Brian David Henderson Email and Phone Number

I have been actively involved in the All-Ireland Cancer Liquid Biopsies Consortium (CLuB) under the HEA North-South Research Programme. My primary responsibilities include driving highly collaborative research with multiple academic and industry partners across TCD, NUI Galway (NUIG), Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), and various industry stakeholders.In addition to coordinating instrument validation and testing using patient blood samples to ensure the accuracy and compliance of data, I have been instrumental in sourcing and securing funding for the consortium's research initiatives. I work closely with different companies to acquire essential equipment and infrastructure, negotiating partnerships to provide the best resources for our research. I have also taken the lead in establishing a well-equipped research environment by identifying and sourcing laboratory instruments, ensuring that the infrastructure meets the rigorous demands of our work and recently began the process of implementing labororatory automation through integration of robotics into our biobanking workflow.As the key point of contact between the research team and company officials, I facilitate communication, regularly discussing results and potential improvements to drive forward research in circulating tumor cell (CTC) isolation techniques. By fostering strong collaborations across universities, hospitals, and industry partners, I aim to develop alternatives to current commercial offerings in liquid biopsy technologies and further the impact of cancer diagnostics research in Ireland.

As a Post-Doctoral Scientist within the Thoracic Oncology Research Group based at St. James's Hospital and the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI), I led critical research to identify new tissue and circulating biomarkers for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and to characterize immune phenotypes associated with the disease. This work was part of an Industry Partnership Programme (IPP), in collaboration with Remedy Biologics and supported by Enterprise Ireland. The IPP is a vital initiative designed to drive innovation by encouraging collaboration between Irish research institutes and industry partners, with the aim of translating research into commercial opportunities and impactful healthcare solutions.In my role as an industry-partnered postdoctoral researcher, I was uniquely positioned to contribute both to the clinical research within the Thoracic Oncology Group and the commercial development objectives of Remedy Biologics. Through biobanking of blood and tissue samples from NSCLC patients, we aimed to identify novel biomarkers that could serve as diagnostics or predictors of treatment response, ultimately improving patient outcomes. By working closely with Remedy Biologics, I was able to align the research outcomes with commercial needs, facilitating the development of innovative assays and therapeutic strategies that addressed real-world challenges in lung cancer diagnostics and treatment.

AptaGold was a multi-agency collaborative project led by Technological University Dublin, in partnership with Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin, St. James's Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the National Clinical Programme for Pathology. As a Co-Principal Investigator, I led a small team of four highly skilled scientists, driving the research efforts to develop a rapid, saliva-based COVID-19 diagnostic test utilizing gold nanoparticle aggregation and surface plasmon resonance (SPR).The project aimed to create a quick and efficient assay capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 using aptamer-based technology. My role involved overseeing the entire research process, including refining experimental protocols and ensuring continuous process improvement. The laboratory work required running aptamer selection protocols to identify candidates that could specifically bind to COVID-19 viral proteins, with tracking of aptamer enrichment through fluorophore-conjugated or enzyme-linked chemiluminescent assays. Advanced bioinformatics and molecular modeling were employed to predict optimal aptamer-protein interactions, which guided the selection of the most promising candidates for further testing. These aptamers were then conjugated to gold nanoparticles to leverage their aggregation properties, ensuring sensitivity and specificity in the detection process.

In 2016, Baon Diagnostics was established to address the global threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by developing a rapid, point-of-care solution to accurately differentiate between viral and bacterial infections. As the founder and lead, I spearheaded the development of an automated microfluidic lab-on-a-disk PCR-based diagnostic device designed for use in nursing homes and GP clinics. This technology aimed to significantly reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics by providing clinicians with timely, actionable information, enabling targeted treatment and reducing the spread of resistant strains. Unlike traditional blood cultures, which can take days to produce results and require complex testing in centralized laboratories, Baon's approach was designed to be portable, user-friendly, and capable of providing a quick and accurate diagnosis.Baon Diagnostics’ technology not only aimed to improve clinical outcomes by supporting earlier intervention but also focused on tracking resistance genes. This allowed healthcare providers to identify the specific antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacterial strains, contributing to more efficient antibiotic treatments and aiding in the surveillance of genetic traits linked to resistance. By doing so, the company sought to address the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance by reducing the reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics and promoting more precise, targeted therapies. During my leadership, I secured funding from sources such as Enterprise Ireland and guided product development to create a functional prototype, positioning Baon Diagnostics to play a pivotal role in improving antibiotic stewardship and healthcare cost savings.

Horizon 2020 ICT-10 application writing.Specific Challenge:Software is an enabling technology underlying all ICT developments. Recent advances in the areas of Cloud, Internet of Things, and Big Data increase the need for programming and modelling methods, platforms and software reuse that facilitate the development of more interconnected, flexible, reliable, secure and efficient software. The convergence and interrelationship of all these technologies require a holistic approach in the software development that goes beyond software production within specific application domains.

During my internship at Ducree Labs in the Microfluidics Department at Dublin City University (Nov 2015 - Mar 2016), I was actively involved in designing and testing centrifugal microfluidic platforms for diagnostic applications. This role provided a hands-on opportunity to work closely with a multidisciplinary team, where I gained practical experience in developing and optimizing microfluidic devices.