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Dr. Eric Downer

Associate Professor (Physiology)
Associate Professor (Trinity Inst. of Neurosciences (TCIN))
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Eric Downer

Associate Professor (Physiology)
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE

 edowner@tcd.ie

 3531896 2076

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


Dr. Eric Downer is an Associate Professor, Fellow & Associate Director of Research (School of Medicine) at Trinity College Dublin. He graduated from TCD with a first class honours degree in Physiology (2001) and a PhD in Neuroscience (2005). He began his postdoctoral research career in the Physiology department at TCD (2005-2008) and was subsequently awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from IRCSET that enabled him to develop his own research programme based at the Inst. Immunology, NUI Maynooth (2008-2010). In 2011 he returned as a senior research fellow at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, also acting as co-ordinator of the PRTLI structured PhD programme at TCD during this period (2012). He was appointed to his first academic position in University College Cork (UCC) in January 2013, where he was a lecturer and PI in the Dept. Anatomy and Neuroscience (Jan 2013-May 2015) and also the Director of the Biosciences Imaging Centre (June 2014-May 2015). In June 2015 he was appointed as Assistant Professor at TCD, where he also acted as Director of the Human Health and Disease BSc programme. He acted as the Director of the Human Health & Disease BSc programme from 2015-2024. In 2019 he was promoted to Associate Prof. He leads an active research group and his research has been funded by the Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Research Council, the Health Research Board, the Physiological Society, the British Neuropathological Society and Industry grants. To date he has published 57 peer-reviewed articles (18 first author, 30 last author) and 80+ conference proceedings. Dr. Downer has been honoured with the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Early Career Award in 2009, the Neuroscience Ireland Early Career Investigator Award in 2013, a Deans Award for Teaching and Learning (TCD; 2016, 2023), an Inspiring Educator Award (TCD; 2019) and is a recipient of the Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award (2021). He was elected to Fellowship at TCD (FTCD) in 2023.
Project Title
 Development of inflammasome assays in immune cells with relevance to mutliple sclerosis
From
Sept 2022
To
Sept 2026
Summary
Development of inflammasome assays in immune cells with relevance to mutliple sclerosis
Funding Agency
IRC-EPS
Project Title
 Endosomal signalling as a cannabinoid target.
From
Sept 2021
To
Sept 2025
Summary
Endosomal signalling as a cannabinoid target.
Funding Agency
HEA and Provosts Project Award
Project Title
 Animation tools in Medical Education
From
May 2023
To
May 2024
Summary
Animation tools in Medical Education
Funding Agency
Deans Award TCD
Project Title
 Assessment of anti-inflammatory propensity of flavonoids
From
2020
To
2021
Summary
Assessment of anti-inflammatory propensity of flavonoids
Funding Agency
Enterprise Ireland
Programme
Innovation vouchers
Project Title
 mTOR as a phytocannabinoid target
From
2019
To
2020
Summary
mTOR as a phytocannabinoid target
Funding Agency
GW Research Ltd

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Oró-Nolla, M., Cui Sun, M., Reilly, T., Anandarajah, J., Otalora-Alcaraz, A., Costelloe, L., Kearney, H., Magee, R., Nolan, Y.M., Downer, E.J., Downregulation of dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) in post-mortem brain white matter in progressive multiple sclerosis., Neurological Sciences., 108:107040, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Otalora-Alcaraz, A., Cui Sun, M., Hofma, N., Costelloe, L., Kearney, H., Prenderville, J.A., Downer, E.J., Elevated expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome in post-mortem brain white matter and immune cells in multiple sclerosis., Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders., 12;47(4):338, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Molloy, J., Keogh, K., McLoughlin, M., Devitt, L., Lee, D., Downer, E., Grimes, D., Barry, D., Fuelling Neuroblastoma: Genomic Analysis of Ketolytic and Glycolytic Gene Expression in Relation to MYCN Oncogene Amplification, Stage, and Prognosis., Cancer Reports, 2025, p8(12):e70429 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Cui Sun, M., Hackett, B., Otalora-Alcaraz, A., Downer, E.J., A 1:1 combination of cannabidiol and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibit toll-like receptor 7- and 8-mediated inflammation in human immune cells., European Journal of Pharmacology., (1003:177878), 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Savio, M., Kearney, H., Downer, E.J., Neurologist's perspectives on cannabis-based medicines: results from a national survey., Irish Journal of Medical Science., (194(2)), 2025, p687-697 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Almudena Otálora-Alcaraz, Thomas Reilly, Martí Oró-Nolla, Melody Cui Sun, Lisa Costelloe, Hugh Kearney, Pabitra H. Patra, Eric J. Downer, The NLRP3 inflammasome: a central player in multiple sclerosis, Biochemical Pharmacology, (232:116667), 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Fitzpatrick, J.M. O Riordan, D., Downer, E.J., Cannflavin A inhibits TLR4-induce chemokine and cytokine expression in human macrophages., Natural Product Research, (39(17):5086-5092), 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Cui Sun, M., Otalora-Alcaraz, L., Prenderville, J., Downer, E.J., Toll-like receptor signalling as a cannabinoid target., Biochemical Pharmacology, (222:116082), 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Magdalena Imiolek, Sarah McComish, Eric Downer, Maeve Caldwell., The effect of cannabinoid treatment on reactive human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes., Planta Medica, Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research., Georg Thieme Verlag KG, 2023, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Cui Sun, M., Otalora-Alcaraz, A, Bateman, R., Downer, E.J., Investigating Cannabinoid Modulation of Endosomal Toll-like Receptor Signalling., 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
  

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Downer, E.J., Cannabinoids take a toll on MS., Invited speaker at the All Ireland MS Research network meeting, TCD., 2024, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., TLRs, Cannabinoids and Exercise: Therapeutic Targets in Multiple Sclerosis., Invited Speaker at TTMI seminar series, Dublin., 2023, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., TLRs, Cannabinoids and Exercise: Therapeutic Targets in Multiple Sclerosis., Invited Speaker at Immunology Research Forum, Dublin., 2023, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., Botanically-derived purified cannabidiol and "9-tetrahyrocannabinol, and their 1:1 combination, modulate toll-like receptor 3 and 4 signalling in immune cells from people with Multiple Sclerosis., Invited speaker at Queens University Belfast MS meeting.., 2022, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., From cannabinoids to exercise: thereapeutic strategies in MS., Invited speaker at UCC Dept Neuroscience Seminar series, Cork.., 2021, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., Therapeutically modulating innate immune signalling in Multiple Sclerosis with cannabinoids., Invited speaker at the ECE Dublin Conference and Exhibition, The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin.., 2020, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Downer, E.J., Exploring cannabinoid therapeutics in MS., Invited speaker at TCD Student Research Committee, TTMI, Dublin.., 2019, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., Hemp as a plant: Research Perspective., Invited speaker at Hemp Summit, Teagasc, Dublin., 2019, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., A Research Career in Science., Invited Speaker at iWISH STEM conference, RDS, Dublin, Ireland., 2018, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Downer, E.J., Exploring Exercise & Cannabinoids as a Therapeutic Target in MS., Invited speaker at the MS Ireland research Event, Royal College of Surgeons In Ireland., 2018, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  


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