Karen English

Biography

Dr Karen English (B.Sc., M.Sc and Ph.D., (2008) Maynooth University) received a Marie Curie Fellowship to carry out her postdoctoral training at the University of Oxford (2009-2011) before returning to Maynooth University as a Health Research Board- Translational Medicine Research Fellow and later a Science Foundation Ireland –funded Starting Investigator. She was appointed Lecturer in the Maynooth University Biology Department in 2015.

Research Interest

Dr English leads the Cellular Immunology Laboratory in the Institute of Immunology at Maynooth University. The major focus of our research is the translation of cellular therapy for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are adult cells found in many tissues including bone marrow, adipose tissue and umbilical cord. MSC have potent anti-inflammatory and pro-reparative properties and for this reason are being tested as a cellular therapy for inflammatory disorders. The mechanisms of action used by MSC in protecting against inflammation and promoting repair and not well understood. To address this question, my lab utilises state of the art humanised mouse models of inflammatory disease including graft versus host disease and lung inflammation and fibrotic associated diseases. The overall goal of my research is to further understand how these cells mediate these positive effects and identify their interactions with cells of the immune system to optimise MSC therapy for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.