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Dr. Lucy Norris

SENIOR EXP OFFICER OBS&GYN (P/T 17/8/06) (Obstetrics)
COOMBE WOMENS HOSPITAL
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Lucy Norris

SENIOR EXP OFFICER OBS&GYN (P/T 17/8/06) (Obstetrics)
COOMBE WOMENS HOSPITAL

 lnorris@tcd.ie

 3531896 2116


Lucy Norris MSc Mol. Med. PhD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7862-3230. Lucy Norris graduated from Trinity College Dublin with an honours degree in Biochemistry. She was awarded a PhD in 1992 from TCD Dept of Obstetrics and Gynaecology based on her work investigating platelet activation in pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and oral contraception. She is the Principal Investigator of Coagulation Research group at the Department of obstetrics and Gynaecology and has over 25 years' experience in the area of haemostasis and thrombosis research. Her current research program focuses on the prediction of venous thrombosis in gynaecological cancer and the role of coagulation gene expression in the aetiology of ovarian cancer and has received independent funding from the HRB and the pharmaceutical industry. She has over 100 peer reviewed articles many as senior author(h-index:24, i10 index 41, Citations 2188). She is co-editor in chief of the journal "Thrombosis Update" and a member of the editorial board of Thrombosis Research and European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology.
  Biomedical sciences   Cardiovascular risk assessment and hormone replacement therapy   Clinical research, trials   Coagulation biochemistry and disorders   Cytokines, Nitric Oxide   Foetal, maternal and neonatal physiology   Haemotology   Hormone physiology and biochemistry   Inflammation and coagulation syndromes   Medical Sciences, Research   Menopause   Molecular haematology   Oral contaraceptives and haemostasis   Pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation   Prevention, treatment of thromboembolic complications in pregnancy   Reproduction, fertility and contraception   Thrombosis and haemostasis   Vascular Biology, Thrombosis
Project Title
 Thrombomodulin as a predictor for chemotherapy associated venous thromboembolism
From
January 2023
To
January 2024
Summary
Funding Agency
TCD faculty of Health Sciences Dean's Research initiative
Programme
Dean's Research Initiative
Project Title
 Activated protein C pathway in ovarian cancer -a novel prognostic marker?
From
Dec 2021
To
Dec 2022
Summary
Development of preliminary findings investigating the role of aPC pathway in the aetiology of ovarian cancer
Funding Agency
TCD
Programme
Research Boost Programme
Project Title
 PINPOINT: PredIction aNd Prevention Of Venous Thrombosis durINg chemoTherapy- combining dynamic biomarker risk assessment, patient perspectives and health technology assessment.
From
01.10.2024
To
01.10.2028
Summary
Venous thromboembolism(VTE) is the leading cause of non cancer death in cancer patients. Patients are particularly at risk during chemotherapy where rates of up to 20% have been reported. Guidelines recommend primary prophylaxis with direct oral anticoagulants(DOACs) in intermediate/high risk patients undergoing chemotherapy following risk assessment with a validated risk score(Khorana score). However, the Khorana score performs poorly in lung, ovarian and gastric cancers and relies on a single assessment at the start of therapy. The development of VTE is a dynamic process which cannot be accurately represented by a single risk assessment. Our data suggests that markers of procoagulant activity are implicated in chemotherapy associated VTE and could be measured serially as predictive biomarkers. This may provide a more effective method of identifying patients at risk of VTE and facilitate targeted prophylaxis. Prophylaxis with DOACs carries a risk of bleeding hence decisions regarding prophylaxis should be shared between doctor and patient. However, studies have shown that cancer patients receive limited information about VTE risk and tools to aid decision making in this area are lacking. Cost is also a consideration for both the health service and the patient. In this study we will: " measure procoagulant biomarker levels serially during chemotherapy as dynamic predictors of VTE. " investigate the prothrombotic mechanisms involved in chemotherapy associated VTE. " identify patient needs and priorities for shared decision making with regard to prophylaxis during chemotherapy " perform a cost benefit analysis of biomarker screening and targeted VTE prophylaxis during chemotherapy This study aims is to develop dynamic predictive biomarkers for VTE during chemotherapy and to understand patient priorities with regard to VTE prevention during chemotherapy. Identification of high risk patients and increased understanding or patient priorities and costs will lead to effective shared decision between doctor and patient ultimately reducing the burden of VTE in cancer.
Funding Agency
HRB
Programme
ILP
Project Type
Investigator Led Research project
Project Title
 Lymph node status and coagulation biomarkers as predictors of venous thromboembolism in gynaecological cancer
From
2020
To
2022
Summary
Funding Agency
Leo Pharma
Project Type
Investigator initiated project
Project Title
 A risk model for prediction of venous thromboembolism in gynaecological cancer patients post surgery
From
2013
To
2017
Summary
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common cause of death in patients with solid tumours. Cancer itself causes a hypercoagulable state, in addition chemotherapy and surgery enhance the risk. Gynaecological cancers have been associated with high rates of VTE which is excacerbated by pelvic surgery and chemotherapy. A recent study in our centre showed that one third of VTE in ovarian cancer patients occurs within 5 days of surgery despite heparin prophylaxis. Recently, clinical risk models have been developed to predict VTE in patients undergoing chemotherapy, these models have been shown to be more powerful when combined with haemostatic biomarkers. Thrombus formation is complex in cancer and is thought to result from a release of procoagulant material from the tumour combined with damage to the endothelium as a result of chemotherapy and surgery. Global tests of hypercoagulability which capture these effects are therefore attractive as determinants of thrombotic risk. Calibrated automated thrombograpy (CAT) is a recently developed global test which measures thrombin generation in plasma. Increased thrombin generation is predictive of VTE in a variety of clinical settings. The overarching aim of this project is to develop and validate a specific risk scoring model for VTE risk in gynaecological cancer patients using a combination of easily available clinical and laboratory parameters and haemostatic biomarkers. In a large population of gynaecological cancer patients, we will identify the key risk factors for VTE and use them to derive a risk score model. Based on our pilot data, we believe that a thrombin generation test may be a useful biomarker for VTE in gynaecological cancer. By understanding the mechanisms by which gynaecological cancer increases procoagulant activity, we will optimise a specific thrombin generation assay which when combined with the derived risk score model will accurately identify gynaecological cancer patients at high risk of VTE.
Funding Agency
HRB
Programme
Project grant
Project Type
Principle Investigator
Person Months
36

Page 1 of 3
Details Date
Co-Editor in Chief of Thrombosis Update 2019
Member of the Editorial board of Thrombosis Research
Member of International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis publications committee 2016-2020
Member Editorial Board European Journal of Gynaecological Oncology 2021
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Details Date From Date To
Member of International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2010 2020
Irish Society for Gynaecological Oncology 2016-present
Irish Association of Cancer Research 2015-present
Irish National Network for Ovarian Cancer Collaboration INNOVATION Founder member 2016 Present
Ward MP, Ibrahim EM, O'Toole SA, Marchocki Z, O'Leary JJ, Saadeh FA, Norris LA., Chemotherapy alters thrombomodulin and factor VIIIc expression resulting in acquired activated protein C resistance and enhanced thrombin generation in cancer associated thrombosis., Thrombosis research, 246, 2024, p109251 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Mohamed BM, Ward MP, Bates M, Spillane CD, Kelly T, Martin C, Gallagher M, Heffernan S, Norris L, Kennedy J, Saadeh FA, Gleeson N, Brooks DA, Brooks RD, Selemidis S, O'Toole S, O'Leary JJ., Ex vivo expansion of circulating tumour cells (CTCs)., Scientific reports, 13, (1), 2023, p3704 - 3704, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
O'Neill AM, Calpin GG, Norris L, Beirne JP., The impact of enhanced recovery after gynaecological surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. , Gynaecological Oncology, 168, 2023, p8 - 16, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Lucy A Norris, Feras Abu Saadeh, "Risk of venous thromboembolism and bleeding after major surgery for ovarian cancer: standard in-hospital versus extended duration of thromboprophylaxis": Comment . , Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 21, (6), 2023, p1681 - 1683, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Batog, WI, Maguire P, O'Toole SA, Norris L, Abu Saadeh F, Identification of groin node metastasis in squamous vulval cancer using pre-operative [18F] FDG-PET/CT. Can unnecessary lymphadectomy be prevented?, International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer, European Society for Gynaecological Oncology, Berlin, October 2022, 32, (Supplement 2), 2022, pp1590 - 1590, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  URL
Ward MP, Ibrahim E, O'Toole S, Gleeson N, Abu Saadeh F, O'Donnell D, Norris LA, Thrombomodulin as a marker for VTE following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Thrombosis Research, International Congress on Issues in Thrombosis in Cancer , Bergamo, Italy, May 2022, 213, ((6) Supplement 2), Elsevier, 2022, ppS13 - S14, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  URL
Ward MP, O'Toole SA, Abu Saadeh F, Marchocki Z, Ibrahim EM, Martin F, Gleeon N, O'leary JJ, Norris LA, Mechanisms of cancer associated thrombosis in gynaecological cancer patients- tumour or treatment effect?, Research Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, London, July 2022, 6, (Supplement 2), Wiley, 2022, ppPB0752 - PB0752, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  URL
Ward MP, Lochrin SE, Ovarere C, O'Gorman C, Kane LE, Mohamed BM, Bates M, Kelly TE, O'Connor R, Kennedy J, Cadoo K, Kamran W, Beirne J, Abu Saadeh F, Martin CM, Norris LA, O'Toole SA, O'leary JJ, Platelets and immune call cloaking of circulating tumour cells in breast and ovarian cancer, Research Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis, London, July 2022, 6, ((supplement 2)), Wiley, 2022, ppPB0931 - PB0931, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  URL
Mark P Ward, Mark Bates, Bashir Mohamed, Tanya Kelly, Roisin O'Connor, Robert Brooks, Doug Brooks, Stavros Selemidis, Celine Ovaere, Jane Tully, Patrick Maguire, Catherine O'Gorman, Waseem Kamran, James Beirne, Feras Saadeh, Noreen Gleeson, Lucy Norris, Cara Martin, Sharon O'Toole, John O'Leary, Isolation and characterisation of circulating tumour cells from ovarian cancer patients, LABORATORY INVESTIGATION, March 2022, 102, (SUPPL 1), SPRINGER NATURE, 2022, Poster, PUBLISHED  DOI
Elzahra Ibrahim, Lucy Norris, Feras Abu Saadeh, Does the use of long-term Aspirin reduce risk of post operative VTE in Gynaecological cancer patients, International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer, 23rd ESGO, Berlin, Oct 2022, 32, 2022, Poster, PUBLISHED  URL
  

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Kearns, P; McCullagh L; Norris L; McConnell D, Evaluating The Cost-Effectiveness of Repeated Serological Biomarker Screening Compared to the Khorana Risk Score for Guiding Thromboprophylaxis Prescription in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy, SPHeRE Network 11th Annual Conference: Translating Research to Health Policy and System Change, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, Dublin, 04 March 2025, 2025, Oral Presentation, PRESENTED
Norris Lucy A, Biomarkers for cancer associated venous thromboembolism, Hospital Professional News, 2023, Notes: [https://hospitalprofessionalnews.ie/2023/02/14/biomarkers-for-cancer-associated-venous-thromboembolism/], Review Article, PUBLISHED
Lucy Norris, Can we predict VTE in gynaecological cancer?, Irish Society for Gynae-Oncology (ISGO) annual scientific meeting 'TRANSLATION AND INNOVATION'., Dublin, December 1st , 2016, ISGO, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Lucy Norris, Prediction and Prevention of venous thromboembolism in Gynaecological cancer. , Master class in Cancer and Thrombosis, Dublin, July 7, 2015, 87-, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Ibrahim N, Norris L, O'Toole S, McHugh T, Gleeson N, Does extended thromboprophylaxis help reduce the incidence of venous thromboembolism in gynaecological cancer patients?, Thrombosis Research, 7th Internation Conference onal Thrombosis & Hemostatis Issues in Cancer,, Bergamo Italy, May 2014, edited by A Falanga, B. Brenner, F, Rickles , 133, (Suppl 2), Elsevier, 2014, Published Abstract, PUBLISHED
Lucy Norris, HRT and haemostasis, UCC Obstetrics and Gynaecology, research seminar, Cork, February, 2011, UCC, 87-, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Abu Saadeh F, Norris L, O'Toole S, Gleeson N. , The role of tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor in ovarian cancer, Thrombosis Research, Womens Health Issues in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Berlin, February 2011, 127, (Suppl 3), Elsevier, 2011, pp149 - 149, Meeting Abstract, PUBLISHED
SK Ismail, Norris LA, Muttukrishna S, Higgins JR, Effect of LMWH prophylaxis on thrombin generation post caesarean section, Thrombosis Research, Women's Health Issues in Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Berlin, February 2011, 127, (Suppl), 2011, ppS137 - S137, Meeting Abstract, PUBLISHED
Lynne Kelly, Shanthi Muttukrishna, Lucy Norris, John Higgins, Placental expression of haemostatic and angiogenic markers in preeclampsia, Hydrometallurgy, 1, (3), 2011, pp277-, Published Abstract, PUBLISHED
Lucy Norris, Hormones and the risk of thrombosis., Update on Coagulation, Dublin, March, 2010, National Centre for Coagulation and Hereditary disorders, 87-, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  


Page 1 of 2
The role of coagulation proteases and platelets in the aetiology of gynaecological cancers. Development of risk models for the prediction of thrombosis in gynaecological cancer patients. The effect of chemotherapy in natural anticoagulant pathways. Aetiology of thrombosis risk in high risk pregnancy patients. Effects of oestrogens, progestogens and phytoestogens on coagulation gene expression and their role in thrombosis risk. The role of coagulation gene expression in the transition from endometriosis to clear cell cancer.