معرفی
Niamh O'Sullivan is an Associate Professor in the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science at University College Dublin (UCD), where she has been a faculty member since 2013. She previously served as Head of Genetics at UCD from 2017-2021. Dr. O'Sullivan leads a research laboratory focused on understanding motor neuron organization and function, with particular emphasis on neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. O'Sullivan earned her BA in Genetics from Trinity College Dublin in 2001, followed by a PhD in Science, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology from University College Dublin in 2005. Her postdoctoral training included positions at UCD (2005-2009), University of Cambridge as a Marie Curie Fellow (2009-2012), and Imperial College London as a Junior Research Fellow (2012-2013).
Her research program specializes in using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) to model neurodegenerative diseases, particularly hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and optic atrophy. She investigates how endoplasmic reticulum (ER) organization and mitochondrial function contribute to neuronal health and degeneration. Her work has revealed critical connections between ER-shaping proteins, mitochondrial dynamics, and axonal integrity in motor neurons.
Analysis of Dr. O'Sullivan's recent publications shows a clear progression from fundamental studies of ER and mitochondrial organization in neurons toward translational research exploring therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative conditions. Her 2022-2025 work increasingly focuses on identifying potential treatments, including lipid-regulating compounds for HSP and understanding mitochondrial dysfunction in optic atrophy.
- Wellcome Trust-SFI-HRB Seed Award in Science (2016)
- Marie Curie Fellowship (2009-2012)
- Junior Research Fellowship at Imperial College London (2012-2013)
Dr. O'Sullivan has supervised numerous graduate students including Philippa Fowler (completed PhD), Dwayne Byrne, and Elena Garcia. She has received significant research funding including a Wellcome Trust/National Institutes of Health joint PhD studentship for her student Dwayne Byrne. Her teaching responsibilities include coordinating Epigenetics and Neuroproteinopathies modules at UCD since 2014. The O'Sullivan Lab maintains an active research program with multiple undergraduate and graduate students, international collaborators, and regular presentations at major neuroscience conferences.
The O'Sullivan Lab, based at the Conway Institute at UCD, utilizes advanced imaging techniques, Drosophila genetics, and mammalian cell culture models to investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. The lab has developed several novel disease models and quantitative methods for analyzing organelle morphology, particularly focusing on the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in neurons.
