Olena Doran

Olena Doran is a Professor in Biomedical Research and currently serves as the College Dean in Research and Enterprise at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol. She holds dual affiliations within the College of Health, Science and Society and the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences (HAS). Her roles have included Director of Research Development at the Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology and Centre Director of the Centre for Research in Biosciences between 2010–2017, followed by Associate Dean in Research and Enterprise at HAS before her current deanship since 2022.

Education: Olena earned her BSc+MSc (Distinction) and PhD in Biology from Kharkov State University, Ukraine. She furthered her career through the European Fellowship Fund at the Nenski Institute of Experimental Biology in Poland and a Royal Society/NATO Fellowship at the University of Bristol, where she spent a decade contributing to apoptosis research.

Research Interests: Her work focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying food quality traits, development of novel biosensing technologies, cancer biology (including ethnic-group specific prostate cancer), hepatic CYP450 systems in cancer and meat quality, and mitochondrial functions in aging and disease. These interests drive her interdisciplinary approach bridging food safety, animal health, and biomedical applications.

Articles Trends: Over the past five years, her publications emphasize electrochemical biosensor innovation for food quality analysis (e.g., glycerol, fatty acids, vitamins) and antimicrobial strategies using plasma-activated water and nanoformulations targeting pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. This reflects a strong focus on practical technologies for agri-food safety and livestock health.

Scientific Awards: She has been recognized with the European Fellowship Fund and Royal Society/NATO Fellowship, supporting her early career research in molecular biology and apoptosis mechanisms.

Advising & Grants: Olena has advised and mentored hundreds of students across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including PhD Action Learning Sets. Her research has attracted £6m+ in grants from BBSRC, AHDB, EU, and industry partners. She actively reviews for funding bodies in the UK, New Zealand, Belgium, and Canada, and chairs strategic initiatives like the UK/China Partnership on Novel Technologies.

Labs & Teams: As a leader, she established the Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology and directed the Centre for Research in Biosciences. Collaborations span over 100 institutions globally, including the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Pfizer Ltd. She is a member of the Board of Governors at Bristol Zoological Society and leads the Academic Research Science Network.