Gary Brennan

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.