معرفی
Professor Celine J. Marmion is a distinguished academic at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), where she serves as Professor of Bioinorganic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry within the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences. She currently holds the position of Deputy Dean for Student Engagement. With over two decades of experience at RCSI, Professor Marmion has established herself as a leading researcher in medicinal chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry, with particular expertise in developing metal-based anticancer therapeutics.
Professor Marmion received her academic training at the University of Surrey, where she earned her BSc(Hons) in Chemistry & Biology in 1990, followed by a PhD in Bioinorganic Chemistry in 1994. Her doctoral research focused on vanadium complexes in relation to nitrogen fixation under the supervision of Professor Lesley Larkworthy. She subsequently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Kingston in the UK in 1996-1997.
Professor Marmion has a passion for bridging the interface between medicinal chemistry and biology. Her research primarily focuses on the role of hydroxamic acids in chemistry and biology, the structural diversity and biomedical applications of metal complexes, and the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of innovative, multi-functional metallodrug candidates as anti-cancer therapeutics. She has made significant contributions to the development of platinum and copper-based anticancer agents, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and metallo-antibiotics designed to overcome antimicrobial resistance.
Professor Marmion's extensive publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory toward multi-targeted metallodrug development. Her recent work shows increasing sophistication in designing compounds that simultaneously address multiple cancer pathways while overcoming drug resistance mechanisms. A notable trend is the integration of clinically approved drugs with metal complexes to create dual-functioning therapeutics with enhanced efficacy. Her research spans from fundamental coordination chemistry to translational studies with promising in vitro and in vivo results.
Professor Marmion's contributions to academia and research have been widely recognized:
- RCSI Dean's Academic Award for 'Endeavour, Innovation, Collaboration and Service' (2016)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2013)
- Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (2015)
- Vice-President (2017) and President (2019) of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland
- President of the Irish Biological Inorganic Chemistry Society (2018)
- RCSI Innovation Award for research commercialization (2016)
- National 'Teaching Hero' Award (2016)
- RCSI President's Teaching Award (2009, 2015)
Professor Marmion has supervised numerous PhD students in Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry through the RCSI Apjohn scholarship program. She has secured significant research funding, including five Science Foundation Ireland grants and multiple Enterprise Ireland awards. Her research projects span from fundamental studies on metal complex chemistry to translational research focused on developing novel anticancer and antimicrobial metallodrugs. Notable projects include 'Breaking the cancer drug resistance paradigm' (SFI, 2018) and 'Platinum(IV) Prodrugs for Precision Cancer Therapy' (Enterprise Ireland, 2019).
Professor Marmion leads a vibrant research group focused on developing innovative metallodrugs for cancer therapy. She has established fruitful collaborations with DCU (particularly with Dr. Kellett), French pharmaceutical companies, and international partners through COST Actions. Her research team combines expertise in synthetic chemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, and drug development to create next-generation metal-based therapeutics that address the limitations of current clinical agents.
