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Dr. Andreea Phelan

Research Fellow (Biochemistry)
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Andreea Phelan

Research Fellow (Biochemistry)

 petrasan@tcd.ie

 


  ARTHRITIS   AUTOIMMUNITY   CHRONIC INFLAMMATION   CYTOKINES   EPIDERMAL-KERATINOCYTES   FIBROBLASTS   Glycolysis   HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA   IMMUNE FUNCTION   Immune system   Immunoassays   Immunology   Immunometabolism   Inflammation   PSORIASIS   Regulatory T cells   SKIN   T cells   TCR GAMMA DELTA(+) T CELLS   Th17 cells
Project Title
 Pilot study: the role of gamma delta T cells in skin inflammation
From
2024
To
2025
Summary
Funding Agency
Higher Education Authority
Programme
Research Boost
Project Title
 Targeting cellular metabolism in inflammatory skin disease
From
2021
To
2023
Summary
The aim was to characterise the role of dysregulated metabolic pathways in driving inflammation in HS and to identify metabolic compounds that can reverse these effects and reduce skin inflammation. These findings were published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2023.
Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Programme
Gvt of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship
Person Months
24
Project Title
 Investigating the dysregulation of cellular metabolism in hidradenitis suppurativa patients and whether metformin can reverse this altered metabolism
From
2022
To
2023
Summary
The purpose of this study was to compare the metabolic profiles of immune cells of HS patients and healthy individuals using flow cytometry and Seahorse flux analysis in order to identify specific immune cell populations exhibiting altered metabolism. Furthermore, we investigated whether metformin, an anti-diabetic drug with anti-inflammatory properties, can mediate its therapeutic effects by restoring the metabolic pathways in these cells. These findings were published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2023. I demonstrate for the first time that metabolism is dysregulated in HS and proposed targeting cellular metabolism as a novel therapeutic target for HS. Metformin is low cost, well tolerated and I showed that it reduced inflammation in HS, as well as having dampening effects on immunometabolic pathways.
Funding Agency
British Skin Foundation
Programme
Small Grant Award
Project Title
 Pilot study to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-1 analogues in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)
From
2025
To
2026
Summary
Funding Agency
British Skin Foundation
Programme
Small Grant Award
Project Title
 Targeting cellular metabolism in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)
From
2024
To
2026
Summary
Funding Agency
City of Dublin Skin and Hospital Charity

Page 1 of 3
Details Date
Organiser of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Research Interest Group (HS-RIG) 2021 - 2023
Executive Committee postdoctoral representative for School of Biochemistry & Immunology 2018 - 2023
Chair (2020 - 2022) and vice-chair (2018 - 2020) of TBSI postdoctoral society 2018 - 2022
Postdoctorate representative for Athena Swan Application and implementation of action points post-award (Bronze Medal awarded) 2021 - 2023
Journal reviewer (e.g. Cancer Communications, J Nanobiotechnology, Immunology, Immunotherapy, Inflammation, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, BMC Oral Health, Biologic research, Immunologic research) 2020 - present
TCD Dean of Research's Postdoc Working Group 2022 - 2023
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
Croatian Fluent Medium Medium
Romanian Fluent Medium Medium
Spanish Fluent Fluent Medium
Details Date From Date To
Irish Society for Immunology 2011 Present
British Society for Immunology 2016 Present
Trinity College Dublin Biochemical Society 2016 Present
European Federation of Immunological Sciences 2021 Present
Member of the Research Ethics Committee in the School of Biochemistry and Immuonology 2019 2020
President of the TBSI Postdoc Society 2021-2023. Vice-president 2019-2021. 2019 2023
Postdoctorate representative on the Executive Committee for School of Biochemistry&Immunology 2018 2023
Emerging EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) network 2017 2019
TCD Dance Society 2011 2014
TCD Neurosoc (Neuroscience Society) 2008 2010
Murphy DM, Walsh A, Stein L, Petrasca Andreea, Cox DJ, Brown K, Duffin E, Jameson G, Connolly SA, O'Connell F, O'Sullivan J, Basdeo SA, Keane J, Phelan JJ., Human Macrophages Activate Bystander Neutrophils' Metabolism and Effector Functions When Challenged with Mycobacterium tuberculosis., International journal of molecular sciences, 25, (5), 2024, p2898 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
MacMahon Copas AN, McComish SF, Petrasca Andreea, McCormack R, Ivers D, Stricker A, Fletcher JM, Caldwell MA., CD4+ T cell-associated cytokines induce a chronic pro-inflammatory phenotype in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived midbrain astrocytes., Glia, 2024, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Petrasca Andreea, Hambly R, Kearney N, Smith CM, Pender EK, Mac Mahon J, O'Rourke AM, Ismaiel M, Boland PA, Almeida JP, Kennedy C, Zaborowski A, Murphy S, Winter D, Kirby B, Fletcher JM, Metformin has anti-inflammatory effects and induces immunometabolic reprogramming in hidradenitis suppurativa via multiple mechanisms, British Journal of Dermatology, 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Petrasca Andreea, Hambly R, Molloy O, Kearns S, Moran B, Smith CM, Hughes R, O'Donnell M, Zaborowski A, Winter D, Fletcher JM, Kirby B, Malara A., Innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets are enriched in the skin of patients with hidradenitis suppurativa., PloS one, 18, (2), 2023, pe0281688 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Moran B, Smith CM, Zaborowski A, Ryan M, Karman J, Dunstan RW, Smith KM, Hambly R, Musilova J, Petrasca A, Fabre A, O'Donnell M, Hokamp K, Mills KHG, Housley WJ, Winter DC, Kirby B, Fletcher JM (, Targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome reduces inflammation in hidradenitis suppurativa skin, British Journal of Dermatology, 189, (4), 2023, p447-458 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sulaimani Jamal, Cluxton Deborah, Clowry J, Petrasca Andreea, Molloy OE, Moran B, Sweeney CM, Malara A, McNicholas N, McGuigan C, Kirby Brian, Fletcher Jean M., Dimethyl fumarate modulates the Treg-Th17 cell axis in patients with psoriasis., The British journal of dermatology, 2021, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Petrasca Andreea, Phelan James .J., Ansboro Sharon, Veale Douglas J., Fearon Ursula, Fletcher Jean M., Targeting bioenergetics prevents CD4 T cell-mediated activation of synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis., Rheumatology, 2020, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Fletcher Jean M, Moran Barry, Petrasca Andreea, Smith Conor, IL-17 in inflammatory skin diseases psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa, Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 201, (2), 2020, p121 - 134, Review Article, PUBLISHED
Cluxton D, Petrasca A, Moran B, Fletcher JM, Differential regulation of human Treg and Th17 cells by fatty acid synthesis and glycolysis, Frontiers in Immunology, 10, 2019, p115-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Petrasca A, Melo AM, Breen EP, Doherty DG, Human Vd3 T cells induce maturation and IgM secretion by B cells, Immunology Letters, 196, 2018, p126-134 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
  

Page 1 of 2
Andreea Petrasca, Derek G. Doherty, Vg9Vd2 T cells differentially stimulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines by dendritic cells and B cells, Medimond International Proceedings, 15th International Congress of Immunology, Milan, Italy, 22-27 August 2013, edited by Medimond s.r.l. , Monduzzi editore, 2014, pp21 - 24, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED

  


Award Date
Best scientific contribution/best poster prize - European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Federation (EHSF) conference, Malta February 2026
Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship €96,416 May 2021 - Apr 2023
British Skin Foundation Small Grant €11,424 Jul 2022 - Dec 2023
Higher Education Authority Research Boost Award €10,000 Sep 2024 - Aug 2025
Winner of best stand at European Researchers Night TCD event Sep 2019
Athena Swan Bronze Award 2021
Travel grant for attendance to European Congress for Immunology 2024 €520 Sep 2024
Travel Bursary for Attendance to BSI Regional & Affinity Group €232 Apr 2022
Travel bursary for EULAR (European congress of rheumatology) €350 + accommodation Jun 2017
Travel bursary for British Society of Immunology Congress €174 Dec 2017
Travel Bursary for British Society of Immunology Congress €291 Dec 2014
My current research focuses on elucidating inflammatory pathways and identifying novel therapeutic targets in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.