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Professor Lorraine O'Driscoll

Professor of Pharmacology & Biomedicine (Pharmacy)
24 WESTLAND ROW

 lodrisc@tcd.ie

 3531896 2822


Biography

Lorraine O'Driscoll (BSc(Hons, Pharm), MSc(Res, Clin Pharm), MA(Ed), PhD(Biotech), FTCD, FRSB, MRIA) Lorraine holds a BSc(Hons), pharmacology; MSc(Res), clinical pharmacology; MA, education; PhD, biotechnology. In 2012, she was elected to Fellowship in TCD. Following her PhD, Lorraine undertook biotechnology/biomedical research for US and EU industry (including Berlex; Archport Ltd-Axonobel; MediSyn Ltd; MedaNova Ltd.) before returning to academic research & teaching. At post-doctoral level, she gained experience at the Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Institute and University of Miami. Prior to joining TCD in 2008, Lorraine most recently held the position of Senior Research Programme Leader and Lecturer in School of Biotechnology, DCU. Her research group focuses on diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers; discovering new therapeutic targets; cancer cells communication via exosomes, microvesicles and CTCs; elucidating and circumventing resistance to targets agents and classical chemotherapy; associations between obesity, metabolic syndrome and cancer. She has been a P.I. on 5 cancer clinical trials with ICORG. She is TCD's Principal Investigator on SFI-supported Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland; Strand Leader of Irish Cancer Society-supported Breast-PREDICT; and P.I. and Chair, H2020-supported European Network Cooperation in Science and Technology focussed on Exosomes & Microvesicles in Health & Disease which brings together researchers from 27 European countries, 3 US universities, Australia and 7 industry partners. In 2017, she was awarded approx. €4,000,000 as Director of a H2020 ITN aimed at training 15 PhD students in TRAIN-EV i.e. training in extracellular vesicles: for benefit in health and disease. She has developed tailored courses for academia (e.g. FEBS), semi-state bodies (e.g. IDA) and industry. Her graduates and mentees are now employed at NIH; Pfizer; Amgen; Leo; Roche; AstraZeneca; ICON plc; 2 are entrepreneurs/company CEOs; 2 are Managers of Research Centres; others hold lecturing and research posts in academia.

Research Tags

  Apoptosis   Apoptosis, molecular control   Bioinformatics   Biology   Biology and therapy of myeloma   Biomedical sciences   Breast cancer   Cancer genetics and cell biology including metastasis   Cell and tissue development   Cell and tissue maintenance, repair and ageing   Clinical research, trials   Diabetes and diabetic complications   Diagnostics   DNA transcription and translation   Drug development and evaluation   Drug discovery, profiling, targeting   Embryonic development   Endocrine function and disease   Gene targeting in breast cancer   Gene therapy   Gene transcription in human cancer   Human genetics   Immunoassays   In vitro testing, trial methods   Medical Sciences, Research   Membrane and protein trafficking   Multiple Myeloma   Oncogenes, apoptosis and tumour development   Pathology   Prostate cancer   Regulatory methods of gene expression   RNA processing, stability and degradation   Stem Cell biology and hematopoiesis   Therapeutic and Clinical oncology

Research Projects

 Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Treatment Option for COVID-19
 Exploring the Relevance of Exosomes in Cancer
 Marie Keating Foundation PhD Scholarship at Trinity College Dublin
 Marie Keating Foundation PhD Scholarship at Trinity College Dublin
 Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer

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Representations

Details Date
Chair, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) Annual Conference 2022 2021-2022
Founding Director, European Consortium TRAIN-EV (extracellular vesicles: for benefit in health and disease). 2017
Academic Mentor, Trinity College Dublin 2016
Member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Scientists 2016
Invited Role Model, Inspiring Leadership - Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (Aurora), Ireland and UK 2016
Founding Committee Member, Irish Association of Pharmacologists (IAP) 2016
Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) Member, Midatech Ltd, Oxford 2014
Hospital Professional Awards: Judging Panel Member 2014
Editorial Board Member, J. Extracell. Ves. 2013
Management Committee member, Irish Cancer Society (ICS)-funded national virtual cancer research centre Breast-Predict 2013
Appointed as Strand Leader, Irish Cancer Society (ICS)-funded national virtual research centre Breast-Predict 2013
Chair, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) Annual Conference 2021 2020-2021
Examiner (Report and Site Visit) for Enterprise Ireland Applied Research Capability award to Dundalk Institute of Technology 2013
Editorial Board Member, PeerJ 2012
Cancer Theme Steering Committee member, Trinity College Dublin 2012
Mentor, Career Path Development, University College Los Angeles (UCLA) 2011
External Examiner to Aarhus University postgraduate degree programmes 2010
Editorial Board Member, Molecular Biotechnology 2010
Management Committee member, Science Foundation Ireland-funded national virtual cancer research centre Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland 2009
Editorial Board Member, Anticancer Research 2009
Guest-Editor of book volume of Current Cancer Drug Targets entitled "Mechanisms of Cancer Drug Sensitivity & Resistance: A Translational Approach" 2009
Guest-Edition of Methods in Molecular Biology: Gene Expression Profiling 2009
Molecular and Precision Oncology Theme Leader, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute (TSJCI) 2019
Editorial Board Member for Cancer Genomics & Proteomics 2006
Research Specialist: All Ireland Clinical Oncology Research Group/Cancer Trials Ireland (& Principal Investigator on Phase I & II cancer clinical trials) 2005
Editorial Board Member for Encyclopaedia of Bioscience Frontier in Bioscience 2007
External Examinder for 35 PhD candidates including studenst in: Oxford Univeristy, Cambridge University, Aarhus University, Edinburgh University, Cardiff University, University College London, Queen's University Belfast, Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway, University College Dublin, Univeristy College Cork 2005
External Examiner/Panel Member to Athlone Institute of Technology for Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) 2006
Editorial Board Member, BMC Cancer 2011
Editorial Board Member, Journal of Biomarkers 2012
Frequently review for journals incl. Oncogene, Eur. J. Cancer, J. Medical Virol., Tissue Eng., J. Histochem. Cytochem., Stem Cells, Anticancer Res., Exp. Opin. Drug Discovery, BMC Development Biology, Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, Cancer Detect. Prevent., The Review of Diabetes Studies, Cancer Genomics & Proteomics, Differentiation, FEBS Lett., Exp. Opin. Mol. Diag., Eur. J. Pharmaceutical Sci, Experimental Haematol., Personalized Medicine, Circulation Res., Biochemica Medica, Cancer, Eur. J. Pharmacol., Leukaemia Res., Biochem. Pharmacol., Exp. Opin. Therap. Targets, J. Pharmacy & Pharmacol., Brit. J. Dermatol., Clin. Chem., BBA Cancer, Cancer Res., Nature, Nature Medicine, The Lancet 2001
Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Member of ProEvLifeCycle, The Netherlands 2019
Scientific PI, Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute (TSJCI) Breast Cancer Programme 2018
Management Committee member, H2020-funded cooperation in science and technology: Identifying Biomarkers through Translational Research for Prevention and Stratifictaion of Cancer 2018
Honorary Secretary to Science and Meetings Committee, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles 2018
Guest-Edition of Methods in Molecular Biology: Gene Expression Profiling - 2nd Edition 2018
Management Committee member, H2020-funded cooperation in science and technology: Delivery of Antisense RNA Therapeutics 2017

Memberships

Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies

Details Date From Date To
Elected Member of the Board of Directors, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) 2018 present
Member of Irish Network of Stem-Cell Investigators (INNSI) 2004 2010
Member of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists 2004
Board Member of the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology 2002 2008
Member of the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology Scientific Advisory Board 2002 2008
Elected Member on Dublin City University's Research Advisory Board 2002 2008
Elected Member on Dublin City University's Faculty of Science & Health Research Committee 2003 2008
Member of British Pharmacological Society 2016 present
Member, European Assoication for Cancer Research (EACR) 2008
Member, American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2007
Member, American Society for Cancer Research (AACR) 2007
Founding Committee Member, Irish Association of Pharmacologists (IAP) 2016 present
Member, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2006
Founding Chair, European Network on Microvesicles and Exosomes in Health and Disease 2013 present
Invited Member of Irish Cancer Society (ICS) Research Capacity Building Committee 2011 2013
Member, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland 2010
Invited Member of the International Institute of Anticancer Research (IIAR) Scientific Advisory Board 2006 present
Deputy-President of the Irish Branch of the European Tissue Culture Society (ETCS) 2005 2010
Director, Irish Association for Cancer Research (IACR) 2008 2014
Member of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) 2006 present
Santoro, J. and Mukhopadhya, A. and Oliver, C. and Brodkorb, A. and Giblin, L. and O'Driscoll, L., An investigation of extracellular vesicles in bovine colostrum, first milk and milk over the lactation curve, Food Chemistry, 401, (134029), 2023, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
McNamee N, Daly R, Crown J, O'Driscoll L, A method of separating extracellular vesicles from blood shows potential clinical translation, and reveals extracellular vesicle cargo gremlin-1 as a diagnostic biomarker, Transl. Oncol . , 15, (1), 2022, p1012 - 1020, Notes: [10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101274], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI  URL
McNamee, N. and de la Fuente, L.R. and Santos-Martinez, M.J. and O†Driscoll, L., Proteomics profiling identifies extracellular vesicles†cargo associated with tumour cell induced platelet aggregation, BMC Cancer, 22, (1), 2022, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Papait, A. and Silini, A.R. and Gazouli, M. and Malvicini, R. and Muraca, M. and O†Driscoll, L. and Pacienza, N. and Toh, W.S. and Yannarelli, G. and Ponsaerts, P. and Parolini, O. and Eissner, G. and Pozzobon, M. and Lim, S.K. and Giebel, B., Perinatal derivatives: How to best validate their immunomodulatory functions, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, (981061), 2022, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Conlon, N. and Roche, S. and O'Neill, F. and Meiller, J. and Browne, A. and Breen, L. and O'Driscoll, L. and Cremona, M. and Hennessy, B. and Crown, J. and Collins, D., Neratinib plus dasatinib has pre-clinical efficacy against HER2-positive breast cancer, European Journal of Cancer, 174, 2022, pS64 , Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Miniaturized In Vitro In vitro Assays to Study Cellular Phenotypic Characteristics: Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Anoikis-Resistance in, editor(s)Smith S. (eds) , Methods Molecular Biology, Springer Nature , 2021, [McNamee N, O'Driscoll L.], Notes: [Chapter 19 978-1-0716-1301-6, 461675], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Martinez-Pacheco S, O'Driscoll L, Pre-Clinical In Vitro Models Used in Cancer Research: Results of a Worldwide Survey, Cancers, 13, (23), 2021, p6033 - 6041, Notes: [10.3390/cancers13236033], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI  URL
Witwer KW, Goberdhan DC, O'Driscoll L, Théry C, Welsh JA, Blenkiron C, Buzás EI, Di Vizio D, Erdbrügger U, Falcón-Pérez JM, Fu QL, Hill AF, Lenassi M, Lötvall J, Nieuwland R, Ochiya T, Rome S, Sahoo S, Zheng L, Updating MISEV: Evolving the minimal requirements for studies of extracellular vesicles, JEV, 10, (14), 2021, p12182 - 12190, Notes: [10.1002/jev2.12182], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI  URL
Rankin-Turner, S. and Vader, P. and O'Driscoll, L. and Giebel, B. and Heaney, L.M. and Davies, O.G., A call for the standardised reporting of factors affecting the exogenous loading of extracellular vesicles with therapeutic cargos, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 173, 2021, p479-491 , Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Darragh, I.A.J. and O†Driscoll, L. and Egan, B., Exercise Training and Circulating Small Extracellular Vesicles: Appraisal of Methodological Approaches and Current Knowledge, Frontiers in Physiology, 12, (738333), 2021, Notes: [cited By 5], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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EU Commission/H2020, 'European Network on Microvesicles and Exosomes in Health & Disease', https://youtu.be/TmQBS5rPyEY, 2018, -, Broadcast, PUBLISHED
O'Driscoll L, Keynotes Speaker: Exosomes and Ectosomes - friends & foes in cancer?, Dublin City University Research Day, Dublin City University, 26 January, 2018, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
O'Driscoll L, Characterisation and analysis of exosomes/extracellular vesicles, American Physiological Society: President's Symposium Series, San Diego, US, 22 April, 2018, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
O'Driscoll L, Training in Extracellular Vesicles: for benefit in Health & Disease, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) 2018, Barcelona, Spain, 3 May, 2018, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
O'Driscoll L., Interview by HBM-LS (Lonza), 2018, -, Notes: [http://www.hansabiomed.eu/index.php/lorraine-o-driscoll], Miscellaneous, PUBLISHED
Lowry MC, Breslin S, Conlon NT, Collins D, Eustace A, Crown J, Maher S, O'Sullivan J, O'Driscoll L, Investigating the role of CAIX in the mechanism of HER2-targeted drug resistance in breast cancer cells and extracellular vesicles , Breast-Predict showcase, UCD, Dublin, 17 October, 2018, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Lowry MC, Breslin S, O'Driscoll, Investigating the role of CSF-1 and CAIX in neratinib-resistant HER2+ breast cancer cell lines and extracellular vesicles, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) 2018, Barcelona, Spain, 2-6 May, 2018, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
O'Driscoll L, Microvesicles and Exosomes in Health and Disease, International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) 2017, Toronto, Canada, 17-21 May, 2017, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
O'Driscoll L, Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and Therapy, 24th Meeting of the EAU Section of Urological Research (ESUR), Institut Curie, Paris, France, 13 October, 2017, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
O'Driscoll L, Exosomes and Ectosomes: important Players in the Liquid Biopsy, Inaugural Cancer Research Club, University College Dublin, 21 November, 2017, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  

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Awards and Honours

Award Date
Elected Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA) 2021
Pfizer Young Investigator International Award 1991
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society for Biology (FRSB) 2020
Irish Research Council Advanced Laurate Award 2019
Eurolife Distinguished Lecture Award 2019
Elected Fellow of Trinity College Dublin (FTCD) 2012
MA (jure oficii) 2012
Dublin City University's President's Targeted Research Award 2006
Albert College Fellowship Award 2004
Royal College of Physicians National Scientific & Medical Award 1996

Research Interests

Description Of Research Interests

Bi-directional translational research; cancer research; diagnostic biomarkers; predictive/ companion markers; novel therapeutic targets; targeted therapies; pipeline drugs; monoclonal antibodies; small molecules; breast cancer; lung cancer; prostate cancer; G.I. cancer; melanoma; pancreatic cancer; brain cancer; multiple resistance; metastasis/ advanced cancer; immune suppression; exosomes; hypoxia; extracellular vesicles; clinical and industry collaborations; public and patient involvement; clinical trials