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Dr. Daniela Zisterer

Associate Professor (Biochemistry)

 dzistrer@tcd.ie

 3531896 1628


Biography

Daniela Zisterer has been a Principal Investigator and academic member of staff in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, since 2000. She was made a Fellow of Trinity College and promoted to Associate Professor in 2007. Her main research programme seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying apoptotic cell death and how deregulated apoptosis leads to cancer with a view to developing novel therapies which target components of this deregulated pathway. Furthermore, she is interested in determining how tumour resistance to chemotherapy relates to cell survival through autophagic mechanisms. The work is multidisciplinary and she collaborates with medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, clinicians and industry partners both nationally and internationally. She is a joint inventor on two patents. Her programme of research is defining new predictive markers, therapeutic targets and new therapies suitable for commercial development and clinical trial interventions that could improve cancer patient outcome. Prof. Zisterer has published over one hundred research articles in highly ranked international journals including British Journal of Cancer, Journal of Biological Chemistry and Cancer Research. To date, she has supervised or co-supervised 18 PhD students to completion. She has secured over €3.9 million in research funding from a variety of sources including the European Union, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board. She is currently project coordinator of an international, inter-sectoral Horizons 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie innovative PhD training network entitled Training in Cancer mechanisms and Therapeutics (TRACT), which has secured funding of €2.9 million. Prof Zisterer actively contributes to college life. She is currently Head of Discipline of Biochemistry and has previously served as Director of Undergraduate Teaching & Learning and Director of Research for the School of Biochemistry & Immunology. She is committed to undergraduate teaching and has been Director of the undergraduate degree programme in Biochemistry since 2000.

Research Tags

  Design and evaluation of novel anti-cancer therapies   Design, synthesis and mechanism of action of novel anti-estrogenic compounds   Development of novel anti-cancer drugs   Molecular mechanisms underlying apoptosis & cell cycle

Research Projects

 Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Malignant Rhabdoid Tumours
 Stat3 signalling as a therapeutic target in Multiple Myeloma
 Training in Cancer Mechanisms & Therapeutics (TRACT)
 Evaluation of the effect of novel pyrrolobenzoxazepines on primary leukaemia stem cells and on NOTCH signalling in paediatric acute leukaemia cells
 Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins as targets for treatment of malignant rhabdoid tumours

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Representations

Details Date
Coordinator of H2020-MSCA-Innovative Training Network entitled TRACT (Training in Cancer Mechanisms & Therapeutics) with budget of 2.9 million. 2016
Coordinator of cancer strand of PRTLI-funded PhD programme 'Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms underlying inflammatory processes in Neuroscience, Infection & Immunity and Cancer' 2011
Member of the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute Cancer Drug Discovery Centre September 2011
Member, DMMC Cancer Principal Investigators, Trans-institutional grouping of Principal Investigators leading research on Cancer themes
Member, Core Technology PI's, DMMC Principal Investigators leading the development of core technology platforms.
Member, Centre for Molecular Research in Cancer (Proposed), This consortium combines researchers with common interest in understanding cell cycle signaling and regulation with specific focus on two key cancer-related processes (cell cycle control, apoptosis) and/or three specific malignancy types (oesophageal, prostate and haematological).
Member, Prostate Cancer Research Consortium, Multi-centred consortium focused on the development of new diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic agents for application in prostate cancer.

Languages

Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent

Memberships

Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies

Details Date From Date To
Membership of the Irish Association of Cancer Research 2005 present
Treasurer of the Irish Area Section of the Biochemical Society 2003 Present
Rebecca Amet, Viola Previtali, Helene B. Mihigo, Emily Sheridan, Sarah Brophy , Nadhim Kamil Hante, Maria Jose Santos-Martinez, Patrick J. Hayden, Paul V. Browne, Isabel Rozas, Anthony M. McElligott , Daniela M. Zisterer , A novel aryl-guanidinium derivative, VP79s, targets the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway, downregulates myeloid cell leukaemia-1 and exhibits preclinical activity against multiple myeloma , Life Sciences, 290, 2022, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Campiani, G. and Khan, T. and Ulivieri, C. and Staiano, L. and Papulino, C. and Magnano, S. and Nathwani, S. and Ramunno, A. and Lucena-Agell, D. and Relitti, N. and Federico, S. and Pozzetti, L. and Carullo, G. and Casagni, A. and Brogi, S. and Vanni, F. and Galatello, P. and Ghanim, M. and McCabe, N. and Lamponi, S. and Valoti, M. and Ibrahim, O. and O'Sullivan, J. and Turkington, R. and Kelly, V.P. and VanWemmel, R. and Díaz, J.F. and Gemma, S. and Zisterer, D. and Altucci, L. and De Matteis, A. and Butini, S. and Benedetti, R., Design and synthesis of multifunctional microtubule targeting agents endowed with dual pro-apoptotic and anti-autophagic efficacy, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 235, (114274), 2022, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Malebari AM, Duffy Morales G, Twamley B, Fayne D, Khan MF, McLoughlin EC, O'Boyle NM, Zisterer DM, Meegan MJ., Synthesis, Characterisation and Mechanism of Action of Anticancer 3-Fluoroazetidin-2-ones., Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 15, (9), 2022, p1044 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
McCabe, N.H. and Stevenson, L. and Scanlon, E. and Douglas, R. and Kennedy, S. and Keminer, O. and WindshÃŒgel, B. and Zisterer, D. and Kennedy, R.D. and Blayney, J.K. and Turkington, R.C., Identification of Src as a Therapeutic Target in Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma through Functional Genomic and High-Throughput Drug Screening Approaches, Cancers, 14, (15), 2022, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Hannon Barroeta, P. and Magnano, S. and O'Sullivan, M.J. and Zisterer, D.M., Evaluation of targeting autophagy for the treatment of malignant rhabdoid tumours, Cancer Treatment and Research Communications, 32, (100584), 2022, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Coyle, R. and O'Sullivan, M.J. and Zisterer, D.M., Targeting inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) with IAP inhibitors sensitises malignant rhabdoid tumour cells to cisplatin, Cancer Treatment and Research Communications, 32, (100579), 2022, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Gloria Ana, Patrick M. Kelly, Azizah M. Malebari, Sara Noorani, Seema M. Nathwani, Brendan Twamley, Darren Fayne, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Elisangela Flavia Pimentel, Denise Coutinho Endringer and Mary J. Meegan, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-1,2,4-Triazoles and 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-Imidazoles as a Novel Class of Anti-Mitotic Agent for Activity in Breast Cancer, Pharmaceuticals, 14, (2), 2021, p169-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Malebari A.M., Wang S., Greene T.F., O'Boyle N.M., Fayne D., Khan M.F., Nathwani S.M., Twamley B., McCabe T., Zisterer D.M., Meegan M.J., Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of 3-chloroazetidin-2-ones with antimitotic activity: Heterocyclic bridged analogues of combretastatin A-4, Pharmaceuticals, 14, (11), 2021, part. 1119-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Vanni, F. and Lopresti, L. and Zurli, V. and Kabanova, A. and Cattaneo, F. and Sicuranza, A. and Gozzetti, A. and Gemma, S. and Zisterer, D.M. and Bocchia, M. and Campiani, G. and Baldari, C.T. and Butini, S. and Ulivieri, C., A novel class of oxazepine-based anti-cancer agents induces cell death in primary human CLL cells and efficiently reduces tumor growth in EÎŒ-TCL1 mice through the JNK/STAT4/p66Shc axis, Pharmacological Research, 174, (105965), 2021, Notes: [cited By 0], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Magnano S, Hannon Barroeta P, Duffy R, O'Sullivan J, Zisterer DM., Cisplatin induces autophagy-associated apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) mediated in part through reactive oxygen species., Toxicology and applied pharmacology, 427, 2021, p115646 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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Eavan C. McLoughlin, Patricia Hannon Barroeta, Daniela M. Zisterer, and Niamh M. O'Boyle, P41: A comparison of chiral diastereomeric versus kinetic enzymatic resolution for enantioseparation of microtubule depolymerising beta-lactams, 30th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference, Dublin, 24-26 August 2022, 2022, Poster, PRESENTED
Amet R, Rozas I, McElligott AM, Browne P and Zisterer DM , Novel Anti-Cancer Therapeutics for Multiple Myeloma that target the STAT3 signalling pathway,, Haematology Association of Ireland, Galway, 11th October , 2019, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Magnano, S., O'Sullivan, J. and Zisterer, D.M., Role of Autophagy in Chemoresistance in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, International Association for Dental Research, London, England, 25 July , 2018, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Amet R, Rozas I, McElligott AM, Browne P and Zisterer DM, Novel Anti-Cancer Therapeutics for Multiple Myeloma that target the STAT3 signalling pathway, Irish Association Cancer Research, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin, 22nd February 2018, 2018, Poster, PRESENTED
Amet R., Previtali V., Browne P.V., Rozas I., McElligott A.M. & Zisterer D.M. , Novel anti-cancer therapeutics for multiple myeloma which target the STAT3 signalling pathway , European Association for Cancer Research, Amsterdam Netherlands, 1 to 3 february 2018, 2018, Poster, PRESENTED
Coyle R, O'Sullivan M. & Zisterer DM, Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins as Targets for the Treatment of Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor, European Association for Cancer Research, Amsterdam Netherlands, 1 to 3 february 2018, 2018, Poster, PRESENTED
Coyle R, O'Sullivan M. & Zisterer DM, Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins as Targets for the Treatment of Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor, Irish Association Cancer Research, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin, 22nd February 2018, 2018, Poster, PRESENTED
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Lead Optimization of Benzoxepin-Type Selective Estrogen Receptor (ER) Modulators and Downregulators with Subtype-Specific ERalpha and ERbeta Activity, Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Electron. Conf. Med. Chem., 3rd International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, November 2017, edited by Annie Mayence and Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , 11, (1), Pharmaceuticals, 2017, pp18-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Microtubule-Destabilising Actions of Piperlongumine and Analogues, Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Electron. Conf. Med. Chem., 3rd International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, November 2017, edited by Annie Mayence and Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , 11, (1), Pharmaceuticals, 2017, pp18-, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED
Magnano, S., O'Sullivan, J. and Zisterer, D.M., Pre-clinical evaluation of targeting autophagy for the treatment of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma , IADR Irish Divison, Belfast, November 2nd 2017, 2017, Poster, PRESENTED

  

Awards and Honours

Award Date
Provost's PhD Award 2018
John Scott Fellowship 2016
Fellowship of Trinity College Dublin 2007

Research Interests

Description Of Research Interests

There is a continuing requirement for increased understanding of the molecular events underlying the development of cancer. Deregulated apoptosis is a primary cause of tumour development, therefore an increased understanding of this processes will lead to development of novel therapies which target components of this deregulated pathway. In addition, cancer cells are highly adept at surviving under conditions of physiological stress. The autophagy pathway has been identified as a critical cell survival pathway that underpins cellular metabolism. In tumours, deregulation of autophagy frequently occurs contributing to both establishment of neoplastic disease through genomic instability and survival of cancer cells. Autophagy has thus acquired an emerging interest in cancer research offering novel therapeutic targets. Our research programme seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying apoptotic cell death and how deregulated apoptosis leads to cancer. We aim to develop novel therapies which target components of this deregulated pathway. Furthermore, we are interested in determining how tumour resistance to chemotherapy relates to cell survival through autophagic mechanisms. Dr Zisterer has published over one hundred research articles in highly ranked international journals including British Journal of Cancer, Journal of Biological Chemistry and Cancer Research. To date, she has supervised or co-supervised 18 PhD students to completion. She has secured over €3.9 million in research funding from a variety of sources including the European Union, Science Foundation Ireland and the Health Research Board. She is currently project coordinator of an international, inter-sectoral Horizons 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie innovative PhD training network entitled Training in Cancer mechanisms and Therapeutics (TRACT), which has secured funding of €2.9 million.