Supervisor Database Search

Search for supervisors below. You can filter your search using the options and select
multiple fields by holding CTRL (Cmd on Mac) + clicking multiple options in a list.

The ICAT Supervisor list is reviewed annually by the partner universities and updated online in March/April each year. You can read the ICAT supervisor policy here.

Back to Search

Full NameProfessor Michael O'Dwyer

Medicine

National University of Ireland Galway

Webpage:apoptosis.ie

Email Address:Email hidden; Javascript is required.

Research Fields

infectious disease and the immune system
cancer/oncology

Postgrad Medical Specialties

Medicine

Medical Subspecialties

Haematology
Oncology

My Work

As a HRB Clinician Scientist I am actively involved in clinical and translational research in blood cancers, with a specific emphasis on Multiple Myeloma (MM). In 2012 I established a translational program of research in MM at NUI Galway.

Three major areas of focus: (1) how aberrant glycosylation (especially sialylation) can influence cellular adhesion and trafficking in MM and be utilized as novel diagnostic and prognostic tools, (2) survival signalling in MM and (3) applications of genetically modified natural killer (NK) cells as cell therapy for cancer. Our work on glycosylation has implicated interactions between selectins, siglecs and their ligands in disease progression, drug resistance and immune evasion in MM. These findings have provided new insights into the role of glycosylation in the progression of MM which could lead to new strategies to overcome resistance to treatment.

Based on research conducted in my lab I am Chief Investigator on the first clinical trial evaluating an E-selectin inhibitor in MM. We published the preclinical rationale for this study in the high impact journal Leukemia earlier this year. I am Director of Blood Cancer Network Ireland and lead phase I trials of novel agents in MM, e.g. CyBorD-Dara (clinicaltrials.gov NCT02955810).

For more information see: http://www.bloodcancers.ie and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-o-dwyer-a2636241/

Selected recent publications:
Natoni A, Smith TAG, Keane N, McEllistrim C, Connolly C, Jha A, Andrulis M, Ellert E, Raab MS, Glavey SV, McCarthy-Kirkham L, Kumar SK, Locatelli-Hoops SC, Oliva I, Fogler WE, Magnani JL, O’Dwyer ME. E-selectin ligands recognized by Heca452 induce drug resistance in myeloma, which is overcome by the E-selectin antagonist, GMI-1271. Leukemia. 2017 Apr 25. doi: 10.1038/leu.2017.123. [Epub ahead of print] PMID:28439107

McEllistrim C, Krawczyk J, O’Dwyer ME. "New developments in the treatment of multiple myeloma - clinical utility of daratumumab". Biologics: Targets and Therapy 2017:11 31–43.

Natoni A, Macauley MS, O'Dwyer ME. Targeting Selectins and Their Ligands in Cancer. Front Oncol. 2016 Apr 18;6:93. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00093. eCollection 2016. Review. PubMed PMID: 27148485; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4834419.

Glavey, S.V., Huynh, D., Reagan, M.R., Manier, S., Moschetta, M., Kawano, Y., Roccaro, A.M., Ghobrial, I.M., Joshi, L., O'Dwyer, M.E. ‘The cancer glycome: carbohydrates as mediators of metastasis.’ Blood Reviews. 2015: 29(4), 269-79.

Keane, N.A., Reidy, M., Natoni, A., Raab, M.S., O'Dwyer, M. ‘Targeting the Pim kinases in multiple myeloma.’ Blood Cancer Journal. 2015: 5, 325.

Glavey, S.V., Manier, S., Natoni, A., Sacco, A., Moschetta, M., Reagan, M.R., Murillo, L.S., Sahin, I., Wu, P., Mishima, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, W., Zhang, Y., Morgan, G., Joshi, L., Roccaro, A.M., Ghobrial, I.M., O'Dwyer, M.E. ‘The sialyltransferase ST3GAL6 influences homing and survival in multiple myeloma.’ Blood. 2014: 124(11), 1765-76.

Keane, N.A., Glavey, S.V., Krawczyk, J., O'Dwyer, M. ‘AKT as a therapeutic target in multiple myeloma.’ Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets. 2014: 18(8), 897-915.