Supervisor View Full Details 2nd

• cancer/oncology

• Surgery
• Pathology

• Gastroenterology
• Oncology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Radiology
• Vascular Medicine

We are concerned with the pre-clinical development of novel targeted anti-cancer therapeutics and biomarkers with a particular interest in applying a multi-modality molecular imaging approach towards elucidation of drug mechanism of action in vivo. We also have a particular interest in the identification and screening of novel targets in vivo with specific expertise implementing PDX models. In addition we are also involved in the interrogation of new safety and efficacy biomarkers for clinically approved targeted therapies. Technologies include optical, nuclear, CT and MR imaging approaches and the development of imageable disease models. Our group works primarily on colorectal, brain and breast malignancies.

See URLs: www.coloforetell.ie; www.angiopredict.com; www.breastpredict.com

Example Publication:
O'Halloran PJ, Viel T, Murray DW, Wachsmuth L, Schwegmann K, Wagner S, Kopka K, Jarzabek MA, Dicker P, Hermann S, Faber C, Klasen T, Schafers M, O'Brien D, Prehn JH, Jacobs AH, Byrne AT. Mechanistic interrogation of combination bevacizumab/dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor response in glioblastoma implementing novel MR and PET imaging biomarkers.
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2016 Aug;43(9):1673-83.

We have multiple programmes ongoing in the oncology breast, colorectal and glioblastoma space. Projects focus on cancer prevention (e.g. the role of aspirin in the prevention of breast cancer); identifying novel mechanisms to define biomarkers and stratify patients to clinically approved therapeutics (e.g. identifying new colorectal cancer subtypes which might best respond to combination FOLFOX/FOLFIRI+ avastin) and employing clinically relevant imaging modalities (PET, CT, MRI etc.) in pre-clinical models to predict and interrogate drug response in glioblastoma. We use state of the genomics and proteomics to elucidate biomarkers.

We are also developing programmes in the immuno-oncology space, specifically to develop appropriate humanized models to interrogate checkpoint inhibitors in vivo. In all cases, we specifically develop appropriate pre-clinical disease models and have graduated several MD surgical students, providing opportunities to employ and develop micro-surgical skills (e.g. J Neurosci Methods,18 June 2014;233C:99-104, doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.05.006 PMID: 24952322).

Our projects are wholly translational, and in all programmes we work closely with clinical colleagues across a range of specialties (medical oncology, surgery, gastroenterology, radiology, pathology etc.) Furthermore, we are involved in the design and roll out of several clinical studies in the oncology setting e.g. (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01822444). We welcome applications from interested clinical PhD candidates and can provide specific detail on all available projects.