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Professor Owen Patrick Smith

Medical School (Paediatrics)

 Owen.Smith@tcd.ie

 

Regius Professor of Physic (1637) (Molecular Medicine Ireland)


Biography

My main area of ongoing research for the past number of years has been elucidating the relationship (at the molecular and cellular level) between the protein C (PC) activation pathway and the systemic inflammatory response sepsis syndromes. To date, the research group has made significant clinical and scientific contributions to the emergence of a new paradigm regarding the patho-biology of severe sepsis / septic shock and we believe that this work has been instrumental in establishing APC/PC replacement therapy in this catastrophic disease, as all other novel therapeutic interventions in these patients have failed. This work has been carried out wholly in Ireland and has been supported in part by the Health Research Board of Ireland and Children's Medical & Research Foundation. The research programme has generated numerous PhD, MD and MSc studentships and peer reviewed publications in the Lancet, Blood, Thrombosis and Haemostasis and the British Journal of Haematology.

Representations

Details Date
  • Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Collaborative Group
  • Clinical Trials Service Unit Oxford, UK
  • Irish Medicines Board, Dublin.
  • Advisory Committee for Human Medicines (ex Member)
  • Advisory Committee for Blood Products (ex Member)
  • Blood Transfusion Service Board, Dublin.
  • Natioanl Blood Users Group
  • Medical Advisory Committee (ex Member)
  • Baxter-Immuno Plc, Vienna, Austria.
  • Protein therapeutics Advisory Committee
  • National Children's Hospital, Dublin
  • Medical Advisory Committee (ex Member)
  • St. James's Hospital, Dublin. Medical Advisory Committee
  • Children's Medical and Research Foundation - OLCH
  • Scientific Advisory Committee
  • National Haemophilia Council Paediatric Representative

Memberships

Membership of Professional Institutions, Associations, Societies

Details Date From Date To
Royal College of Pathologists, London , UK
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health, London, UK
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, UK
Royal College of Physicians of Glasgow, UK
Royal College of Physicians of London, UK
Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland
Faculty of Pathology (Royal College of Physicians of Ireland)
Faculty of Paediatrics (Royal College of Physicians of Ireland)
American Society of Haematology, USA
British Society for Haematology, UK
Paediatric Haematology Forum of the British Society for Haematology, UK
European Paediatric Network for Haemophilia Management
United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Directors Organisation, UK
Medical Research Council Childhood Leukaemia Working Party, UK
United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group, UK
Trinity College Medical Alumni Association of Dublin
The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, UK
Piccin Andrea, Murphy Ciaran, Eakins Elva, Kunde Jan, Corvetta Daisy, Di Pierro Angela, Negri Giovanni, Guido Mazzoleni, Sainati Laura, Mc Mahon Corrina, Circulating microparticles, protein C, free protein S and endothelial vascular markers in children with sickle cell anaemia , Journal of extracellular vesicles , 4 , 2015, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text
Hicks, P., Grimson, J. Smith, O., With a little help from my friends: experiences of building a virtual community for children with cancer, The Journal of Community Informatics: Special Issue: Community Informatics for Improving Health, 9, (2), 2013, p1 - 15, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  URL
J Bruneau, A O'Marcaigh, O.P. Smith, Pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant properties of 6-thioguanine and 6-mercaptopurine: implications for their potential role in the development of sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, Leukemia & Lymphoma, 51, (1), 2010, p164-167 , Notes: [PMID: 19886844 ], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Kelly K, Smith OP, Storey L, O'Sullivan M, McDermott M, Butler K, McMahon C, Corbally M, O'Marcaigh A, Esophageal stricture during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 32, (2), 2010, p124-127 , Notes: [PMID: 20168244 ], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Sargent J, O'Marcaigh A, Smith O.P., Butler K, Gavin G, O'Sullivan M, Candida albicans - associated necrotizing vasculitis producing life-threatening gastrointestinal hemorrhage., Human Pathology, 41, (4), 2010, p602-604 , Notes: [PMID: 20153510 ], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
RT McGrath, E McRae, O.P. Smith, J.S. O'Donnell, Platelet Von Willebrand factor - structure, function and biological importance, 148, 2010, p824-843 , Notes: [PMID: 20067560 ], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
S Mc Cann, Robin Foa, O.P. Smith Eibhlin Conneally, Clinical Cases Uncovered Haematology , 2nd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2009, Book, PUBLISHED
Haematology in, editor(s)Gardner M , Foundations in Paediatrics, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2009, [OP Smith and J Bond], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Haematological Problems in, editor(s)Puri P and Hallwarth M , Paediatric Surgery: Diagnosis and Management, Berlin Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag,, 2009, [OP Smith ], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Piccin A, O'Marcaigh A, Deiratany S, Mc Mahon C, Smith OP., Severe gastrointestinal haemorrhage, first manifestation of neonatal haemophilia A, Haemophilia, 15, (3), 2009, p817-819 , Notes: [PMID: 19298377 ], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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Awards and Honours

Award Date
Excellence in Health Management Award Irish Healthcare Awards 2008, Dublin
31st St Lukes Lecture Improving outcome in adolescent cancer: avoiding throwing the baby out with the bathwater Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland / St Lukes Hospital 2006
Best Paper published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science The IL-6 G-174C polymorphism may be associated with ischaemic stroke in patients without a history of hypertension. IJMS Doctor Awards 2005
41st Graves Lecture, Altering outcome in septic shock using a novel therapeutic approach Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland / Health Research Board 2001
National Outstanding Young Person of the Year in the area of Scientific Development Novel therapeutic intervention in severe meningococcaemia Junior Chamber Ireland 1998
Sir John Banks Medal in Medicine Polyethyleneglycol modified cytokines: altering biological function Trinity College Dublin 1991
Sheppard Memorial Prize in Medicine Polyethyleneglycol modified cytokines: altering biological function Trinity College Dublin 1991
Postgraduate Travelling Scholarship in Medicine Polyethyleneglycol modified cytokines: altering biological function Trinity College Dublin 1991
Honours in Surgical Finals 1985
Dublin University Biological Association Presidents Prize (First place in Clinical Medicine) 1985
Dublin University Biological Association Bronze Medal (First place in Undergraduate Research Projects) 1984
Dublin University Biological Association Presidents Prize (First place in Clinical Medicine) 12984
Overall honours in Pre-Clinical years 1982

Research Interests

Description Of Research Interests

  • The cellular and molecular basis of the liver toxicities (sinusoidal occlusion syndrome / veno-occlusive disease) following mylotarg and thioguanine as anti-leukaemia therapy.
  • The role of MRD detection in childhood acute leukaemia (lymphoblastic & myeloblastic).
  • The role of E2A-HLF transcript (t17:19) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
  • The molecular basis of the aplastic presentation of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
  • The molecular pathogenesis of infant & childhood leukaemia's, dyshaematopoiesis of Down syndrome, inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, and Kostmann's disease.
  • The role of microvessel density index as a marker of angiogeneic potential in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
  • WASP mutations as a molecular trigger for congenital neutropenia
  • The potential therapeutic role of recombinant FVIIa in, (i) reducing allogeneic blood product exposure in surgical (cardiac) neonatal cases and (ii) prevention of intraventricular haemorrhage in premature neonates
  • Haemophilia A & B mutation analysis with carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis
  • Mutational analysis of other inherited coagulation protein deficiencies
  • von Willebrand disease characterisation by functional testing and molecular strategies
  • Thrombophilic genotypes (FV506, FII20210, TL-MTHFR, PAI-1 (4G), ACE) in VTE disease
  • Thrombophilic genomic polymorphic profiles in recurrent foetal loss women, inflammatory bowel disease patients and in stroke patients (paediatric and adult)
  • The role of unfractionated heparins as anti-inflammatory mediators
  • The role of unfractionated heparins in haemorrhagic inflammatory bowel disease
  • Heparin induced thrombocytopenia and the role played by platelet Fc-gamma-IIa / Fc-gamma-IIIa receptors
  • The efficacy of low molecular weight heparins as thrombophylaxis in pregnancy