Dr. Richard Porter

I completed my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Trinity College. This was followed by a Ph.D. with Prof. John M. Scott in the area of carbon-one metabolism and a three year postdoctoral position at the Department of Biochemistry University of Cambridge UK with Prof. Martin D. Brand. I was subsequently awarded a Health Research Board (HRB)Fellowship based in Prof. Clive William's laboratory in Trinity. Dr. Porter's research focuses on understanding mammalian energy metabolism. His research achievements are based ideas founded in solid science, a substantial grant base, the quality of the researchers that he recruits, the advanced technology in the laboratory and his collaborations with prominent international laboratories, both academic and industrial. I have been a lecturer and Principal Investigator in Trinity since 1997, was appointed Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Biochemistry & Immunology (Postgraduate) from 2004-2008 & 2016-2017, was elected for two terms as Head of Biochemistry from 2011-2017, and was elected Fellow of Trinity College Dublin since 2007. I have over 60 publications in peer reviewed scientific journals and currently has over €0.5M in research grants. I am an editor with a leading Elsevier Journal (Biochimica Biophysica Acta-Bioenergetics) and am regularly invited to give lectures at Conferences, Universities and Research Institutes. I teach many aspects of biochemistry to scientists, medical students, pharmacists at all levels within the University and has received a Provost Teaching Award commendation. I am on the management committee of several International Scientific Societies, including the European Bioenergetics Conference. I regularly participates in scientific outreach projects such as the "Fat" exhibition in the Science Gallery. My research has resulted in the discovery of the nature of the "speed gene" in Thoroughbred horses [https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1106/1008968-race-horses/][https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/irish-scientists-pinpoint-what-makes-thoroughbred-racehorses-go-faster-1.3688584] and I am an inventor on the World's First Nutrigenomic Product for Thoroughbred Horses, now sold as EnerGene-Q10 by Plusvital[http://www.tcd.ie/news_events/articles/world-s-first]. Furthermore, in addition to basic research grants from Science Foundation Ireland, The Health Research Board, Teagasc and Trinity, I have an Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership Programme grant in collaboration with Plusvital and Funding from Artelo plc. I also acted a consultant for Price Waterhouse Coopers in the area of R&D Tax Credits.

  (HUMAN)   (RAT LIVER)   (SKELETAL MUSCLE)   Ageing, memory and other cognitive processes   Analytical Techniques   Basic Skills Education   Biochemistry, Carbohydrates   Biochemistry, Lipids   Biochemistry, metabolism   Biochemistry, Proteins   BODY-MASS   BOVINE   BRAIN   BROWN-ADIPOSE-TISSUE   Diabetes & Obesity   Diabetes and diabetic complications   Drug discovery   Energy Chemical Sciences   EQUINE   Immune system   Innate immunology   Life Sciences   Lipids, steroids, membranes   Membrane Transport   Membrane transport, structure and dynamics   Metabolic Biology   Metabolism and metabolic diseases   Mitochondria   Neuroscience   ORAL-CANCER   OXYGEN CONSUMPTION   Photosynthesis   Proteins, enzymology and protein engineering   Thermal Effects

1. Over the last two years we have established an in vitro model of human skeletal muscle cachexia (muscle wastage due to cancer). In collaboration with Artelo plc, a NASDAQ quoted company, we have identified a synthetic cannabinoid analogue that can prevent cachexia in human muscle. This drug is now in human Phase 1b/2a clinical trials (Cancer Appetite Recovery Study (CAReS)). Manuscripts are in preparation, with UK Biochemical Society meeting abstract and press report already released (April 2022). 2. We elucidated the biochemical basis of the crucial performance defining myostatin polymorphism in Thoroughbred Horses. Essentially, we discovered why certain Thoroughbred horses are born to be sprinters. In addition, we uncovered a metabolic difference between endurance and sprint Thoroughbred Horses which resulted in us patenting the discovery through TCD & UCD, and us getting a licence to use that IP to grant the company PlusVital to produce the product [World's First Nutrigenomic Product for Thoroughbred Horses, now sold as EnerGene-Q10 by Plusvital]. 3. The majority of my research career has focused on the molecular basis of metabolic rate, a research area that has direct implications for understanding physiology and for developing anti-obesity strategies. I have demonstrated that mitochondrial inefficiency accounts for one fifth our resting metabolic rate and factors, such as body size, that determine metabolic rate also effect mitochondrial efficiency. 3. Cancer Metabolism: We have recently identified, for the first time, IL-6 as a protagonist in metastasis/anoikis resistance and metabolic/mitochondrial programming in oral cancer, while demonstrating the IL-6 receptor is a potential target for therapy. We have also elucidated anti-cancer target data for (a) neuroblastoma cancers (b) mesothelioma and non-small lung cancer cells (c) breast cancer cells. Another, project is looking at the role of intracellular Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (FABPs) on cancer cell phenotype in brain cancer.