NICB & NCTCC: 20 years of Research_Symposium Booklet 01-02-2008

20 Years

of Research

1st February 2008 – The Helix & Clontarf Castle

As Editor of this commemorative booklet I would also like to welcome you to our celebrations and

to give a special word of thanks to all those who contributed to this publication especially those who

rooted up some of the old photos which are scattered through out. It was a joy and a revelation to sort

through some of this material.

I hope the contents will give you a good appreciation of the achievements of the Centre in the past

and in its great potential for the future. We have a brief history of the Centre, some of the old (and

not so old) faces that make up the history of the Centre and a brief overview of our present team and

research activities.

Finally we are very proud of our new world class research facility which

I hope you will get a chance to tour today. Included in this brochure are

some details of our facility and if you want to find out more please do not

hesitate in contacting us.

Donnacha O’Driscoll

General Manager NICB

Editor

Mr. Vincent Lynch

Chairman NICB Board

I have seen the Institute develop into a unique collaborative venture based at Dublin City

University, NUI Maynooth and I.T.

Tallaght. This partnership seeks to position Ireland as a world leader in biotechnology. The

NICB research teams are investigating the molecular functions of human and animal cells,

micro-organisms and viruses. Particular emphasis is placed on research in cancer, diabetes,

infectious diseases and developmental biology.

The new building provides state of the art facilities, and increases the capacity for more

researchers. There are excellent educational programmes in place. These should result in new

medical discoveries and better patient care.

From a business point of view, this is a tremendous asset to the country. It has already resulted in

close cooperation with the leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, creating jobs in

Ireland. These scientists who are at the cutting edge of research are helping to sustain Ireland as

a successful global competitor.

The Institute is working closely with clinicians in many Dublin hospitals translating research

discovery into patient care. We feel that cell culture, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics

will lead to new ways of understanding, diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. It also

collaborates with biotechnology units nationally and internationally. This research institute has

an exciting future ahead.

The National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology (NICB) is a

research centre that was established by the Irish Government at the

start of the cell culture revolution, more than 20 years ago.

In that time there have been many exciting developments in

medical research, particularly in the biotechnology sector. The unit

has grown and developed substantially. As Chairman of the Board,

NICB Board Chairperson Introduction

Welcome to the Party

Dublin City University, then NIHE Dublin, was the first third-level institution to recognise cell

biology as an important strategic area for research and industrial application, and it is great that

many of the first researchers in the cell biology laboratory, including Valerie McManus, Susan

McDonnell, Una Gilvarry-Quigley and Margaret Dooley, are here for the celebrations. A very

special welcome here today to Michael Moriarty, Vincent Lynch and Peter Kelehan, staunch

supporters of the clinically-related research of the Centre right across those 25 years; Danny O’Hare

and Michael Gleeson, who were Director and Secretary of NIHED when NCTCC was established;

Alan Bunch, a valued and active member of the Scientific Advisory Board; Susan Folan who

provided quiet but infinitely effective support to all at NIHED and DCU over a period of a quarter of

a century and Paddy Farrell, former Head of Security who kept the campus safe and free from all

evil doers for many years; Terry Larkin, former chair of DCU’s Governing Authority; and Eugene

Corcoran, Chair of the Bioresearch Ireland Board; unfortunately Owen Ward, the dynamic and

visionary leader of biotechnology at NIHED its first critical 5 years was unable to travel from

Canada, but sends his best wishes to all today.

A Research Centre like this is influenced by everyone who has worked in it; and conversely all of us

are fortunate to heave been able to work in an area which is both fascinating – understanding the

cellular and molecular basis for life – and useful – with so many medical and industrial applications.

I would like to say a few words of thanks:

Enjoy the day, and the evening.

Here’s to the next 25 years of Cell Biology at DCU .

Martin Clynes

Director, NICB

January 2008

FÁILTE

Anois teacht an Earraigh, beidh an lá ag dul chun síneadh…..

The 1st of February – first day of spring, Lá Fhéile Bríde, and the old

Celtic spring festival of Imbolc – is a good day to celebrate a

milestone in the history of cell biology research at Dublin City

University; a day for looking forward to an exciting future, as well as

casting an eye backwards. The Centre is 20 years old as a

government-designated National Centre, but the cell biology

laboratory is 25 years old; the NICB is still a youngster, at the tender

age of seven.

• To Aine Adams and Denis Collins for the music

• To all who have worked in NCTCC and NICB over the years, and to others in DCU and

elsewhere – in both leadership and support positions – all of you have been important

contributors to what the Centre has achieved.

• To the current and past Management of the University including President Ferdinand von

Prondzynski, Deputy President Anne Scott, Vice President for Research Eugene Kennedy,

Dean of Faculty, Malcolm Smyth, Martin Conry, Frank Soughley, Marian Burns and previous

members of senior management who supported the Centre’s development including Danny

O’Hare, Michael Gleeson, Conor Long, Donal Clarke, Margaret Walsh and Pat Cullen.

• To the NICB Scientific Advisory Board, Alan Bunch, Michael Comer, Kevin Scanlon and

Susan Kennedy, Augusto Pessina, whose support and advice at critical times was invaluable.

• To all who helped in the organisation of this event but especially to Yvonne Reilly, Mairead

Callan and Carol McNamara on whose shoulders so much of the preparatory work for today

fell and to Donnacha O’Driscoll for editing this brochure.

• A special welcome to those who travelled from abroad to be here – Galya Ivanova from

Portugal, Eugene Corcoran from France, Vanesa Martinez from Spain and Alan Bunch from

England – and to all from the five continents and 16 countries represented here today.

The NICB Research Facility

The NICB research building, based in Dublin City University, is an international state

of the art Centre, dedicated to cell and tissue culture research. This new 3,200 m2

complex houses laboratories, specialised equipment suites and the largest collection of

clean rooms (built to Class C / class 10,000 standards) in any research facility in

Ireland. We are particularly grateful to Mike Kelly and his crack team in the Estates

Office, for the support in the commissioning and on-going maintenance of the facility.

The building houses core facilities in cell and molecular biology.

November 2007 marked the 20th anniversary of the Institute (formerly known as the

National Cell and Tissue Culture Centre). This unique combination of world class

facilities, equipment, extensive academic, clinical and industrial networks and two

decades of experience along with our highly qualified, experienced and dedicated staff

has positioned the NICB as a leading translational research centre not just in Ireland

but on the world stage.

12:30 Lunch The Helix, DCU

Session I : Chair Vincent Lynch – NICB Board Chairperson

13:55 Welcome – Anne Scott, Deputy President DCU

14:00 Martin Clynes Opening remarks

Keynote Presentation

14:10 Eugene Kennedy VP Research DCU

Introduction to Barry McSweeney’s Lecture

14:15 Barry McSweeney “I Remember Biotechnology in the Rare Oul’ Times”

14:50 Eugene Corcoran Chair BRI Board

Response to Barry McSweeney,s Lecture

14:55 Alice Redmond “The Road to Project Management”

15:03 Marguerite Clyne “The interaction of Helicobacter pylori with the gastric mucosa”

15:11 Bernard Gregory “Identification and validation of therapeutic targets in Rheumatoid Arthritis”

15:19 Susan McDonnell “The use of breast cancer cell lines for identifying new biomarkers and therapies”

Session II : Chair: Ray O’Neill – VP Research NUIM

15:27 Lisa Connolly “From DCU to Food, health and Emerging Chemical Concerns”

15:35 Eoin Ryan “Adventures in the Voluntary Sector”

15:44 Kevin Kavanagh “NUI Maynooth – NICB Research Update”

15:52 Ken Carroll NICB research activities in ITT Dublin

16:00 Coffee

Session III : Chair: Malcolm Smyth – Dean Fac. Science & Health, DCU

Keynote Presentation16:30 Ferdinand von

ProndzynskiIntroduction to John Crown’s Lecture

16:35 John Crown Translational Cancer Research –Winning the War on Cancer Now

17:15 Michael Moriarty Response to John Crown’s Lecture

17:20 Martin Clynes/ D. O’Driscoll

Closing Remarks / Tour Logistics

17: 40 Tours of the NICB Facility

19:30 Drinks ReceptionClontarf Castle

20:00 Gala Dinner

Event Schedule

Sponsors of the Helix venue and the afternoon presentations

Sponsors of the Gala Dinner in Clontarf castle

We would like to thank our sponsors without whose support today’s

celebrations could not have been made possible. We would also like to

thank them for there services to the NICB in the past and we look forward

to their continued assistance into the future.

A Word of Thanks to Our Sponsors

Sponsors of the Dinner Wine

Sponsors of the Coffee Break Sponsors of the Drinks Reception

Sponsors of the Helix Lunch

Sponsors of the Dinner VenueSponsors of the Event Booklet

Laboratory Instruments& Supplies (I) Ltd

This brochure was

circulated on the day the

late Charles Haughey,

opened the School of

Biological Sciences Pilot

Plant, and announced the

Irish Government’s first

national Biotechnology

Programme.

Dermot Pearson (now at Novozyme) is shown on the cover of one of

the School of Biological Sciences’ first promotional brochures.

Before he was

known as Ronan’s

Dad, Fergal O’Gara

was director of the

National Food

Biotechnology

Centre.

The article on the Right is one of

the original circulars (circa 1987)

promoting the newly established

BioResearch Ireland – headed up

by a very young looking Barry

McSweeney.

Pictured beside Barry, sporting his

“Village People” moustache is Jim

Ryan who succeeded Barry as

Director.

Below are some of the original

Centre Directors.

Based in Trinity,

Tim Mantle was the

director of the

National

Pharmaceutical

Centre.

Frank Gannon at

the time was

Director of the BRI

Nat. Diagnostic

Centre. and is now

Director General of

Science Foundation

Ireland.

In the same brochure,

the world was

introduced to the

“National Cell & Tissue

Culture Centre.”

As the brochure

demonstrates, the

Centre’s expertise in

areas such as

monoclonals, toxicology,

large-scale culture and

cell characterisation

stretches back over 20

years.

The pictures show one of

the NCTCC’c earliest

PhD students, Breda

Carey, working with the

Braun 2L reactor and

below a very youthful

Martin Clynes, the

Centre’s founding

Director.

For all your product freezing

and long-term storage needs

2000 An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern launches DCU’s Strategy Plan “Leading Change”, NICB

was publicly launched at the same event.

Some NICB News Events from

the 21st Century!

2004: Ferdinand von Prondzynski (President DCU),

Martin Clynes (Director NICB), Reg Shaw (MD

Wyeth Ireland), Don Thornhill (Chairman HEA)

and Donnacha O’Driscoll (Manager NICB) at the

ceremonial turning of the first sod on the site of

the new NICB research facility.

2002: Senator Hilary Clinton visited the Centre and was briefed by various members of staff

on the cutting edge biotechnology research being carried out. Here we see Rob

O’Connor explaining some recent drug developments. A return visit was made to the

US where a number of DCU personnel including Lorraine O’Driscoll again met with

Senator Clinton.

Ferdinand and Don try

to dig a bigger sod!

Martin and Donnacha

admire a model of the

new building

2005: Professor John Crown, Thomas Baldwin Chair in

Translational Cancer Research in DCU and long

time NICB collaborator, won the Best Overall

Paper in the IJMS Doctor Awards in 2005 for his

findings into breast cancer research and

chemotherapy treatments. The IJMS Doctor

Awards recognise excellence in clinical research

by doctors working in Ireland. He was presented

the award by his good buddy Minister for Health

Mary Harney. (The significance of the ominous

alien face floating above them is unknown!!)

Some News Events from Recent Years

2006: NICB hosts international meeting on

Global Expression analysis at the

Helix in DCU. Among those taking

part in the conference were:

Dennis Slamon, John Crown, Martin

Clynes, Donnacha O’Driscoll,

Robert O’Connor, Brigid Browne,

Norma O’Donovan, Susan Kennedy,

Winfried Albert and Michael

Moriarty

2005: Martin Clynes (Director NICB),

Reg Shaw (MD Wyeth Ireland), Bill

Harris (Director General SFI) and

Ferdinand von Prondzynski

(President DCU), at the public

launch of the SFI sponsored €4

million research collaboration

initiative between the NICB and

Wyeth Biopharma.

2007: Ferdinand von Prondzynski, (DCU

president), Martin Clynes, (NICB Director),

Reg Shaw, (former MD of Wyeth), Frank

Gannon, (SFI Director General), Matt

Corcoran, (MD of Wyeth) on the occasion of

Reg’s election as an honorary member of the

National Institute for Cellular

Biotechnology (NICB) at DCU in

recognition of his contribution to Irish

Biotechnology.

Some of the Researchers in 2006

Back Row: Keara Hall, Lorraine O’Driscoll, Carmel Daly, Mary Heenan, Liz Moran, Shirley McBride, Roisin Nic

Amhlaoibh, Cathal O’Grady, Paula Meleady, Kevin Kavanagh, Gerry O’Doherty, Una Gilvarry

Front Row: Donnacha O’Driscoll, Roisin Weedle, Anthony Woodman, Irene Cleary, Geraldine Grant, Martin Clynes.

Back Row: Paul Dowling, Jonathan O’Toole, Finbarr O’Sullivan, William Bryan, Martin Clynes, Sweta Rani, Bella Bray

3rd Row : Norma O’Donovan, Helena Joyce, Naomi Walsh, Eoin Ryan, Brigid Browne, Aoife Devery,

2nd Row: Jai Prakash Mehta, Aisling Pierce, Carol McNamara, Verena Murphy, Elodie Ly, Irene Ogelsby, Lorraine O’Driscoll

Front Row: Andrew Dowd, Niall Barron, Paudie Doolan

Some of the Researchers in 1994

Then came technicolour ……………..

Past and present members

‘At Work, Rest & Play’!

Mairead Callan, Sweta Rani, Laura Breen, Mairead Looby, Eadaoin McKiernan, Louise Bryce, Máire

Callaghan, Caroline Duff, Tracy Mullen, Siobhan Mclean, Seamus Coyle, Carol MacNamara, Patrick

Gammell, Steven Verhaegen, Martin Clynes, Noel Daly, Rasha Linehan, Lorraine O’Driscoll, William

Bryan, Bella Bray, Prijanka Maurya, Elodie Ly, Michael Henry, Paula Meleady, Erica Hennesy, Justine

Meiller, Eunan McGlinchey, Elaine Kenny, Mohan Muniyappa, Geraldine Grant, Kerea Hall, Finbarr

O’Sullivan, Roisin Nic Amhlaoibh, Irene Cleary, Joanne Keenan, Elizabeth Moran, Cathal O’Grady,

Robert O’Connor, Joe Carey, Noel Ward, Yvonne Reilly, Padraig Doolan, Cathal Elliot, Yizheng Liang,

Dara Byrne, Elizabeth Law, Margaret Dooley, Bernard Gregory, Ursula Pattison, Anne O’Sullivan, Alice

Redmond, Donnacha O’Driscoll, Mohamad Saleh, Breda Carey, Angela Martin, Annemarie Larkin, Lisa

Connolly, Bojana Cumpf, Helena Joyce, Irene Cleary, Derek Walsh, Shirley McBride, Mary Heenan

Did you spot all of these people?

NICB Research Activities

The following section gives a brief outline of

the research themes and interests of our NICB

research teams.

Laboratory Instruments

& Supplies (I) Ltd Pamaron House, Ballybin Road,

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Phone: +353 1 835 2036,

Fax No: +353 1 835 2038

Email: [email protected]

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Leica Microscopes

Educational Microscopes

Stereomicroscopes

Confocal Microscopes

Sectioning and specimen preparation.

Imaging Systems.

Adam Equipment

High quality range of laboratory balances,

top-loading balances and moisture balances.

Nickel Electro

Waterbaths, Mixers,

Hotplates, Heaters

Magnetic stirrers

Centrifuges

Medical Wire and Equipment

Transport Swabs

Dry Swabs

Rapid Strip Tests

Microrings

“ Laboratory equipment and service for

Clinical, Industrial and Inspection

requirements”.

Research Interests Research Interests



NICB Research Staff

Research Interests

Michael Henry

Senior technician

NanoLC, mass

spectrometry,

proteomics and

keeping the

Centre ticking

over

Paul Dowling

Programme Leader

Applying advanced

proteomics

technologies to

discovering

biomarkers that will

allow for early

detection and

monitoring of cancer

and other diseases.

Laura Breen

Post Doctoral Researcher

Drug resistance and

invasion in human

lung cancer;

Establishment of an

islet transplant

programme for the

treatment of

diabetes

Verena Amberger-

Murphy

Research Officer

Brain cancer, glioma,

invasion, migration,

tyrosine kinase

receptors, targeted

drugs, miRNA, drug

resistance

Niall Baron

Senior Programme

Leader

Use of mammalian

cell line engineering

strategies to improve

biopharmaceutical

production

efficiencies and

develop potential

cell-based disease

therapy

Padraig Doolan

Program Leader

Gene Expression

Profiling,

Microarrays,

Bioinformatics, Data

reduction, Systems

biology, Mathematical

modelling, Cancer,

Bioprocessing,

Denis Collins


Modulation of P-gp-

mediated drug

resistance by

tyrosine kinase

inhibitors

Research Interests

Alex Eustace

Research Assistant

Drug resistance in

melanoma

focusing especially

on the effects of

targeted therapies

in melanoma cell

lines

Research Interests

Norma O’Donovan

Programme Leader

Targeted Therapies for

Cancer. Research

focuses on therapies for

HER-2 positive and

triple negative breast

cancer, and melanoma

Research Interests

Paula Meleady

Programme Leader

Proteomics, mass

spectrometry,

bioprocessing,

cancer biomarkers,

cancer invasion,

cellular

differentiation,

protein translation.

Research Interests

Robert O’Connor

Senior Programme

Leader

Translational Cancer

Pharmacology

Cancer Drug Resistance

Drug Resistance

Modulation

Cancer Clinical Trials

Cancer

Pharmacokinetics

Cancer Drugs Levels

Research Interests

Justine Meiller

Research Assistant

Multiple Myeloma,

Bone Marrow

Plasma Cell Bank,

MicroRNA,

Proteomics

Research Interests

Annemarie Larkin

Research Officer

Monoclonal Antibodies

New diagnostic/

therapeutic agents

Novel cancer invasion

associated antigens

Multiple Drug resistance

in breast cancer, B-cell

malignancies

Research Interests

Joanne Keenan

Research Officer

Studying cellular

membrane and

secretome(e.g. stress

and apoptosis) in

multidrug resistance in

lung cancer using

proteomic technologies

Research Interests

Helena Joyce

Research Assistant

Lung Cancer,

Drug resistance,

Transcriptional

and proteomic

profiling

Research Interests

Paula Kinsella

Research Assistant

Identification of key

miRNAs and drug

responsiveness in

glioblastoma.

NICB Post Graduate StudentsResearch Interests

Brigid Browne

Role of IGF-IR

signalling in

Herceptin

resistance in

breast cancer

Research Interests

Grainne Dunne

Cancer Drug

Resistance.

Lung/Breast

Cancer. Drug

Pumps. Growth

Factor Receptors.

Drug Combinations

Research Interests

Aoife Devery

Mass Spectroscopy,

Drug pharmacology,

Metastasis,

Multidrug

Resistance, Normal

-vs- Cancer cell

models

Research Interests

Erica Hennessy

MicroRNA

involvement in

regulated insulin

secretion in

pancreatic beta cells

Research Interests

Naomi Walsh


Identification of

therapeutic

targets and

markers of

invasion in

pancreatic

cancer

Research Interests

Olga Piskareva


L1 retrotransposon,

homologous

recombination,

mammalian cells,

adeno associated

viruses

Research Interests

Lorraine O’Driscoll

Senior Programme

Leader

Translational

research; biomarkers

& new therapeutic

targets; cancer;

miRNAs, mRNAs &

proteins; circulating

tumour cells; islet

transplantation;

clinical trials

Research Interests

Finbarr O’Sullivan

Programme Leader

Stem cells, eye,

limbal, cornea, cell-

cell interaction,

characterisation,

imaging, confocal

microscopy,

cytometery,

differentiation, cell

adhesion

Research Interests

Damian Pollard

Discovery of

potential

biomarkers for the

early detection and

monitoring of lung

cancer

Research Interests

Jai Prakash Mehta

Bioinformatics;

Gene-expression

analysis;

Breast cancer;

Metastasis;

Meta-analysis;

Neural Networks

Cell motility and

invasion

Research Interests

Dermot O’Sullivan

Developing

Monoclonal

Antibodies,

Inhibition of

Invasion,

Identification of

Novel Antigens

Research Interests

Mohan Muniyappa

Micro RNAs,

Cancer

Invasion/Metastasis,

In vitro Gene

Targeting, Gene

Knock IN/OUT

Technology

Research Interests

Sweta Rani,

Analysis of

murine cell

models relevant to

Type 1 Diabetes

Research Interests

Kishore Reddy

Adult Eye Stem Cell

Therapy and Cell

Differentiation

Research

Research Interests

Niraj Kumar

Molecular

mechanisms

regulating cold-

shock response in

CHO-K1 cells

Scale-up /

Molecular Biology

Research Interests

Priyanka Maurya

Proteomic

analysis for

tumour

/invasiveness

biomarker

discovery in

breast cancer

and melanoma

Medical Post Graduate Students

Research Interests

Noelia Sanchez

Research Placement

student from France

Improving

recombinant

protein production

using:

siRNA transfection

serum free media

consensus sequence

knock-down

cellular phenotypes

Research Interests

Sandra Roche

Mass

Spectrometry; Bio-

analytical

Methods; Tyrosine

Kinase Inhibitors;

Zulfi Qadir

Rajesh Rajpal,

William Shields

Brendan Corkery

Protein

Markers for

drug

responsiveness

in multiple

myeloma

Proteomics

applied to

diabetes

Tyrosine kinases

and targeted

therapies in

triple negative

breast cancer

HSP-90

Inhibitors in

HER2+ Breast

cancer

Callan, Mairead

Senior Administrator

Clynes, Martin

Centre Director

Gallagher, Ross

Laboratory Assistant

Kelly, Shane

Laboratory Assistant

McNamara, Carol

Administrator

Reilly, Yvonne

Administrator

Henry, Michael

Senior Technician

Carey, Joe

Technician

McGovern, Julian

IT SupportO’Driscoll, Donnacha

General Manager

NICB Support Team

Robert McMahonPost-Graduate Student

Research Interests:

How KSHV modifies host

translation initiation factor

activity and its role in virus

replication and cancer

development.

Izabela ZaborowskaPost-Graduate Student

Research Interests:

How Vaccinia Virus takes

control of the host cells

protein synthesis

machinery to replicate.

Derek Walsh

SFI Principal Investigator,

co-ordinator of virus

research program

As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses must exploit their host cells protein

synthesis machinery in order to produce viral proteins and replicate. Our group is

interested in how DNA viruses control the activity of the translation initiation complex

eIF4F, a key regulator of ribosomal loading and protein production in cells. Our work

was the first to demonstrate that DNA viruses, unlike RNA viruses, stimulate the

activity of this complex to maximise production of viral proteins in infected cells,

identifying two new steps in translational control and highlighting the potential of

targeting regulatory kinases of the cells protein synthesis machinery as effective

antiviral strategies. Our current research, funded by Science Foundation Ireland and

the Health Research Board, focuses on determining the viral factors and mechanisms

involved in modifying translational activity in cells infected with Kaposi’s Sarcoma-

associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Vaccinia virus (VV), a prototypical Poxvirus. We

are interested in the role that these modifications play in both virus replication and the

diseases they cause with the aim of developing new directions for drug development.

Virus Research Programme

The research in the chemistry group is aimed at creating a world class research programme in drug

discovery and development within the NICB, specifically to drive “synthesis of new lead compounds and

the analytical science which underpins translation research.” We are preparing bioactive compounds,

focussing on cancer therapeutics and antimicrobials. Development of efficient synthetic methodologies

is leading to rapid generation of compounds for screening. Target lead drug development and the quest

for new hit compounds in collaboration with the NICB screening, is a fundamental goal. We are active in

the following areas:

Synthetic Methodology: Advances in peptide synthesis and Lewis acid catalysed reactions have been

made.

Identification of Novel ‘Hit’ Compounds: Screening has led to the identification of several new hit

compounds as antimicrobials and cancer therapeutics, e.g. p-gp inhibitors, resveratrol analogues and

ferrocenyl benzoyl peptides.

Molecular Characterisation: Recent investment in high-throughput and low-mass NMR an LC-MS

methodologies will put us at the forefront in synthesis, and characterisation of complex pro-drug and

metabolite mixtures.

Lead Compound Development: Libraries of antimicrobials, cancer therapeutics have been prepared and

SAR studies compiled.

Future Work: ‘Hit’ identification; synthetic methodology optimisation; further SAR studies;

metabolomics; rational drug design; high-throughput compound preparation, isolation, characterisation

and screening.

Dermot Brougham

Lecturer

Research Interests:

Metabonomics of cancer, using

NMR spectroscopy. The

development of novel

nanoparticle-based MRI contrast

agents, and drug-delivery

vehicles.

Research Interests:

NMR of membranes,

novel liposomal and

polymeric drug-

delivery vehicles.

Carla Meledandri

Post Graduate student

NICB Research Chemistry Group

Ewa Kowalska


Research Interests: Cancer

therapeutics (macrocyclic

prodrugs, metabolite

profiling), alkaloids, metal

binding studies,

antimicrobials, green

synthesis of pharmaceuticals,

asymmetric catalysis, and

ionic liquids

Nick Gathergood

Lecturer

Research Interests:

Macrocyclic cancer prodrugs,

alkaloids, metal binding

studies, antimicrobials

Research Interests:

Alkaloids, binding studies,

macrocycles, coupling

reactions, cancer prodrugs

Research Interests:

Green asymmetric synthesis

of pharmaceuticals;

Adrenaline derivatives and

cancer therapeutics

Research Interests:

Green asymmetric synthesis

of pharmaceuticals;

Melphalan derivatives and

ionic liquids

Brian Deegan


Dan Canning


Haibo Xie

Post Graduate Fellow

Brid Quilty directs research in the Microbial Ecology

Laboratory in the School of Biotechnology. The research

focuses on the biological treatment of waste streams, water

quality and antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics and novel

chemicals. Linkage with NICB facilitates in particular

research collaboration with the Microarray and

Bioinformatics and Cell Characterisation Laboratories.

Greg Foley’s work focuses on downstream processing of

biological products from fermentation broths. His group is

particularly interested in the role of microbial cell

morphology on the performance of membrane separation

units and in using artifical neural networks to model the

dynamics of highly complex microfiltration systems.'

Rosaleen Devery’s research group is centered on examining

the roles of diverse lipid classes on the life and death of cells.

It is particularily interested in examining how natural lipids of

dietary and/or microbial origins modulate membrane lipid

composition and functionality of cytotoxic drug efflux pumps

and signalling proteins in cancer cells. As a member of NICB

she has access to a suite of core facilities including a cell

culture bank and analytical instrumentation for analysis of

drug levels in drug resistant cancer cell lines.

NICB research in the School of Biotechnology

Research Interests:

the synthesis of

nitrogen heterocycles

ranging from 4 to 8

membered ring systems

and the applications of

NMR spectroscopy Paraic James

Lecturer

Research Interests:

Synthesis of

biologically active

compounds, natural

product chemistry,

Mass Spectrometry

Peter Kenny

Lecturer

Research Interests:

Development of stilbene

analogues as potential

anticancer agents and

novel peptides for protease

inhibition studies.

Brian Moran

Post Graduate Student

Research Interests:

synthesis of ferrocenyl

benzoyl peptide esters and

their biological activity versus

H1299 lung cancer cells. Also

the synthesis of ferrocenoyl

peptide based self assembled

monolayers for the detection

of anions in aqueous media.

Alan Corry

Post Graduate Student

Murphy, Lisa

Post-Doctoral FellowTither, Raymond

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Jenkins, Nigel

Principal Investigator, National Institute for Bioprocessing

Research and Training.

Associate member of NICB

Keywords:

Animal cell biotechnology, therapeutic proteins, post-translational modifications,

aggregation, glycosylation, protein damage, cell culture, antibodies, media design,

high-throughput screens.

Abstract

Currently, mammalian cells are the dominant production system for monoclonal

antibodies and other therapeutic proteins because they can perform complex post-

translational modifications that are often required for efficient secretion, drug efficacy

and stability. These protein modifications include variable glycosylation, mis-folding

and aggregation, oxidation of methionine, deamidation of asparagine, and proteolysis.

Such modifications not only pose challenges for accurate and consistent

bioprocessing, but also may have consequences for the patient in that incorrect

modifications and aggregation can lead to an immune response to the therapeutic

protein.

Prof. Jenkins’ is developing high-throughput assays for these protein modifications

that can be used in many areas of protein manufacturing such as cell and media

selection, bioreactor operation, protein purification, viral clearance, and product

formulation. We are also developing protocols and reagents that will minimize

damage to protein therapeutics and improve their efficacy and stability.

Jenkins, N. (2007) Modifications of Therapeutic Proteins: Challenges & Prospects.

Cytotechnology 53, 121-125.

National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and

Training (NIBRT) at the NICB

The main focus of the NICB research at NUIM is understanding the factors

contributing to the virulence of the pulmonary pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We

have succeeded in identify a number of the genes controlling the biosynthesis of

gliotoxin which is crucial to the success of the pathogen in colonising the lung. Our

strategy has been to identify and delete selected genes to gain an insight into how each

gene controls the formation of this toxin. In addition we have examined the way this

fungus interacts with the host's immune response and facilitates growth. We have also

investigated the ability of selected fungi to develop drug resistance following antifungal

therapy and characterised the molecular mechanisms allowing this phenomenon. In

parallel, we have an active research programme directed at developing novel metal-

based antifungal drugs. Our research has highlighted the ability of silver based drugs to

inhibit the growth of many bacterial and fungal pathogens by generating free radicals.

We are now investigating strategies to deliver these metal based drugs for the treatment

of bacterial infections of skin and mucosal surfaces.

NICB Researchat NUI Maynooth.

Kevin Kavanagh, Department of Biology, NICB, NUI

Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

Research Interests

Anti-microbial, Aspergillus, Candida, Drug discovery, host-

pathogen interactions, Innate immunology, Metal-based

drugs, Proteomics, virulence,

Sean Doyle, Department of Biology, NICB, NUI Maynooth,

Co. Kildare.

Research Interests

Biology, diagnosis and molecular genetics of the human

pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus - a major cause of

infection in immunocompromised individuals.

In Ireland increased numbers of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) is attributed to

increased bacterial and fungal resistance to conventional drugs, coupled with a decline in

hygiene standards. In 2004, over 8,000 HAIs were reported, of which 75% were due to

MRSA. Fungal infections are also increasing, and while Candida based infections are less

frequent than bacterial infections, they are the fourth most common HAI leading to death in

immuncompromised patients.

NICB research activity at ITT Dublin involves multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of

anti-microbial peptides, synthetic peptidomimetics of anti-microbial peptides, synthesis and

evaluation of metal-based anti-microbial agents, and studies on bacterial host interactions

using CF and Burkholderia cepacia complex as a model disease. Separately, research on

synthesis and evaluation of novel anti-cancer agents is also ongoing. These various studies

are carried out in collaboration with research groups in NICB, NUIM and the AMNCH.

Amongst the key research questions being addressed by NICB-ITT Dublin researchers are:

· What is the mechanism by which bacteria interact with host cells and tissues?

· How does the body’s defence system react to the bacteria?

· When bacteria grow as biofilms, how does this affect their antibiotic susceptibility?

· Can bacteria derived anti-microbial peptides be used as lead compounds for new natural

and synthetic antibiotics?

The Principal Investigators involved in NICB-ITT Dublin research are:

For ITT Dublin: - Dr. Siobhán McClean; Dr. Máire Callaghan; Mr John Behan, Dr Mary

Costello, Dr Emma Caraher; Dr. Denise Egan, Dr. Bernie Creaven, and Dr. Maureen Walsh;

For the AMNCH:- Dr. Philip Murphy

NICB Research at the ITT Dublin Group

Ken Carroll

Centre Manager at the Centre

of Applied Science for Health,

Research Interests:

Anti-microbial peptides

Purification of peptides

Mary Costello

Lecturer, Dept Science

Research Interests:

Neutraceuticals,

Antimicrobial peptides,

Probiotic cultures, Lactic

acid bacteria, Gut flora,

Vitamin K

Research Interests:

Host-pathogen interactions,

in particular, opportunistic

cystic fibrosis pathogens at

lung epithelia; mechanisms

of pathogenesis; bacterial

adhesion, invasion and

translocation

Siobhan McClean


Research Interests:

Microbial Host

Interactions with focus on

cystic fibrosis pathogens,

innate immune response,

biofilm formation and

pathogenesis

Maire Callaghan


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FRONT COVER IMAGE

ESD3 cells differentiated to express Nestin (green).

Eadaion McKiernan and Finbarr O’Sullivan

NICB & NCTCC: 20 years of Research_Symposium Booklet 01-02-2008

Science

Transcript of NICB & NCTCC: 20 years of Research_Symposium Booklet 01-02-2008