The National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology (NICB) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It was established by the Irish government 20 years ago as the National Cell and Tissue Culture Centre to be a leader in biotechnology research. Over the past two decades, the NICB has grown substantially and now has state-of-the-art facilities and conducts research collaborations with universities and industry. The anniversary event will include presentations from researchers, tours of the new facilities, and a gala dinner to celebrate the achievements of the NICB and look ahead to its continued growth in the future.

1. 20 Years
of Research
1st February 2008 – The Helix & Clontarf Castle

3. As Editor of this commemorative booklet I would also like to welcome you to our celebrations and
to give a special word of thanks to all those who contributed to this publication especially those who
rooted up some of the old photos which are scattered through out. It was a joy and a revelation to sort
through some of this material.
I hope the contents will give you a good appreciation of the achievements of the Centre in the past
and in its great potential for the future. We have a brief history of the Centre, some of the old (and
not so old) faces that make up the history of the Centre and a brief overview of our present team and
research activities.
Finally we are very proud of our new world class research facility which
I hope you will get a chance to tour today. Included in this brochure are
some details of our facility and if you want to find out more please do not
hesitate in contacting us.
Donnacha O’Driscoll
General Manager NICB
Editor
Mr. Vincent Lynch
Chairman NICB Board
I have seen the Institute develop into a unique collaborative venture based at Dublin City
University, NUI Maynooth and I.T.
Tallaght. This partnership seeks to position Ireland as a world leader in biotechnology. The
NICB research teams are investigating the molecular functions of human and animal cells,
micro-organisms and viruses. Particular emphasis is placed on research in cancer, diabetes,
infectious diseases and developmental biology.
The new building provides state of the art facilities, and increases the capacity for more
researchers. There are excellent educational programmes in place. These should result in new
medical discoveries and better patient care.
From a business point of view, this is a tremendous asset to the country. It has already resulted in
close cooperation with the leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, creating jobs in
Ireland. These scientists who are at the cutting edge of research are helping to sustain Ireland as
a successful global competitor.
The Institute is working closely with clinicians in many Dublin hospitals translating research
discovery into patient care. We feel that cell culture, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics
will lead to new ways of understanding, diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. It also
collaborates with biotechnology units nationally and internationally. This research institute has
an exciting future ahead.
The National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology (NICB) is a
research centre that was established by the Irish Government at the
start of the cell culture revolution, more than 20 years ago.
In that time there have been many exciting developments in
medical research, particularly in the biotechnology sector. The unit
has grown and developed substantially. As Chairman of the Board,
NICB Board Chairperson Introduction
Welcome to the Party

4. Dublin City University, then NIHE Dublin, was the first third-level institution to recognise cell
biology as an important strategic area for research and industrial application, and it is great that
many of the first researchers in the cell biology laboratory, including Valerie McManus, Susan
McDonnell, Una Gilvarry-Quigley and Margaret Dooley, are here for the celebrations. A very
special welcome here today to Michael Moriarty, Vincent Lynch and Peter Kelehan, staunch
supporters of the clinically-related research of the Centre right across those 25 years; Danny O’Hare
and Michael Gleeson, who were Director and Secretary of NIHED when NCTCC was established;
Alan Bunch, a valued and active member of the Scientific Advisory Board; Susan Folan who
provided quiet but infinitely effective support to all at NIHED and DCU over a period of a quarter of
a century and Paddy Farrell, former Head of Security who kept the campus safe and free from all
evil doers for many years; Terry Larkin, former chair of DCU’s Governing Authority; and Eugene
Corcoran, Chair of the Bioresearch Ireland Board; unfortunately Owen Ward, the dynamic and
visionary leader of biotechnology at NIHED its first critical 5 years was unable to travel from
Canada, but sends his best wishes to all today.
A Research Centre like this is influenced by everyone who has worked in it; and conversely all of us
are fortunate to heave been able to work in an area which is both fascinating – understanding the
cellular and molecular basis for life – and useful – with so many medical and industrial applications.
I would like to say a few words of thanks:
Enjoy the day, and the evening.
Here’s to the next 25 years of Cell Biology at DCU .
Martin Clynes
Director, NICB
January 2008
FÁILTE
Anois teacht an Earraigh, beidh an lá ag dul chun síneadh…..
The 1st of February – first day of spring, Lá Fhéile Bríde, and the old
Celtic spring festival of Imbolc – is a good day to celebrate a
milestone in the history of cell biology research at Dublin City
University; a day for looking forward to an exciting future, as well as
casting an eye backwards. The Centre is 20 years old as a
government-designated National Centre, but the cell biology
laboratory is 25 years old; the NICB is still a youngster, at the tender
age of seven.
• To Aine Adams and Denis Collins for the music
• To all who have worked in NCTCC and NICB over the years, and to others in DCU and
elsewhere – in both leadership and support positions – all of you have been important
contributors to what the Centre has achieved.
• To the current and past Management of the University including President Ferdinand von
Prondzynski, Deputy President Anne Scott, Vice President for Research Eugene Kennedy,
Dean of Faculty, Malcolm Smyth, Martin Conry, Frank Soughley, Marian Burns and previous
members of senior management who supported the Centre’s development including Danny
O’Hare, Michael Gleeson, Conor Long, Donal Clarke, Margaret Walsh and Pat Cullen.
• To the NICB Scientific Advisory Board, Alan Bunch, Michael Comer, Kevin Scanlon and
Susan Kennedy, Augusto Pessina, whose support and advice at critical times was invaluable.
• To all who helped in the organisation of this event but especially to Yvonne Reilly, Mairead
Callan and Carol McNamara on whose shoulders so much of the preparatory work for today
fell and to Donnacha O’Driscoll for editing this brochure.
• A special welcome to those who travelled from abroad to be here – Galya Ivanova from
Portugal, Eugene Corcoran from France, Vanesa Martinez from Spain and Alan Bunch from
England – and to all from the five continents and 16 countries represented here today.

6. The NICB Research Facility
The NICB research building, based in Dublin City University, is an international state
of the art Centre, dedicated to cell and tissue culture research. This new 3,200 m2
complex houses laboratories, specialised equipment suites and the largest collection of
clean rooms (built to Class C / class 10,000 standards) in any research facility in
Ireland. We are particularly grateful to Mike Kelly and his crack team in the Estates
Office, for the support in the commissioning and on-going maintenance of the facility.
The building houses core facilities in cell and molecular biology.
November 2007 marked the 20th anniversary of the Institute (formerly known as the
National Cell and Tissue Culture Centre). This unique combination of world class
facilities, equipment, extensive academic, clinical and industrial networks and two
decades of experience along with our highly qualified, experienced and dedicated staff
has positioned the NICB as a leading translational research centre not just in Ireland
but on the world stage.

8. 12:30 Lunch The Helix, DCU
Session I : Chair Vincent Lynch – NICB Board Chairperson
13:55 Welcome – Anne Scott, Deputy President DCU
14:00 Martin Clynes Opening remarks
Keynote Presentation
14:10 Eugene Kennedy
VP Research DCU
Introduction to Barry McSweeney’s
Lecture
14:15 Barry McSweeney “I Remember Biotechnology in the Rare
Oul’ Times”
14:50 Eugene Corcoran
Chair BRI Board
Response to Barry McSweeney,s
Lecture
14:55 Alice Redmond “The Road to Project Management”
15:03 Marguerite Clyne “The interaction of Helicobacter pylori
with the gastric mucosa”
15:11 Bernard Gregory “Identification and validation of
therapeutic targets in Rheumatoid
Arthritis”
15:19 Susan McDonnell “The use of breast cancer cell lines for
identifying new biomarkers and
therapies”
Session II : Chair: Ray O’Neill – VP Research NUIM
15:27 Lisa Connolly “From DCU to Food, health and
Emerging Chemical Concerns”
15:35 Eoin Ryan “Adventures in the Voluntary Sector”
15:44 Kevin Kavanagh “NUI Maynooth – NICB Research
Update”
15:52 Ken Carroll NICB research activities in ITT Dublin
16:00 Coffee
Session III : Chair: Malcolm Smyth – Dean Fac. Science & Health, DCU
Keynote Presentation
16:30 Ferdinand von
Prondzynski
Introduction to John Crown’s Lecture
16:35 John Crown Translational Cancer Research –
Winning the War on Cancer Now
17:15 Michael Moriarty Response to John Crown’s Lecture
17:20 Martin Clynes/
D. O’Driscoll
Closing Remarks / Tour Logistics
17: 40 Tours of the NICB Facility
19:30 Drinks Reception
Clontarf Castle
20:00 Gala Dinner
Event Schedule

9. Sponsors of the Helix venue and the afternoon presentations
Sponsors of the Gala Dinner in Clontarf castle
We would like to thank our sponsors without whose support today’s
celebrations could not have been made possible. We would also like to
thank them for there services to the NICB in the past and we look forward
to their continued assistance into the future.
A Word of Thanks to Our Sponsors
Sponsors of the Dinner Wine
Sponsors of the Coffee Break Sponsors of the Drinks Reception
Sponsors of the Helix Lunch
Sponsors of the Dinner VenueSponsors of the Event Booklet
Laboratory Instruments
& Supplies (I) Ltd

12. This brochure was
circulated on the day the
late Charles Haughey,
opened the School of
Biological Sciences Pilot
Plant, and announced the
Irish Government’s first
national Biotechnology
Programme.

13. Dermot Pearson (now at Novozyme) is shown on the cover of one of
the School of Biological Sciences’ first promotional brochures.

14. Before he was
known as Ronan’s
Dad, Fergal O’Gara
was director of the
National Food
Biotechnology
Centre.
The article on the Right is one of
the original circulars (circa 1987)
promoting the newly established
BioResearch Ireland – headed up
by a very young looking Barry
McSweeney.
Pictured beside Barry, sporting his
“Village People” moustache is Jim
Ryan who succeeded Barry as
Director.
Below are some of the original
Centre Directors.
Based in Trinity,
Tim Mantle was the
director of the
National
Pharmaceutical
Centre.
Frank Gannon at
the time was
Director of the BRI
Nat. Diagnostic
Centre. and is now
Director General of
Science Foundation
Ireland.

15. In the same brochure,
the world was
introduced to the
“National Cell & Tissue
Culture Centre.”
As the brochure
demonstrates, the
Centre’s expertise in
areas such as
monoclonals, toxicology,
large-scale culture and
cell characterisation
stretches back over 20
years.
The pictures show one of
the NCTCC’c earliest
PhD students, Breda
Carey, working with the
Braun 2L reactor and
below a very youthful
Martin Clynes, the
Centre’s founding
Director.

16. For all your product freezing
and long-term storage needs

17. 2000 An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern launches DCU’s Strategy Plan “Leading Change”, NICB
was publicly launched at the same event.
Some NICB News Events from
the 21st Century!
2004: Ferdinand von Prondzynski (President DCU),
Martin Clynes (Director NICB), Reg Shaw (MD
Wyeth Ireland), Don Thornhill (Chairman HEA)
and Donnacha O’Driscoll (Manager NICB) at the
ceremonial turning of the first sod on the site of
the new NICB research facility.
2002: Senator Hilary Clinton visited the Centre and was briefed by various members of staff
on the cutting edge biotechnology research being carried out. Here we see Rob
O’Connor explaining some recent drug developments. A return visit was made to the
US where a number of DCU personnel including Lorraine O’Driscoll again met with
Senator Clinton.
Ferdinand and Don try
to dig a bigger sod!
Martin and Donnacha
admire a model of the
new building

18. 2005: Professor John Crown, Thomas Baldwin Chair in
Translational Cancer Research in DCU and long
time NICB collaborator, won the Best Overall
Paper in the IJMS Doctor Awards in 2005 for his
findings into breast cancer research and
chemotherapy treatments. The IJMS Doctor
Awards recognise excellence in clinical research
by doctors working in Ireland. He was presented
the award by his good buddy Minister for Health
Mary Harney. (The significance of the ominous
alien face floating above them is unknown!!)
Some News Events from Recent Years
2006: NICB hosts international meeting on
Global Expression analysis at the
Helix in DCU. Among those taking
part in the conference were:
Dennis Slamon, John Crown, Martin
Clynes, Donnacha O’Driscoll,
Robert O’Connor, Brigid Browne,
Norma O’Donovan, Susan Kennedy,
Winfried Albert and Michael
Moriarty
2005: Martin Clynes (Director NICB),
Reg Shaw (MD Wyeth Ireland), Bill
Harris (Director General SFI) and
Ferdinand von Prondzynski
(President DCU), at the public
launch of the SFI sponsored €4
million research collaboration
initiative between the NICB and
Wyeth Biopharma.
2007: Ferdinand von Prondzynski, (DCU
president), Martin Clynes, (NICB Director),
Reg Shaw, (former MD of Wyeth), Frank
Gannon, (SFI Director General), Matt
Corcoran, (MD of Wyeth) on the occasion of
Reg’s election as an honorary member of the
National Institute for Cellular
Biotechnology (NICB) at DCU in
recognition of his contribution to Irish
Biotechnology.

20. Some of the Researchers in 2006
Back Row: Keara Hall, Lorraine O’Driscoll, Carmel Daly, Mary Heenan, Liz Moran, Shirley McBride, Roisin Nic
Amhlaoibh, Cathal O’Grady, Paula Meleady, Kevin Kavanagh, Gerry O’Doherty, Una Gilvarry
Front Row: Donnacha O’Driscoll, Roisin Weedle, Anthony Woodman, Irene Cleary, Geraldine Grant, Martin Clynes.
Back Row: Paul Dowling, Jonathan O’Toole, Finbarr O’Sullivan, William Bryan, Martin Clynes, Sweta Rani, Bella Bray
3rd Row : Norma O’Donovan, Helena Joyce, Naomi Walsh, Eoin Ryan, Brigid Browne, Aoife Devery,
2nd Row: Jai Prakash Mehta, Aisling Pierce, Carol McNamara, Verena Murphy, Elodie Ly, Irene Ogelsby, Lorraine O’Driscoll
Front Row: Andrew Dowd, Niall Barron, Paudie Doolan
Some of the Researchers in 1994
Then came technicolour ……………..

21. Past and present members
‘At Work, Rest & Play’!

23. Mairead Callan, Sweta Rani, Laura Breen, Mairead Looby, Eadaoin McKiernan, Louise Bryce, Máire
Callaghan, Caroline Duff, Tracy Mullen, Siobhan Mclean, Seamus Coyle, Carol MacNamara, Patrick
Gammell, Steven Verhaegen, Martin Clynes, Noel Daly, Rasha Linehan, Lorraine O’Driscoll, William
Bryan, Bella Bray, Prijanka Maurya, Elodie Ly, Michael Henry, Paula Meleady, Erica Hennesy, Justine
Meiller, Eunan McGlinchey, Elaine Kenny, Mohan Muniyappa, Geraldine Grant, Kerea Hall, Finbarr
O’Sullivan, Roisin Nic Amhlaoibh, Irene Cleary, Joanne Keenan, Elizabeth Moran, Cathal O’Grady,
Robert O’Connor, Joe Carey, Noel Ward, Yvonne Reilly, Padraig Doolan, Cathal Elliot, Yizheng Liang,
Dara Byrne, Elizabeth Law, Margaret Dooley, Bernard Gregory, Ursula Pattison, Anne O’Sullivan, Alice
Redmond, Donnacha O’Driscoll, Mohamad Saleh, Breda Carey, Angela Martin, Annemarie Larkin, Lisa
Connolly, Bojana Cumpf, Helena Joyce, Irene Cleary, Derek Walsh, Shirley McBride, Mary Heenan
Did you spot all of these people?

25. NICB Research Activities
The following section gives a brief outline of
the research themes and interests of our NICB
research teams.

26. Laboratory Instruments
& Supplies (I) Ltd
Pamaron House, Ballybin Road,
Ashbourne, Co Meath, Ireland
Phone: +353 1 835 2036,
Fax No: +353 1 835 2038
Email: office@lisltd.com
Web site: www.lisltd.com
Leica Microscopes
Educational Microscopes
Stereomicroscopes
Confocal Microscopes
Sectioning and specimen preparation.
Imaging Systems.
Adam Equipment
High quality range of laboratory balances,
top-loading balances and moisture balances.
Nickel Electro
Waterbaths, Mixers,
Hotplates, Heaters
Magnetic stirrers
Centrifuges
Medical Wire and Equipment
Transport Swabs
Dry Swabs
Rapid Strip Tests
Microrings
“ Laboratory equipment and service for
Clinical, Industrial and Inspection
requirements”.

27. Research Interests Research Interests
Research Interests Research Interests
Research Interests Research Interests
NICB Research Staff
Research Interests
Michael Henry
Senior technician
NanoLC, mass
spectrometry,
proteomics and
keeping the
Centre ticking
over
Paul Dowling
Programme Leader
Applying advanced
proteomics
technologies to
discovering
biomarkers that will
allow for early
detection and
monitoring of cancer
and other diseases.
Laura Breen
Post Doctoral Researcher
Drug resistance and
invasion in human
lung cancer;
Establishment of an
islet transplant
programme for the
treatment of
diabetes
Verena Amberger-
Murphy
Research Officer
Brain cancer, glioma,
invasion, migration,
tyrosine kinase
receptors, targeted
drugs, miRNA, drug
resistance
Niall Baron
Senior Programme
Leader
Use of mammalian
cell line engineering
strategies to improve
biopharmaceutical
production
efficiencies and
develop potential
cell-based disease
therapy
Padraig Doolan
Program Leader
Gene Expression
Profiling,
Microarrays,
Bioinformatics, Data
reduction, Systems
biology, Mathematical
modelling, Cancer,
Bioprocessing,
Denis Collins
Post Doctoral Researcher
Modulation of P-gp-
mediated drug
resistance by
tyrosine kinase
inhibitors
Research Interests
Alex Eustace
Research Assistant
Drug resistance in
melanoma
focusing especially
on the effects of
targeted therapies
in melanoma cell
lines

28. Research Interests
Norma O’Donovan
Programme Leader
Targeted Therapies for
Cancer. Research
focuses on therapies for
HER-2 positive and
triple negative breast
cancer, and melanoma
Research Interests
Paula Meleady
Programme Leader
Proteomics, mass
spectrometry,
bioprocessing,
cancer biomarkers,
cancer invasion,
cellular
differentiation,
protein translation.
Research Interests
Robert O’Connor
Senior Programme
Leader
Translational Cancer
Pharmacology
Cancer Drug Resistance
Drug Resistance
Modulation
Cancer Clinical Trials
Cancer
Pharmacokinetics
Cancer Drugs Levels
Research Interests
Justine Meiller
Research Assistant
Multiple Myeloma,
Bone Marrow
Plasma Cell Bank,
MicroRNA,
Proteomics
Research Interests
Annemarie Larkin
Research Officer
Monoclonal Antibodies
New diagnostic/
therapeutic agents
Novel cancer invasion
associated antigens
Multiple Drug resistance
in breast cancer, B-cell
malignancies
Research Interests
Joanne Keenan
Research Officer
Studying cellular
membrane and
secretome(e.g. stress
and apoptosis) in
multidrug resistance in
lung cancer using
proteomic technologies
Research Interests
Helena Joyce
Research Assistant
Lung Cancer,
Drug resistance,
Transcriptional
and proteomic
profiling
Research Interests
Paula Kinsella
Research Assistant
Identification of key
miRNAs and drug
responsiveness in
glioblastoma.

29. NICB Post Graduate Students
Research Interests
Brigid Browne
Role of IGF-IR
signalling in
Herceptin
resistance in
breast cancer
Research Interests
Grainne Dunne
Cancer Drug
Resistance.
Lung/Breast
Cancer. Drug
Pumps. Growth
Factor Receptors.
Drug Combinations
Research Interests
Aoife Devery
Mass Spectroscopy,
Drug pharmacology,
Metastasis,
Multidrug
Resistance, Normal
-vs- Cancer cell
models
Research Interests
Erica Hennessy
MicroRNA
involvement in
regulated insulin
secretion in
pancreatic beta cells
Research Interests
Naomi Walsh
Post Doctoral Researcher
Identification of
therapeutic
targets and
markers of
invasion in
pancreatic
cancer
Research Interests
Olga Piskareva
Post Doctoral Researcher
L1 retrotransposon,
homologous
recombination,
mammalian cells,
adeno associated
viruses
Research Interests
Lorraine O’Driscoll
Senior Programme
Leader
Translational
research; biomarkers
& new therapeutic
targets; cancer;
miRNAs, mRNAs &
proteins; circulating
tumour cells; islet
transplantation;
clinical trials
Research Interests
Finbarr O’Sullivan
Programme Leader
Stem cells, eye,
limbal, cornea, cell-
cell interaction,
characterisation,
imaging, confocal
microscopy,
cytometery,
differentiation, cell
adhesion

30. Research Interests
Damian Pollard
Discovery of
potential
biomarkers for the
early detection and
monitoring of lung
cancer
Research Interests
Jai Prakash Mehta
Bioinformatics;
Gene-expression
analysis;
Breast cancer;
Metastasis;
Meta-analysis;
Neural Networks
Cell motility and
invasion
Research Interests
Dermot O’Sullivan
Developing
Monoclonal
Antibodies,
Inhibition of
Invasion,
Identification of
Novel Antigens
Research Interests
Mohan Muniyappa
Micro RNAs,
Cancer
Invasion/Metastasis,
In vitro Gene
Targeting, Gene
Knock IN/OUT
Technology
Research Interests
Sweta Rani,
Analysis of
murine cell
models relevant to
Type 1 Diabetes
Research Interests
Kishore Reddy
Adult Eye Stem Cell
Therapy and Cell
Differentiation
Research
Research Interests
Niraj Kumar
Molecular
mechanisms
regulating cold-
shock response in
CHO-K1 cells
Scale-up /
Molecular Biology
Research Interests
Priyanka Maurya
Proteomic
analysis for
tumour
/invasiveness
biomarker
discovery in
breast cancer
and melanoma

31. Medical Post Graduate Students
Research Interests
Noelia Sanchez
Research Placement
student from France
Improving
recombinant
protein production
using:
siRNA transfection
serum free media
consensus sequence
knock-down
cellular phenotypes
Research Interests
Sandra Roche
Mass
Spectrometry; Bio-
analytical
Methods; Tyrosine
Kinase Inhibitors;
Zulfi Qadir
Rajesh Rajpal,
William Shields
Brendan Corkery
Protein
Markers for
drug
responsiveness
in multiple
myeloma
Proteomics
applied to
diabetes
Tyrosine kinases
and targeted
therapies in
triple negative
breast cancer
HSP-90
Inhibitors in
HER2+ Breast
cancer

32. Callan, Mairead
Senior Administrator
Clynes, Martin
Centre Director
Gallagher, Ross
Laboratory Assistant
Kelly, Shane
Laboratory Assistant
McNamara, Carol
Administrator
Reilly, Yvonne
Administrator
Henry, Michael
Senior Technician
Carey, Joe
Technician
McGovern, Julian
IT Support
O’Driscoll, Donnacha
General Manager
NICB Support Team

33. Robert McMahon
Post-Graduate Student
Research Interests:
How KSHV modifies host
translation initiation factor
activity and its role in virus
replication and cancer
development.
Izabela Zaborowska
Post-Graduate Student
Research Interests:
How Vaccinia Virus takes
control of the host cells
protein synthesis
machinery to replicate.
Derek Walsh
SFI Principal Investigator,
co-ordinator of virus
research program
As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses must exploit their host cells protein
synthesis machinery in order to produce viral proteins and replicate. Our group is
interested in how DNA viruses control the activity of the translation initiation complex
eIF4F, a key regulator of ribosomal loading and protein production in cells. Our work
was the first to demonstrate that DNA viruses, unlike RNA viruses, stimulate the
activity of this complex to maximise production of viral proteins in infected cells,
identifying two new steps in translational control and highlighting the potential of
targeting regulatory kinases of the cells protein synthesis machinery as effective
antiviral strategies. Our current research, funded by Science Foundation Ireland and
the Health Research Board, focuses on determining the viral factors and mechanisms
involved in modifying translational activity in cells infected with Kaposi’s Sarcoma-
associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Vaccinia virus (VV), a prototypical Poxvirus. We
are interested in the role that these modifications play in both virus replication and the
diseases they cause with the aim of developing new directions for drug development.
Virus Research Programme

34. The research in the chemistry group is aimed at creating a world class research programme in drug
discovery and development within the NICB, specifically to drive “synthesis of new lead compounds and
the analytical science which underpins translation research.” We are preparing bioactive compounds,
focussing on cancer therapeutics and antimicrobials. Development of efficient synthetic methodologies
is leading to rapid generation of compounds for screening. Target lead drug development and the quest
for new hit compounds in collaboration with the NICB screening, is a fundamental goal. We are active in
the following areas:
Synthetic Methodology: Advances in peptide synthesis and Lewis acid catalysed reactions have been
made.
Identification of Novel ‘Hit’ Compounds: Screening has led to the identification of several new hit
compounds as antimicrobials and cancer therapeutics, e.g. p-gp inhibitors, resveratrol analogues and
ferrocenyl benzoyl peptides.
Molecular Characterisation: Recent investment in high-throughput and low-mass NMR an LC-MS
methodologies will put us at the forefront in synthesis, and characterisation of complex pro-drug and
metabolite mixtures.
Lead Compound Development: Libraries of antimicrobials, cancer therapeutics have been prepared and
SAR studies compiled.
Future Work: ‘Hit’ identification; synthetic methodology optimisation; further SAR studies;
metabolomics; rational drug design; high-throughput compound preparation, isolation, characterisation
and screening.
Dermot Brougham
Lecturer
Research Interests:
Metabonomics of cancer, using
NMR spectroscopy. The
development of novel
nanoparticle-based MRI contrast
agents, and drug-delivery
vehicles.
Research Interests:
NMR of membranes,
novel liposomal and
polymeric drug-
delivery vehicles.
Carla Meledandri
Post Graduate student
NICB Research Chemistry Group
Ewa Kowalska
Post Graduate student
Research Interests: Cancer
therapeutics (macrocyclic
prodrugs, metabolite
profiling), alkaloids, metal
binding studies,
antimicrobials, green
synthesis of pharmaceuticals,
asymmetric catalysis, and
ionic liquids
Nick Gathergood
Lecturer
Research Interests:
Macrocyclic cancer prodrugs,
alkaloids, metal binding
studies, antimicrobials
Research Interests:
Alkaloids, binding studies,
macrocycles, coupling
reactions, cancer prodrugs
Research Interests:
Green asymmetric synthesis
of pharmaceuticals;
Adrenaline derivatives and
cancer therapeutics
Research Interests:
Green asymmetric synthesis
of pharmaceuticals;
Melphalan derivatives and
ionic liquids
Brian Deegan
Post Graduate student
Dan Canning
Post Graduate student
Haibo Xie
Post Graduate Fellow

35. Brid Quilty directs research in the Microbial Ecology
Laboratory in the School of Biotechnology. The research
focuses on the biological treatment of waste streams, water
quality and antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics and novel
chemicals. Linkage with NICB facilitates in particular
research collaboration with the Microarray and
Bioinformatics and Cell Characterisation Laboratories.
Greg Foley’s work focuses on downstream processing of
biological products from fermentation broths. His group is
particularly interested in the role of microbial cell
morphology on the performance of membrane separation
units and in using artifical neural networks to model the
dynamics of highly complex microfiltration systems.'
Rosaleen Devery’s research group is centered on examining
the roles of diverse lipid classes on the life and death of cells.
It is particularily interested in examining how natural lipids of
dietary and/or microbial origins modulate membrane lipid
composition and functionality of cytotoxic drug efflux pumps
and signalling proteins in cancer cells. As a member of NICB
she has access to a suite of core facilities including a cell
culture bank and analytical instrumentation for analysis of
drug levels in drug resistant cancer cell lines.
NICB research in the School of Biotechnology
Research Interests:
the synthesis of
nitrogen heterocycles
ranging from 4 to 8
membered ring systems
and the applications of
NMR spectroscopy
Paraic James
Lecturer
Research Interests:
Synthesis of
biologically active
compounds, natural
product chemistry,
Mass Spectrometry
Peter Kenny
Lecturer
Research Interests:
Development of stilbene
analogues as potential
anticancer agents and
novel peptides for protease
inhibition studies.
Brian Moran
Post Graduate Student
Research Interests:
synthesis of ferrocenyl
benzoyl peptide esters and
their biological activity versus
H1299 lung cancer cells. Also
the synthesis of ferrocenoyl
peptide based self assembled
monolayers for the detection
of anions in aqueous media.
Alan Corry
Post Graduate Student

36. Murphy, Lisa
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Tither, Raymond
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Jenkins, Nigel
Principal Investigator, National Institute for Bioprocessing
Research and Training.
Associate member of NICB
Keywords:
Animal cell biotechnology, therapeutic proteins, post-translational modifications,
aggregation, glycosylation, protein damage, cell culture, antibodies, media design,
high-throughput screens.
Abstract
Currently, mammalian cells are the dominant production system for monoclonal
antibodies and other therapeutic proteins because they can perform complex post-
translational modifications that are often required for efficient secretion, drug efficacy
and stability. These protein modifications include variable glycosylation, mis-folding
and aggregation, oxidation of methionine, deamidation of asparagine, and proteolysis.
Such modifications not only pose challenges for accurate and consistent
bioprocessing, but also may have consequences for the patient in that incorrect
modifications and aggregation can lead to an immune response to the therapeutic
protein.
Prof. Jenkins’ is developing high-throughput assays for these protein modifications
that can be used in many areas of protein manufacturing such as cell and media
selection, bioreactor operation, protein purification, viral clearance, and product
formulation. We are also developing protocols and reagents that will minimize
damage to protein therapeutics and improve their efficacy and stability.
Jenkins, N. (2007) Modifications of Therapeutic Proteins: Challenges & Prospects.
Cytotechnology 53, 121-125.
National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and
Training (NIBRT) at the NICB

37. The main focus of the NICB research at NUIM is understanding the factors
contributing to the virulence of the pulmonary pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. We
have succeeded in identify a number of the genes controlling the biosynthesis of
gliotoxin which is crucial to the success of the pathogen in colonising the lung. Our
strategy has been to identify and delete selected genes to gain an insight into how each
gene controls the formation of this toxin. In addition we have examined the way this
fungus interacts with the host's immune response and facilitates growth. We have also
investigated the ability of selected fungi to develop drug resistance following antifungal
therapy and characterised the molecular mechanisms allowing this phenomenon. In
parallel, we have an active research programme directed at developing novel metal-
based antifungal drugs. Our research has highlighted the ability of silver based drugs to
inhibit the growth of many bacterial and fungal pathogens by generating free radicals.
We are now investigating strategies to deliver these metal based drugs for the treatment
of bacterial infections of skin and mucosal surfaces.
NICB Researchat NUI Maynooth.
Kevin Kavanagh, Department of Biology, NICB, NUI
Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
Research Interests
Anti-microbial, Aspergillus, Candida, Drug discovery, host-
pathogen interactions, Innate immunology, Metal-based
drugs, Proteomics, virulence,
Sean Doyle, Department of Biology, NICB, NUI Maynooth,
Co. Kildare.
Research Interests
Biology, diagnosis and molecular genetics of the human
pathogenic fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus - a major cause of
infection in immunocompromised individuals.

38. In Ireland increased numbers of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) is attributed to
increased bacterial and fungal resistance to conventional drugs, coupled with a decline in
hygiene standards. In 2004, over 8,000 HAIs were reported, of which 75% were due to
MRSA. Fungal infections are also increasing, and while Candida based infections are less
frequent than bacterial infections, they are the fourth most common HAI leading to death in
immuncompromised patients.
NICB research activity at ITT Dublin involves multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of
anti-microbial peptides, synthetic peptidomimetics of anti-microbial peptides, synthesis and
evaluation of metal-based anti-microbial agents, and studies on bacterial host interactions
using CF and Burkholderia cepacia complex as a model disease. Separately, research on
synthesis and evaluation of novel anti-cancer agents is also ongoing. These various studies
are carried out in collaboration with research groups in NICB, NUIM and the AMNCH.
Amongst the key research questions being addressed by NICB-ITT Dublin researchers are:
· What is the mechanism by which bacteria interact with host cells and tissues?
· How does the body’s defence system react to the bacteria?
· When bacteria grow as biofilms, how does this affect their antibiotic susceptibility?
· Can bacteria derived anti-microbial peptides be used as lead compounds for new natural
and synthetic antibiotics?
The Principal Investigators involved in NICB-ITT Dublin research are:
For ITT Dublin: - Dr. Siobhán McClean; Dr. Máire Callaghan; Mr John Behan, Dr Mary
Costello, Dr Emma Caraher; Dr. Denise Egan, Dr. Bernie Creaven, and Dr. Maureen Walsh;
For the AMNCH:- Dr. Philip Murphy
NICB Research at the ITT Dublin Group
Ken Carroll
Centre Manager at the Centre
of Applied Science for Health,
Research Interests:
Anti-microbial peptides
Purification of peptides
Mary Costello
Lecturer, Dept Science
Research Interests:
Neutraceuticals,
Antimicrobial peptides,
Probiotic cultures, Lactic
acid bacteria, Gut flora,
Vitamin K
Research Interests:
Host-pathogen interactions,
in particular, opportunistic
cystic fibrosis pathogens at
lung epithelia; mechanisms
of pathogenesis; bacterial
adhesion, invasion and
translocation
Siobhan McClean
Lecturer, Dept Science
Research Interests:
Microbial Host
Interactions with focus on
cystic fibrosis pathogens,
innate immune response,
biofilm formation and
pathogenesis
Maire Callaghan
Lecturer, Dept Science

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FRONT COVER IMAGE
ESD3 cells differentiated to express Nestin (green).
Eadaion McKiernan and Finbarr O’Sullivan