My research interests over the past 15 years have been primarily in the field of cancer research. After completing my PhD I moved to the UK where I studied the mechanisms regulating cell division and the response to DNA damage in research institutes (Cancer research UK, Clare Hall laboratories) and universities (Cambridge University) and then continued this work at the University of Milan, Italy.  Following my postdoctoral studies I worked as a research scientist in industry where I contributed to the development of novel cancer chemotherapeutic agents (Pharmacia/ Pfizer/ Nerviano Medical Sciences). In Industry I set up and ran a Microarray laboratory where we studied late stage compounds that the company had approved for phase 1 clinical studies. I analysed the effects of these compounds on the gene expression profile of cells to further characterise their mechanism of action and to develop biomarkers that would allow us to follow the activity of these compounds in clinical studies.

On returning to Ireland in 2007 I worked for two years as a research manager/scientific reviewer in Prof. Afshin Samali’s group at NUIG and contributed significantly to writing research and review articles, grant proposals and reports. More recently I am working as University Teacher which involves teaching Biochemistry to Medical students and Nursing students. I plan and coordinate the delivery of courses which involves lecturing, running practical laboratories and tutorials and coordinating staff, timetables, exams etc. At the same time I am integrated into research activities of the laboratories of both Prof. Afshin Samali and Prof. Corrado Santocanale (working on apoptosis and DNA replication) where I contribute to writing papers and reviews, participate in lab meetings and student supervision and contribute to writing grant applications.