The colorectal cancer subgroup research is focused on the development of clinically relevant, orthotopic models of metastatic colorectal cancer, utilising xenograft and Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) models.

Using these models, which replicate as close as possible the patient experience, we aim to investigate mechanisms of treatment response and resistance, and develop new treatment strategies. We also aim to validate new methods of patient stratification.

To achieve these aims we incorporate state of the art preclinical CT and bioluminescence imaging modalities

PCM Group Colorectal Cancer Sub-group leader

National Preclinical Imaging Centre Research Imaging Specialist

HONORARY LECTURER

I am an Honourary lecturer/ Research Imaging Specialist at the Royal College of Surgeons. I complete my PhD studies in 2008 in Biomedical Science and Engineering at The Conway Institute, University College Dublin (UCD) investigating the interaction of cancer cells and novel growth surfaces. In 2010, changed my research interest to cancer research. I accepted a position in Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (Northwell Health) in New York to complete a Post-doctoral Fellowship determining factors of communication between microglia and the progression and development of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). During this fellowship, I gained significant experience in in-vivo tumour modelling.

Building on this experience, I joined Prof. Byrne’s group at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland as a Marie Curie Fellow in 2013. Since then I have been involved in multiple projects (AngioPredict, BreastPredict, EdiReX and Colossus) with Prof Byrne specifically developing novel orthotopic PDX models for patient tumour stratification, and novel treatment combinations. In 2019 my role expanded and I became the sub-group lead in our lab responsible for projects in colorectal cancer.

In 2020, I further accepted a role as imaging specialist for the RCSI node of the Science foundation Ireland funded National Preclinical Imaging Platform (NPIC) responsible for the development and implementation of micro-CT and Optical imaging modalities in RCSI.

Senior technician

In 2002 I graduated from St Mary’s University College (Twickenham, UK) with a BSc (Hons) degree in Health & Human Science, and Sport Science. Following this I spent 5 years working at GE Healthcare as a lab technician. As part of the pre-clinical R&D team I performed biodistribution studies and QC batch release testing for a number of radiopharmaceutical product. In 2010 I joined Prof Byrne’s group as part of the SFI Funded Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI) strategic research cluster. As part of this cluster I performed a number of pre-clinical studies investigating novel treatments for breast cancer. I also assisted in a number of studies as part of the FP7 funded AngioTox and AngioPREDICT projects. In 2015 I completed my MSc by research in Prof’s Byrne’s lab. Currently I am investigating the efficacy of novel treatments in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) using clinically relevant surgical orthotopic models of CRC.

Research Assistant

I completed my B.Sc. in Biopharmaceutical science at Dundalk institute of technology (DKIT) in 2020.  My first experience of research was my fourth year thesis; gene expression of protein kinase 2 (Chk2) in irradiated and non-irradiated human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK293). It was through this experience that I knew I would like to pursue a role in research. My first position upon leaving college was working in Enfer medical carrying out Covid- 19 PCR testing during the pandemic. It was a great experience working in a Highly regulated busy environment. In Oct 2022 I joined the PCM group as a research assistant. My role centres around the HEA funded RADCOL project. The aim of the project is the development and validation of a CT-based Radiomics signature for early detection of colorectal liver metastases and post treatment disease recurrence. This is a collaborative effort between RCSI, Queens university Belfast (QUB) and the National Preclinical Imaging Centre (NPIC).