Lorraine O Driscoll

Biography

Lorraine O'Driscoll (BSc(Hons, Pharm), MSc(Res, Clin Pharm), MA(Ed), PhD(Biotech), FTCD) Lorraine holds a BSc(Hons),pharmacology; MSc(Res), clinical pharmacology; MA, education; PhD, biotechnology. In 2012, she was elected to Fellowship in TCD. Following her PhD, Lorraine undertook biotechnology/biomedical research for US and EU industry (including Berlex; Archport Ltd-Axonobel; MediSyn Ltd; MedaNova Ltd.) before returning to academic research & teaching. At post-doctoral level, she gained experience at the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Institute and University of Miami. Prior to joining TCD in 2008, Lorraine most recently held the position of Senior Research Programme Leader and Lecturer in School of Biotechnology, DCU. Her research group focuses on diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers; discovering new therapeutic targets; cancer cells communication via exosomes, microvesicles and CTCs; elucidating and circumventing resistance to targets agents and classical chemotherapy; associations between obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer. She has been a P.I. on 5 cancer clinical trials with ICORG. She is TCD's Principal Investigator on SFI-supported Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland; Strand Leader of Irish Cancer Society-supported Breast-PREDICT; and P.I. and Chair, H2020-supported European Network Cooperation in Science and Technology focussed on Exosomes & Microvesicles in Health & Disease which brings together researchers from 27 European countries, 3 US universities, Australia and 7 industry partners. She has developed tailored courses for academia (e.g. FEBS), semi-state bodies (e.g. IDA) and industry. Her graduates are now employed at NIH; Pfizer; Amgen; Leo; Roche; AstraZeneca; ICON plc; entrepreneur/company CEO; Manager of Research Centre; others in academia.

Research Interest

Apoptosis; Apoptosis, molecular control; Bioinformatics; Biology; Biology and therapy of myeloma; Biomedical sciences; Breast cancer; Cancer genetics and cell biology including metastasis; Cell and tissue development; Cell and tissue maintenance, repair and ageing; Clinical research, trials; Diabetes and diabetic complications; Diagnostics; DNA transcription and translation; Drug development and evaluation; Drug discovery, profiling, targeting; Embryonic development; Endocrine function and disease; Gene targeting in breast cancer; Gene therapy; Gene transcription in human cancer; Human genetics; Immunoassays; In vitro testing, trial methods; Mammilian and human genetics and genomics; Medical Sciences, Research; Membrane and protein trafficking; Multiple Myeloma; Oncogenes, apoptosis and tumour development; Pathology; Prostate cancer; Regulatory methods of gene expression; RNA processing, stability and degradation; Stem Cell biology and hematopoiesis; Therapeutic and Clinical oncology