Discipline of Pharmacology & Therapeutics

I am leading a research group as part of the Immunology Group at REMEDI, NUI Galway, that focusses on investigation of tumour stromal interactions for the development of novel immuno-therapeutics in colon cancer metastasis (RESTRAIN).

Molecular regulation of the tumor microenvironment in colon cancer metastasis

The focus of my research within the Immunology group is to better understand the immune effects of allogeneic (genetically mis-matched) differentiated Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from rat and human so that better MSC applications can be designed for the use of these cells in human patients. This research involves establishing many state-of-the-art immunological techniques and assays to generate comprehensive data on the in vivo immunological responses that are generated to allogeneic MSCs. Being part of a team of researchers investigating different aspects of MSC-related immunology, collaborating with other REMEDI core areas, and the supervision and training of post-graduate researchers is a very important aspect of the position. This position also involves active participation in weekly research meetings and communication of project progress and outcomes

The focus of my research within the Intestinal Epithelial group under, under the direction of Professor Laurence Egan,was to gain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of metastatic progression of colon cancer using a mouse model of peritoneal metastasis. This research involved analysis of the role of the immune system in the process of metastasis. We successfully generated a novel model system to analyze the effects of NF-κB inhibition on the development of extra-hepatic metastatic deposits in this model. Other roles and responsibilities of this position included responsibility for meeting research deadlines and milestones – monitoring progress with PM tools, such as GANTT charts, drafting abstracts and publications, generating project activity reports for funding agencies and future-work plans, active participation in weekly research update meetings and communication of project progress and outcomes. This position also required involvement in the experimental design, validation and management of this research project and responsibility for improving methods of analysis and introduction of new statistical software to research group.

There have been several interesting outcomes from the research carried out during the course of my PhD and subsequent post-doctoral positions, most notably generation of genetically manipulated cancer cells that have been used increase our understanding of the anti-tumor immune response to the development of cancer. This work has been published in Cancer Research and Cell Cycle some of the top ranking journals in the field of Cancer. Achievements on PhD completion Invited review based on publication in Cancer Research identifying FasL as an important molecule in immune evasion of colon cancer, two first author original research articles, 3 co-authored original research articles. Identified FasL as a molecule involved in immune suppression and immune evasion of cancer by molecular cloning antisense techniques & Real time PCR  Provided in vivo evidence that inhibition of FasL in tumors results in improved anti-tumor immune challenge by antisense cloning  Established a novel animal model to determine the effect of anti-sense suppression of FasL expression on the tumorigenicity and metastatic potential of colon cancer cells in a syngeneic animal model