Cohort 5 ICAT Fellows (2021)
Dr Adam Dyer
Clinical specialty: Geriatric Medicine
Dr Adam Dyer graduated from Medicine in Trinity College Dublin in 2017. In addition to his medical degree, Adam holds Master’s degrees in Neuroscience (MSc.), Medical Gerontology (MSc. by Research), postgraduate qualifications in Statistics (Postgrad Cert) and MRCPI. As first year SpR in Geriatric Medicine, Adam aims to explore the impact of age and frailty on innate anti-viral immune responses, seeking to bridge the gap between recent advances in our understanding of innate immunity, age-related disease and multimorbidity in older adults.
Dr Leanne Cussen
Clinical specialty: Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus
Dr Leanne Cussen graduated from University College Cork in 2014, where she subsequently completed a post graduate diploma in gynaecology. She was appointed to the Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus Higher Specialist Training scheme in 2020. Leanne's clinical and research interests are primarily in the area of metabolic health challenges faced by women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). As an ICAT fellow Leanne will explore the complex role of androgens in mediating metabolic risk in PCOS.
Dr Daniel O'Reilly
Clinical specialty: General Paediatrics
Dr Daniel O’Reilly is a Specialist Registrar in General Paediatrics. He completed a BSc in Human Health and Disease from TCD (2013) before commencing Graduate Entry Medicine in RCSI (2017). Daniel has just completed an MSc in Child Health and Paediatrics from Imperial College London. His current research interests are evidence based practice in paediatrics, platelet biology and how these topics relate to the critically unwell infant and child. As an ICAT fellow Daniel hopes to investigate how platelet signalling can be harnessed to prospectively identify the septic neonate.
Dr Timothy O'Brien
Clinical specialty: Medical Oncology
Dr Timothy O’Brien graduated from University College Cork in pharmacy (2010) and medicine (2016), currently undertaking Higher Specialty Training in Medical Oncology. He is passionate about improving patient outcomes in gastrointestinal malignancies, in particular, early-onset colorectal cancer. As an ICAT fellow, Tim intends to explore the role of the human microbiome in colorectal carcinogenesis, screening and treatment.
Dr Rachel MacCann
Clinical specialty: Infectious Diseases
Dr Rachel MacCann graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in 2016 and completed her BST in The Mater Hospital. In 2019 Rachel completed a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and was appointed to the Higher Specialist Training in Infectious Diseases in 2021. As an ICAT fellow, Rachel will explore the role of inflammation and aging in HIV, in particular with regards to the microbiome.
Dr Michael Gilligan
Clinical specialty: Neurology
Prior to studying medicine, Dr Michael Gilligan read English Literature and French in Trinity College Dublin. He graduated from medicine in University College Dublin in 2018 and commenced Higher Specialist Training in neurology in 2021. He is particularly interested in immune-mediated illnesses of the nervous system and, as an ICAT fellow, looks forward to undertaking research in the field of autoimmune encephalitis.
Dr Catriona Reddin
Clinical specialty: Geriatric Medicine
Dr Catriona Reddin is a Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine. Catriona graduated from NUI Galway in 2015 and subsequently completed a Masters in Clinical Research (NUIG) in 2020. Catriona will explore the epidemiological association of diet and falls using traditional and advanced analytic techniques.
Dr Mark Kelly
Clinical specialty: Neurology
Dr Mark Kelly graduated from Medicine in Trinity College Dublin in 2015 with an additional MSc in Neurosciences. He trained as a junior doctor and honorary research fellow at the University of Oxford where he conducted research in adverse medication effects in Parkinson’s Disease. He joined the Neurology Higher Specialist Training scheme in 2020. As an ICAT fellow, Mark will be researching autoimmune encephalitis and investigating potential clinical and biochemical markers of prognosis in this novel and complex condition.
Dr Oana Deac
Clinical specialty: Medical Oncology
Dr Oana Deac graduated from Medical School in Trinity College Dublin in 2018. Prior to that she undertook a Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Medicine in Trinity (2008-2012) and a Research Master Degree (MSc, 2012-2013). As a first year SPR in Oncology Oana is passionate about improving patient outcomes and her main area of interest in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy. As an ICAT fellow she hopes to better understand the immune processes involved in the tumour microenvironment with the aim to elucidate the best timing to introduce new therapies in gastrointestinal malignancy.