–2026) Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Target site blockers for CFTR mutation therapy (2024–2027) Irish Research Council: miRNA therapeutics in multiple sclerosis (2018–2020) Professional Activities: Athena Swan Champion for PBS (2023–present) RCSI EDI Committee and PPI in Research Committee member Chair of RCSI Postdoc Society (2021–2022) Teaching: Immunology modules for medical and biomedical science programs Leadership in Year 1 Prize Medal Dissertation Competition (Medicine) Contributions to MSc programs in Precision Medicine

• Cancer Genomics
• Transcriptomics
• Next-Generation Sequencing
• +4 more

Stephen Madden is Senior Lecturer in Computational Biology at RCSI's Data Science Centre, holding a PhD from University College Dublin. His research applies bioinformatics and statistical approaches to cancer genomics and precision medicine. Key research areas include multi-omics integration in breast cancer, therapeutic target discovery, and predictive modeling of treatment response. Recent work examines extracellular vesicles in neonatal development, immunothrombosis mechanisms in hematologic malignancies, and implantable sensor technologies. Publications demonstrate expertise in proteomic profiling, preclinical model development, and computational method implementation. Teaching focuses on programming, transcriptomics, and genomics for biomedical students. He serves as Deputy Director for the MSc in Technologies and Analytics in Precision Medicine and supervises PhD projects in cancer systems biology.

• Cancer Biology
• Pharmacology
• Molecular Biology
• +3 more

Dr. Fiona O'Neill is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Dublin City University's School of Biotechnology (BDI Department). She specializes in cancer biology, drug development, and molecular mechanisms of disease progression. Her work focuses on preclinical models, miRNA regulation, and therapeutic targets in breast and pancreatic cancers. Research Interests: Cancer Therapeutics and Drug Resistance 3D Organoid Models for Cancer Research MicroRNA-Mediated Regulation in Oncogenesis Proteomic and Transcriptomic Profiling in Tumor Pathways Her recent articles emphasize synergistic drug combinations (e.g., Neratinib + Dasatinib), miRNA biomarkers in chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease, and xenograft models for pancreatic cancer. She has explored IGF1R/IR signaling in triple-negative breast cancer and genomic drivers of tumor invasion. Awards: No scientific awards mentioned. Advising/Grants: No formal advisees or grants listed. Labs/Teams: Part of the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI) and School of Biotechnology research groups.

Catherine GodsonView profile

Professor

• Inflammation and its resolution
• Microvascular complications of diabetes
• Extracellular signal transduction
• +6 more

Professor Catherine Godson, Full Professor of Molecular Medicine at the School of Medicine, University College Dublin , is a leading international researcher in inflammation resolution and diabetic complications. She directs the UCD Diabetes Complications Research Centre and oversees a multidisciplinary team spanning PhD students, postdocs, clinicians, and industry collaborators. BSc and PhD in Biochemistry/Pharmacology from UCD Postdoctoral training at University of Geneva and UC San Diego Academic career at Harvard (1994-1997) before returning to UCD Her research focuses on microvascular complications of diabetes and resolution of inflammation , particularly in diabetic kidney disease . Key contributions include identifying novel therapeutic targets through genomic studies and developing lipoxin-based therapies for fibrosis and inflammation. Her work integrates mitochondrial genetics , epigenetics , and multi-omics approaches to uncover disease mechanisms. Recent publications highlight her team's discoveries in genetic variants affecting kidney function, lipoxin mimetics for inflammation resolution, and mitochondrial-nuclear interactions in metabolic diseases. Collaborations span Monash University , Bart's Charity , and European Diabetic Nephropathy Study Group . Scientific leadership in Royal Irish Academy (2011-) and European Medical Research Council (2008-2012) Women in Science Award (2019) from International Congress of Inflammation Grant funding from Science Foundation Ireland, Wellcome Trust, and EU programs She has supervised PhD students like Monica deGaetano and Darrell Andrews, and her lab's work appears in journals such as Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and Nature Communications . Current research emphasizes PPARα-regulated fatty acid oxidation and multi-omic integration for precision medicine in diabetes complications.