Darran O'Connor

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.