Dr. Eric Farrell
Postdoctoral ResearcherEric is lead scientist on the EU FP7-funded GAMBA project.
Researcher in
Eric's project is under FP7 GAMBA. The aim of this project, entitled “Gene Activated Matrices for Bone and Cartilage Repair in Osteoarthritis” is to examine the role of inflammation modulation in prevention of osteoarthritis and also examine endochondral ossification as a means to effect bone repair in osteochondral defects.
2010-Present Postdoctoral Researcher, in the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) under FP7 project GAMBA.
2009-2010 Postdoctoral Researcher, Cardiovascular Group, in the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), National University of Ireland, Galway. Research here involves the investigation into the paracrine factors released by adult stem cells to improve blood flow and cell survival after myocardial infarction.
2007-Present Postdoctoral researcher and Marie Curie Research Fellow, in the Orthopaedics department of Erasmus Medical Centre. This Intra-European Fellowship involves the development of an in vitro model of endochondral ossification and neovascularisation. Other ongoing work focuses on in vivo cell tracking with MRI and the induction of angiogenesis from mesenchymal stem cells to improve the viability of tissue engineered constructs in vivo.
2005-2007 Postdoctoral research fellow, in Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin and Anatomy Department, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. This period also included a 6 month period in the Orthopaedics Department of Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam. Research areas included focusing on in vivo repair of critical sized skeletal defects, in vitro angiogenesis, siRNA and cell tracking using magnetic resonance imaging
2002-2005 PhD in physiology and bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin with research interests in generation of bone and cartilage constructs from adult mesenchymal stem cells and the signalling mechanisms involved.
1998 -2002 B.A. Moderatorshiop in Physiology, Trinity College Dublin. Graduated second in class (grade 2-1) with research project carried out on the effects of priming exercise on performance.
1992-1998 Portmarnock Community School
Leaving Certificate: Higher: English, Irish, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, German.
Academic Information
Teaching/Supervisory Experience
• Invited lecturer at Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands
• Lecturing on stem cells and tissue engineering at MSc level in Trinity College
• Organiser of a module for the International Cartilage Repair Society Laboratory Skills Workshop
• Extensive demonstrating experience in respiration, exercise physiology, ECG, histology, nervous transmission, sensory physiology and statistics.
• Responsible for several undergraduate and postgraduate research projects during the course of PhD and currently as a post doctoral researcher, including 3 masters and 2 PhD students.
• Currently supervising 1 PhD project and collaborating on several others with responsibility for supervision of 2 research technicians.
Awards/Achievements
• Awarded Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship to a value of 119,000 Euro, 2008
• Co-applicant on a successful Research Frontiers Programme grant from Science Foundation Ireland worth 170,000 Euro, 2007
• Recipient of European Science Foundation travel grant for Intra-European collaborative research.
• Winner of the Genzyme award for excellence in cartilage research at the 2007 meeting of the International Cartilage Repair Society with a 5000 Euro award
• Finalist for New Investigator Research Award at the 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society conference in San Diego
• First prize for poster presentation at the winter meeting 2005 of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
• Winner of the Donegan Medal at the summer meeting 2004 of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
• Invited speaker at the symposium of Cell Based Strategies in Cartilage Repair at the REgenerative MEDicine Institute (REMEDI) Galway, Ireland
• Vice-chair of the European council of the Student and Young Investigator Section (SYIS) of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS)
• Invited judge at 2007 Bioengineering in Ireland conference
• Organiser of the student and young investigator events of October 2006 TERMIS conference in Rotterdam, TERMIS 2007 in London and TERMIS 2008 in Porto
• Invited reviewer for the Israel Science Foundation
• Invited reviewer for Tissue Engineering
• Invited reviewer for Stem Cells and Development
• Invited reviewer for Tissue and Cell
• Inviter reviewer for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
• Invited reviewer for The Journal of Clinical Rehabilitative Tissue Engineering Research
• Invited reviewer for International Journal for Artificial Organs
• Invited speaker at the symposium on Cell Based Strategies in Cartilage Repair at the Regenerative Medicine Institute in NUI Galway
• Invited speaker at the European Medical and Biological Engineering Conference in Prague in Nov 2005
• Invited speaker at the Orthopaedic Department, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Publications
Verseijden F, Posthumous van Sluijs S, Pavljasevic P, van Neck H, Hovius S, Hofer S, van Osch GJVM, Farrell E (2010) Adult human bone marrow- and adipose tissue-derived stromal cells support the formation of prevascular-like structures from endothelial cells in vitro. Tissue Engineering Part A 16 (1) 101-14.
Das R, Jahr H, van Osch GJVM, Farrell E (2010) The role of hypoxia in MSCs: Considerations for regenerative medicine approaches. Tissue Engineering Part B 16 (2) 159-68.
Farrell E, Both S, Ödorfer KI, Koevoet W, Kops N, O’Brien FJ, Baatenburg de Jong RJ, Verhaar JA, Cuijpers V, Jansen J, Erben RG, van Osch GJVM (2010) In-vivo generation of bone via endochondral ossification by in-vitro chondrogenic priming of adult human and rat mesenchymal stem cells. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (submitted)
van Buul G, Kotek G, Wielopolski PA, Farrell E, Bos PK, Weinans H, Verhaar JA, Krestin GP, van Osch GJVM, Bernsena MR (2010) Clinically applicable cell tracking and quantification by MRI in cartilage repair using Superparamagnetic Iron Oxides. PLoS Medicine (submitted).
Verseijden F, Posthumus-van Sluijs S, Farrell E, van Neck J , Hovius S, Hofer S, van Osch GJVM (2010) Prevascular structures promote vascularization in engineered human adipose tissue constructs upon implantation. Cell Transplantation (in press DOI: 10.3727/096368910X492571).
Duffy GP, Byrne EM, Gill SL, McFadden TM, Farrell E, O’Brien FJ (2010). Towards in vitro vascularisation of Collagen-GAG Scaffolds using Mesenchymal Stem Cells. European Cells and Materials (in press)
Gawlitta D, Farrell E, Malda J, Creemers LB, Alblas J, Dhert WJA (2010) Modulating endochondral ossification of multipotent stromal cells for bone regeneration. Tissue Engineering Part B (in press DOI:10.1089/ten.teb.2009 .0712).
Kearney E, Farrell E, Prendergast PJ, Campbell VA, (2010) Tensile strain as a regulator of mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 38 (5) 1767 79.
van Buul GM, Farrell E, Kops N, van Tiel S, Bos PK, Weinans H, Krestin GP, van Osch GJVM, Bernsen MR (2009) Endorem®-protamine sulfate is more effective than Resovist® for cell labeling: implications for clinically applicable cell tracking using MRI. Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging (in press).
Verseijden F, Posthumous van Sluijs S, Pavljasevic P, van Neck H, Hovius S, Hofer S, van Osch GJVM, Farrell E (2009) The role of mesenchymal stem cells and adipose derived stem cells in in vitro vascular morphogenesis. Tissue Engineering Part A (in press)
Hellingman CA, Koevoet W, Kops N, Farrell E, Jahr H, Liu W, Baatenburg de Jong RJ, Frenz DA, van Osch GJVM (2009) Fibroblast growth factor receptors in in vitro and in vivo chondrogenesis; Relating tissue engineering using adult mesenchymal stem cells to embryonic development. Tissue Engineering Part A (in press)
Alhag M, Farrell E, Toner M, O’Brien FJ, Lee TC, Claffey N, (2008) Mesenchymal stem cell seeded collagen glycosaminoglycan scaffold for bone regeneration. An experimental study in Wistar Rats. Journal of Periodontal Research (under revision)
van der Windt, A, Jahr H, Farrell E, Verhaar JAN, Weinans H, van Osch GJVM (2008) Calcineurin inhibitors promote chondrogenic phenotype of dedifferentiated human adult chondrocytes via stimulation of endogenous TGFβ production. Tissue Engineering Part A (in press)
Farrell E, Pavljasevic P, Kops N, Weinans H, Bernsen MR, van Osch GJVM (2009) Cell tracking with superparamagnetic iron oxide has no effect on chondrocyte behaviour. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 17,7 958-964
Farrell E, van der Jagt O, Koevoet W, Kops N, Hellingman CA, O’ Brien FJ, Weinans H, van Osch GJVM (2009) Chondrogenic Priming of human bone marrow stromal cells; A better route to bone repair? Tissue EngineeringPart C 15, 2, 285-295
Farrell E, Wielopolski PA, Jahr, H, Verhaar J, Weinans H, Krestin GP, O’Brien FJ, van Osch GJVM, Bernsen MR (2008). Effects of iron oxide incorporation for long term cell tracking on MSC differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 369, 1076-1081
Kearney E, Farrell E, Prendergast PJ, Campbell VA, (2008) Tensile strain as a regulator of mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis. Annals of Biomedical Engineering (under review)
Byrne EM, Farrell E, McMahon LA, Haugh MG, O'Brien FJ, Campbell VA, Prendergast PJ & O’Connell BC. (2008). Gene expression by marrow stromal cells in a porous collagen-glycosaminoglycan scaffold is affected by pore size and mechanical stimulation. Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 19(11), 3455-63.
Farrell E, Byrne EM, Fischer J, O’Connell BC, O’Brien FJ, Prendergast PJ & Campbell VA. (2007). A comparison of the osteogenic potential of adult mesenchymal stem cells cultured in 2-D and on 3-D collagen glycosaminoglycan scaffolds. Technology and Healthcare 15(1), 19-31.
Farrell E, O'Brien F.J., Doyle P., Fischer J, Yannas I, Harley BA, O'Connell B, Prendergast PJ & Campbell VA. (2006b). A Collagen-glycosaminoglycan Scaffold Supports Adult Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation Along Osteogenic and Chondrogenic Routes. Tissue Engineering 12, 459-468.
Prina-Mello A, Farrell E, Prendergast PJ, Campbell V & Coey JM. (2006). Influence of strong static magnetic fields on primary cortical neurons. Bioelectromagnetics 27, 35-42.
Farrell E., O’Brien F.J., Prendergast P.J., Campbell V.A. 2004. Mesenchymal stem cells and bioengineering. Journal of Anatomy, Proceedings of the anatomical society of Great Britain and Ireland Vol 205 (6) 519-547 P27
Reviews and book chapters
Review:
Das R, Jahr H, van Osch GJVM, Farrell E (2009) The role of hypoxia in MSCs: Considerations for regenerative medicine approaches. Tissue Engineering Part B (in press)
Book Chapters:
Farrell E, O’Brien FJ, van Osch GJVM, Scaffold considerations for osteochondral tissue engineering (2009) Chapter 40 of The Handbook of Intelligent Scaffold for Regenerative Medicine (In press)
O’Brien F.J., Farrell E., Waller M.A., Connell I., O’Mahoney D., McGarry J.P., Murphy B.P., Mc Hugh P.E., Campbell V.A., Prendergast P.J. 2004. Scaffolds and cells: Preliminary biochemical analysis and results for the use of a collagen/GAG scaffold for bone tissue engineering. Chapter VI. Topics in Biomechanical Engineering (p167-183)
Conference Proceedings
3rd Aegean conference on Tissue Engineering, Rhodes, Greece 2008
“Endochondral Ossification: An alternative route to bone repair?”
E. Farrell, O. van der Jagt, W. Koevoet, N. Kops, C.A. Hellingman, C. van Mannen, F.J. O’Brien, J.A.N. Verhaar, H. Weinans, G.J.V.M. van Osch
World Congress on Osteoarthritis, Rome, Italy 2008
“Endochondral Ossification: An alternative route to bone repair?”
E. Farrell, O. van der Jagt, W. Koevoet, N. Kops, C.A. Hellingman, C. van Mannen, F.J. O’Brien, J.A.N. Verhaar, H. Weinans, G.J.V.M. van Osch
World Molecular imaging congress, Nice France 2008
“Superparamagnetic iron oxide labelling of chondrocytes for in vivo
tracking"
E. Farrell, P.K. Bos, P. Wielopolski, N. Kops, P. Pavljasevic, M.R. GJVM van Osch, M.R. Bernsen
Proceedings from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European meeting, Porto, Portugal 2008
“Superparamagnetic iron oxide labelling of chondrocytes for in vivo tracking”
E. Farrell, P.K. Bos, P. Wielopolski, P. Pavljasevic, N. Kops, M.R .Bernsen, GJVM van Osch
“In vitro model of angiogenesis by adult bone marrow-derived stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells in a fibrin matrix”
F. Verseijden, S.P. van Sluijs, P. Pavljasevic, G.J.V.M van Osch, E. Farrell
“In vitro generation of an endothelialized adipose tissue construct for the engineering of vascularized adipose tissue”
F. Verseijden, S.J. Posthumus-van Sluijs, E. Farrell, G.J.V.M. van Osch
Proceedings from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European meeting, London September 2007: Published
“Induction of endothelial differentiation of adult mesenchymal stem cells in scaffolds”
E. Farrell, F. Verseijden, H. Weinans, GJVM. van Osch, F.J. O’Brien
Proceedings from the Orthopaedic Research Society meeting, San Diego, US, February 2007: Published
“Cell tracking with iron oxide labelling and its effects on multilineage differentiation potential of marrow stromal cells“
E. Farrell, M. Bernsen, P. Pavljasevic, S. van Tiel, P. Wielopolski, F.J. O’Brien, P.J. Prendergast, J. Verhaar, H. Weinans, GJVM. Van Osch
“Gene expression by marrow stromal cells in a porous collagen-glyosaminoglycan scaffold is affected by pore size and mechanical stimulation”
E. Byrne, E. Farrell, L. McMahon, M. Haugh, F.J. O’Brien, V.A. Campbell, P.J. Prendergast, B. O’Connell
Proceedings from the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society Eurpoean meeting, Rotterdam, Netherlands, November 2006: Published
“A study of the effects of superparamagnetic iron oxide labelling on the multilineage differentiation potential of adult human mesenchymal stem cells”
E. Farrell, M. Bernsen, P. Pavljasevic, S. van Tiel, P. Wielopolski, F.J. O’Brien, P.J. Prendergast, J. Verhaar, H. Weinans, GJVM. Van Osch
“Inhibition of calcineurin induces redifferentiation of chondrocytes in vitro”
H.J. Jahr, E. Farrell, P. Pavljasevic, J. Verhaar,H. Weinans, GJVM. Van Osch
Proceedings from the Orthopaedic Research Society meeting, Chicago, US, March 2006: Published
“The role of extracellular signal regulated kinase in the 3-d osteogenic pathway”
E. Farrell, P.J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
“The influence of mechanical strain on adult rat mesenchymal stem cells”
E. Kearney, E. Farrell, P.J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
Proceedings from the European Mechanical and Biological Engineering Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, November 2005: Published
“A collagen glysocaminoglycan scaffold supports adult rat mesenchymal stem cell differentiation along the osteogenic and chondrogenic routes”
E. Farrell, J. Fischer, P.J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
Proceedings from first ESB workshop of mechanobiology of tissue engineering, Leuven, Belgium, August 2005: Published
“Mesenchymal stem cells and signalling in osteogenesis”
E.Farrell, P.J.Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
"The influence of mechanical strain on adult rat mesenchymal stem cells"
E.M Kearney, E. Farrell, P. J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
"Chondrogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Static and Dynamic Cultures"
McMahon L, Farrell E, O’Connell BC, Campbell VA, Prendergast PJ
Proceedings from the European Tissue Engineering Society, Munich, Germany, September 2005: Published
“Mesenchymal stem cells and signalling in osteogenesis”
E.Farrell, P.J.Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
"The influence of mechanical strain on adult rat mesenchymal stem cells"
E.M Kearney, E. Farrell, P. J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
"Chondrogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Static and Dynamic Cultures"
L. McMahon, E. Farrell, B.C. O’Connell BC, V.A. Campbell, P.J. Prendergast
Meeting of the Biomedical Sciences section of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, June 2005: Awaiting publication;
“Mesenchymal stem cells and signalling in osteogenesis”
E.Farrell, P.J.Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
"Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells seeded on a silicone membrane"
E.M Kearney, E. Farrell, P. J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
"Chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells harvested from wistar rats in static cultures"
L. McMahon, E. Farrell, F.J. O’Brien, B.C. O’Connell, V.A.Campbell, P.J. Prendergast
Bioengineering in Ireland 2005: Published
"Mesenchymal stem cells and signalling in osteogenesis",
E. Farrell, P.J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
"Osteogenic treated collagen-GAG scaffolds are stiffer than untreated controls, cultured statically for 3 weeks"
L. McMahon, E. Farrell, F.J. O’Brien, V.A. Campbell, P.J. Prendergast
"The influence of mechanical strain on adult rat mesenchymal stem cell viability and osteogenic potential"
E.M Kearney, E. Farrell, P. J. Prendergast, V.A. Campbell
