The GBM subgroup research can be stratified into three main pillars:

1. Development of novel preclinical radiomic pipelines for intracranial malignancies.

2. Development of clinically relevant, orthotopic models of intractable glioblastoma pathologies, including novel syngeneic, xenograft and Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) models:

This work aims to develop models which mimic clinically observed results and decipher mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies. Implementing these clinically faithful preclinical models of mesenchymal GBM, we aim to determine of patterns of response and resistance to a) immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting, and b) tumour microenvironment targeting agents such as Regorafenib.

3. Improvement of GBM patient stratification via characterisation of the GBM tumour microenvironment:

This work aims to tailor targeted therapy approaches (in particular immune checkpoint therapy) to GBM patients who might benefit most.

Team Members

PCM Group Glioblastoma Sub-group Leader

Research Fellow

Honorary Lecturer

I graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2011 with a B.A. Mod in Medicinal Chemistry. I  subsequently began my PhD in the Cancer Biology and Therapeutics lab at University College Dublin, funded under Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI). During this time my research focused on deciphering the signalling and epigenetic regulation of the neuropeptide CART (The cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript) in hormone driven breast and endometrial cancer.

In 2016 I joined Prof. Byrne's group to work as a post-doctoral researcher on an SFI/EI TIDA award, in collaboration with Utrecht University. The main goal of this work was to enhance bevacizumab efficacy in glioblastoma (GBM) through a novel, anti-invasive theranostic delivery system. This study successfully established a nanoparticle packaging system capable of delivering RNAi in an invasive orthotopic model of GBM.

From 2017-2022 my research has focused on the development of improved, clinically faithful preclinical GBM models with the overall aim to guide biomarker and pre-clinical drug development strategies for precision therapy. Funded by an RCSI Industry Seed Fund (2017-2018), in collaboration with Champions Oncology and the Beaumont Hospital brain tumour biobank, my work aimed to establish highly characterized, clinically relevant, orthotopic PDX models of intractable GBM (and lung cancer brain metastases (LCBM) pathologies). Since 2019 my work has focused on the establishment of contrast enhanced CT protocols and novel pre-clinical radiomic pipelines for the monitoring and interrogation of invasive orthotopic GBM models. Most recently (2021) I began a project which aims to understand whether a novel gene therapy approach may be utilised to prevent seizure generation and propagation in brain tumour related epilepsy.

Finally, in 2018 I became the glioblastoma sub-group leader. This role involves assisting in the management and oversight of all brain tumour related PCMG projects and research.

Post Doctoral Researcher
 

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Biological and Medical Sciences at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 2018. Following completion of my Undergraduate degree, I was involved in the RCSI StAR summer internship scheme where I worked on a project to investigate the improvement of drug delivery in Glioblastoma using nanotherapeutics.

Following on from the StAR internship, I was accepted onto the GLIOTRAIN PhD programme funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 766069. My research project is focused on ‘Identifying new tumour microenvironment (TME) contexts of vulnerability in glioblastoma.’ During this project, we studied multi-omic profiling datasets from >800 GBM patient samples. This analysis revealed novel TME classifiers which may support future precision immunotherapy approaches in intracranial malignancies.

During my PhD project, I have been fortunate to spend time on secondment at INSERM Paris, where we performed multiplex immunohistochemistry to modify and validate the MCP-counter method for application in GBM. Moreover, during a virtual secondment with the Jackson Laboratory (JAX), we have looked at the effect of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) on the GBM TME.

I completed my PhD in Feb 2023 and started a post-doctoral research position in the PCMG. This project, titled ‘Interrogation of novel Glioblastoma Subtypes towards an improved Precision Medicine Approach for Brain Tumour Patients’, will be building on from my PhD findings.

PhD Candidate

During my Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, obtained at Jordan University of Science and Technology in 2019, I developed an interest in cancer research motivating me in taking part in an in vivo Pharmacokinetic study in a murine model at the department of Pharmaceutical Technology.

Following on from my B.Sc., I was granted with the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship to study Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (MSc) at the University of Pecs, Graduating in 2022. During my studies I worked on a research project aiming to develop a 3D co-culture in vitro model for the rare lung cancer disease lymphangioleiomyomatosis. For this project, I applied multiple in vitro modelling techniques and validated these models using Biomolecular assays.

I was recently accepted onto the GLIORESOLVE PhD programme funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie DN initiative. During this research project, we will employ bioinformatics analysis and spatial proteomics to Identify novel TME subtype-specific treatments for GBM. In collaboration with BAYER AG, we aim to assess these novel treatments in clinically relevant pre-clinical models.

RCSI StAR MD scholar

I graduated with a degree in general nursing from Trinity College Dublin 2011. Following this I worked as a staff nurse and later a clinical nurse manager while completing a post graduate qualification in tissue viability and wound management.

I returned to full time study in 2015 and completed a medical degree in RCSI. After graduating in 2020 I completed my internship as an academic intern in the Mater, carrying out research into neurological development in children with ventriculomegaly between the National Maternity hospital and Temple Street.  

I completed by basic surgical training in Beaumont hospital and began working as a neurosurgery registrar in  December 2022. In July 2023 I started my MD through the RCSI StAR MD programme. During this time I will continue to work in neurosurgery in Temple street.

Lead Clinical Collaborator

Mr Kieron Sweeney is a consultant neurosurgeon at the National center for neurosurgery , Beaumont hospital and Temple street Childrens hospital. He is an honorary senior clinical lecturer at the Royal college of surgeons in Ireland. During his training, he received several medals and awards. He had fellowship training at Hopital Femme Mere Enfant, Lyon,France and the National Hospital for neurology and Neurosurgery, Queens Square,London. He has a special clinical and academic interest in epilepsy and tumours including modelling of seizure onset, tumours and advanced imaging techniques.