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Dr. Gavin Davey

Associate Professor (Biochemistry)
Associate Professor (Trinity Inst. of Neurosciences (TCIN))
      
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Dr. Gavin Davey

Associate Professor (Biochemistry)

 gdavey@tcd.ie

 3531896 1853/8408

Associate Professor (Trinity Inst. of Neurosciences (TCIN))


My research interests are in the areas of Neuroscience and Glycobiology, with specific focus on enzymology, metabolic flux, glycosylation, computational & systems biology. My group researches the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neurodegeneration in the brain, in particular, the role that energy metabolism and bioenergetics play in controlling neuronal function and dysfunction. A major goal is to understand how abnormal mitochondrial dynamics control cell loss in Parkinson's disease and other common brain disorders. My group also has interests in drug development and application of our technologies to the development of next-generation biotherapeutics, including bio- and glyco-engineering of recombinant proteins and therapeutic antibodies and nanoparticle synthesis for delivery of therapeutics into the brain.
  Ageing, stroke, dementia   Alzheimer's disease   Anticancer therapies   Apoptosis, molecular control   Biocomputing   Biomarkers of disease   Bioprocesses   Bioreactors   Brain   CANCER   CANCER CELL-LINE   Catecholamine   Cell reprogramming   Computational Biology   Depression   Enzymology and catalysis   GLYCOBIOLOGY   GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS   In vitro testing, trial methods   Induced pluripotent stem cells   Mathematical modelling   Metabolism and metabolic diseases   MITOCHONDRIAL COMPLEX I   Mitochondrial fission & fusion mechanisms   MITOCHONDRIAL MONOAMINE-OXIDASE   MITOCHONDRIAL-MEMBRANE POTENTIAL   MITOCHONDRION   Molecular Biology   Multiple Sclerosis   Neurochemistry and neuropharmacology   Neurodegeneration   Neuroimmunology   Neuroinformatics   Neuropharmacology   Neuroscience   Neurotoxicity   Oligosaccharide and polysaccharide biochemistry   OXYGEN FREE-RADICALS   PARKINSONS DISEASE   Stem cells   SYNAPSE   SYNAPTOSOMES
Project Title
 Advanced Biopharmaceutical Technologies
From
2014
To
2017
Summary
Effect of extractables & leachables on CHO cell metabolism during single use bioprocessing.
Funding Agency
Science Foundation Ireland
Programme
Centres - Spokes
Project Type
Research
Person Months
36
Project Title
 Training in neurodegeneration, therapeutics intervention and neurorepair
From
2013
To
2017
Summary
Research training of 12 PhD students
Funding Agency
EU Marie Curie
Programme
EU ITN Network
Project Type
Research training
Person Months
48
Project Title
 Glycoengineering Fc/FcγR interactions
From
2016
To
2020
Summary
Investigation of cell surface glycosylation and glycan interactions that influence immune responses.
Funding Agency
Saudi Education Ministry
Programme
PhD Program
Project Type
PhD research project
Person Months
48
Project Title
 What is the role for ACAD9 as a neurotherapeutic?
From
2013
To
2017
Summary
A PhD project investigation the role of ACAD9 on nerve terminal mitochondria function in the context of neurodegeneration.
Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Programme
PhD program
Project Type
PhD research
Person Months
48
Project Title
 Japan - Ireland International Strategic Cooperation Award
From
2014
To
2016
Summary
SFI funded student/academic exchange program with Japanese research institutions.
Funding Agency
Science Foundation Ireland
Programme
Knowledge exchange
Project Type
Research exchange
Person Months
24

Page 1 of 3
Details Date
Member of University Council, Trinity College Dublin 2012-2014
Editor EBEC 2008 BBA Bioenergetics 2008
Scientific Advisory Board NIBRT 2013
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
Italian Basic Basic Basic
Details Date From Date To
The International Society for Neurochemistry 2000 present
The Biochemical Society 1998 present
The American Society for Neurochemistry 2000 present
Neuroscience Ireland 2006 present
Alsharif, B; Biasiotti, M; Davey, GP; Boylan, F, In vitro evaluation of monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase enzyme activities of Capparis cartilaginea Decne, Natural Product Research, 2026, p1 - 7, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Bashaer Alsharif, Matilde Biasiotti, Ammar Bader, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Gavin P Davey, Fabio Boylan, Acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activities of Pistacia falcata Becc. ex Martelli extract, Natural Product Research., 2026, p3444 - 3449, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Alanna S Slater, Andrew G McDonald, Rita M Hickey, Gavin P Davey, Glycosyltransferases: glycoengineers in human milk oligosaccharide synthesis and manufacturing, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Laila Hedaya, Khaled Naja, Shamma Almuraikhy, Najeha Anwardeen, Asma A Elashi, Maha Al-Asmakh, Susu M Zughaier, Meritxell Espino-Guarch, Osama Y Aldirbashi, Gavin P Davey, Mohamed A Elrayess, N-Lactoyl Phenylalanine Disrupts Insulin Signaling, Induces Inflammation, and Impairs Mitochondrial Respiration in Cell Models, Cells, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
D.M. Seward, C.D. Keegan, G.P. Davey, Polystyrene nanoplastics target electron transport chain complexes in brain mitochondria, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Alanna S. Slater, Rita M. Hickey, Gavin P. Davey, Interactions of human milk oligosaccharides with the immune system, Frontiers in Immunology, 15, 2025, p1523829 - 1523829, p1523829-1523829 , Review Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Alice Pifferi, Elda Chiaino, Jesus Fernandez-Abascal, Aoife C. Bannon, Gavin P. Davey, Maria Frosini, and Massimo Valoti, Exploring the Regulation of Cytochrome P450 in SH-SY5Y Cells: Implications for the Onset of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Int. J. Mol. Sci, 25, 2024, p7439.-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Ryoichi Sugisawa, Katharine A. Shanahan, Gavin M. Davis, Gavin P. Davey, Andrew Bowie, SARM1 regulates pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in human monocytes by NADase-dependent and -independent mechanisms, iScience, 27, (6), 2024, p109940 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Shanahan KA, Davis GM, Doran CG, Sugisawa R, Davey GP, Bowie AG., SARM1 regulates NAD+-linked metabolism and select immune genes in macrophages., The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 300, (2), 2024, p105620 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Slater AS, Hickey RM, Davey GP., Interactions of human milk oligosaccharides with the immune system., Frontiers in immunology, 15, 2024, p1523829 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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McDonald AG and Davey GP, 'On/Off Switching During The Synthesis Of Complex Sugars', Science Trends, 2018, -, Digital research resource production, PUBLISHED
Reprogramming human dermal fibroblasts for the generation of pluripotent stem cells. in, editor(s)Freshney, R.I. , Culture of Animal Cells, a Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications, John Wiley & Sons , 2010, [Sullivan S, Davey GP ], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
McDonald AG, Tipton KF and Davey GP, Mathematical modelling of metabolism., The Biochemist, 2009, Journal Article, PUBLISHED

  


Award Date
Fellowship Trinity College Dublin 2024
Science Foundation Award Best Academia-Industry Collaboration Prize 2017
Irish Pharma Awards - Best Industry-Academia Project 2016
International Conference of Radiation Research conference lecture 1999
European Union Marie Curie Return Grant 1997
European Union Human Capital and Mobility Fellowship 1994-1996
I am an enzymologist and my main research interests are in the areas of enzymology, metabolism, metabolic flux, glycosylation, computational & systems biology. My group researches the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie neurodegeneration in the brain, in particular, the role that energy metabolism and bioenergetics play in controlling neuronal function and dysfunction. I am internationally recognised as an expert in bioenergetics and metabolism and more recently in the rapidly expanding area of glycosylation research and glycobiology. A major goal is to understand how abnormal mitochondrial dynamics control cell loss in Parkinson's disease and other common brain disorders. My group also has interests in how mitochondria control immune cell metabolism and we have made some recent exciting high-impact discoveries in this area. I also have made substantial impact in drug development and application of our technologies to the development of next-generation biotherapeutics, including bio- and glyco-engineering of recombinant proteins and therapeutic antibodies. I have established myself among my peers as a researcher with a wide and deep understanding of mitochondria and metabolism by: 1. Discovering how mitochondrial dysfunction in neurons and the ageing brain controls neurodegeneration. I was the first to show that the mitochondrial complex I enzyme system is a major control point for controlling energy thresholds in brain nerve terminals. Through a series of high impact discoveries I am now recognised as an international leader in brain mitochondria research. 2. Showing that the use of flux control analysis and mathematical models of cellular metabolic networks reveal key metabolic control point in neurons, blood brain barrier epithelial cells and recently in immune cells. My advances in computational modelling of N- and O-linked glycosylation networks in cancer cells, immune cells and neurons has led to significant impact in the field of glycobiology and new collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. 3. Discovering how regulating glycosyltransferase enzyme activities can control the glycosylation status of recombinant biotherapeutics in CHO cell production systems. These discoveries have shown the field how to control glycan antennarity on proteins and also led to identification of optimal glycosylation routes for synthesis of human milk oligosaccharides. 4. Recently discovering how electron transport chain activities regulate energy production in immune cells and how this can control pro and anti-inflammatory effects. My expertise in mitochondrial biology has also been used to identify how the immunomodulatory protein SARM1 regulates mitochondrial function and subsequently macrophage cell activation.