to view the DCU Life Sciences Guide

A Journey of DiscoveryLIFE SCIENCE EXPERTISEResearch & Developmentin partnership with Dublin City Universitytel: + 353 1 700 7777www.dcu.ie/inventInvent,Dublin City University,Collins Avenue,Dublin 9

LIFE SCIENCE EXPERTISEEnhance yourR&D Capabilityby partnering withDublin City University

ContentsIntroduction 01Featured Research in Therapeutic Areas 07Specialist Facilities & Equipment 13Featured Research in Enabling Technologies 18Contact Details 24

As Ireland’s University ofEnterprise, DCU invitesyou to partner with us andbenefit from world classexpertise and state-of-theartfacilities.Diversifyand strengthen your research capacity inpartnershipwith DCU.In order to build and maintain competitiveadvantage, pharmaceutical and biotechnologycompanies are moving toward a model ofexternal engagement; leveraging externalresources and capability to enhance theirin-house research and product developmentefforts. Life science companies can benefitsignificantly by engaging in mitigated-risk,collaborative research with Universities andthrough the out-sourcing of work across theproduct development pipeline toacademic groups.DCU’s expertise can be leveraged to meet yourtechnical needs from early stage technologydevelopment, through proof of conceptvalidation, clinical evaluation to marketlaunch. You can access expertise in disciplinesranging from biotechnology, health & humanperformance and nursing to mathematical,chemical and physical sciences, as well asthe resources of four National health-relatedresearch centres.You can also access DCU’s specialist facilitiesand equipment. Examples include the NationalBio-photonics and Imaging Platform, whichhas a suite of advanced microscopy andspectroscopy instruments, the new DCU–GMPFacility, which is the first of its kind in Ireland andwill be used for large-scale isolation ofbio-therapeutics, the BDI PolymerMicrofabrication Suite and the IDA-sponsoredNational Institute for Bioprocessing Research andTraining (NIBRT), which is a partnership betweenUCD, DCU, Sligo-IT and TCD and replicates themost modern industrial bioprocessing facility.The centre page of this brochure gives a highleveloverview of key facilities that are available.To help you identify specific academic groupsthat best complement your needs, thisdocument presents DCU’s research and expertiseacross discrete therapeutic areas, and across arange of enabling platform technologies.Therapeutic Areas:• Auto-immune & Inflammatory conditions• Cardiovascular Disease• Diabetes• Infectious Disease• Neurotherapeutics• OncologyEnabling Platform Technologies:• Platform Diagnostic technologies• Platform Bio-therapeutic Developmenttechnologies• Advanced analytics• Computer Modelling• Design and development of medical devices• Protein engineering• Nano-technology1 2

Prof. Alan HarveyVice President of Research and Innovation at DCUProf. Harvey has significant experience in the commercialdevelopment of novel therapeutics and strategic oversightof research, innovation and commercial activity across theUniversity.alan.harvey@invent.dcu.ie | 01 700 8070Accelerateyour Research & Development activity inpartnershipwith DCU.The Invent team provides a critical link between theUniversity and the marketplace and is made of up of highlyskilled technology transfer professionals with experience inIntellectual Property management and its commercialisationthrough technology transfer, licensing and the creation ofcampus companies.Richard StokesCEO Invent and Director of Innovation for DCURichard has significant experience in building and managinginnovative, technology based businesses and currentlyleads commercialisation, technology transfer and businessdevelopment at Invent DCU.richard.stokes@invent.dcu.ie | 01 700 7777Georgina Murphy PhDInvent’s Commercialisation Manager with responsibility forLifesciencesPlease contact Georgina for further information regardingDCU’s expertise in pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceuticaltherapeutics, medical devices and biomarker-based diagnostics.georgina.murphy@invent.dcu.ie | 01 700 8919Carolyn Hughes PhDInvent’s Commercialisation Manager with specific responsibilityfor Physical and Chemical sciencesPlease contact Carolyn for further information regarding DCU’sexpertise in the areas of sensors, smart materials, chemistry,analytical separation science, electronic and nano-materialsand plasma processing.carolyn.hughes@invent.dcu.ie | 01 700 7004Key academic staff are highlighted throughout thisdocument and their research priorities indicated.Should you wish to engage with a DCU researcheror research group, the commercialisation team atInvent DCU are happy to facilitate this. Invent DCUis the Innovation and Enterprise Centre based atDublin City University.There are many State-funded schemes to supportindustry-academic collaborations. Such initiativesrange from shared risk research consortia,exemplified by the SFI-co-funded BiomedicalDiagnostic Institute to bi-lateral, shorter-termdevelopment work and service provision, supportedby Enterprise Ireland Innovation partnership orInnovation Voucher schemes. We have extensiveexperience in leveraging such funding to pursue andprovide solutions for technical and clinicalunmet needs.Emma O’NeillIntellectual Property Manager for the Biomedical DiagnosticsInstitute (BDI)The BDI is an SFI funded research centre, focused ondevelopment of next generation biomedical diagnostics. Emmais the key point of contact for companies seeking collaborativeengagement with the BDI or to find out more about BDItechnologies that are available for licensing.emma.oneill@invent.dcu.ie | 01 700 77413 4

LIFE SCIENCE EXPERTISETherapeuticAreasResearch & Development5 6

Therapeutic AreasInfectious DiseaseDISEASE PATHOLOGY & NOVEL TARGET DISCOVERY• Discovery, analysis and roles of viral microRNAs (with particularinterest in herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV))• Assay development for nucleic acid detection• Altered proteo-glycome composition in response to viral infectionDr. Sandra O’NeillDr. Dermot Wallswww.dcu.ie/biotechnologyTHERAPEUTIC DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENT• Discovery and isolation of therapeutic antigens from helminthparasites• Discovery and testing of vaccines for the prevention of helminthparasitic infectionsNeurotherapeutic DevelopmentDISEASE PATHOLOGY & NOVEL TARGET DISCOVERY• Development of new generations of BOTOX engineered fortherapeutic application• Design of delivery vehicles for neurotherapeutics• Generation of viral vectors for toxin therapyProf. Oliver Dollywww.dcu.ie/icntTHERAPEUTIC DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENTFrom concept to the clinic.• Recombinant ‘recreation’ of the oligomeric subtypes of voltageactivatedK+ channels• Animal models of chronic and acute pain (including osteo-arthriticpain, neuropathic pain)• Automated high-throughput screening of therapeutic agentsOcular DiseasesTHERAPEUTIC DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENT• Development of techniques for stem cell therapy and tissueengineeringDr. Finbarr O’Sullivanwww.nicb.dcu.ie9 10

Therapeutic AreasOncologyDISEASE PATHOLOGY & NOVEL TARGET DISCOVERY• Disease Focus: Breast Cancer (including HER2 positive and triplenegative) Ocular Melanoma, Cutaneous Melanoma, MalignantMelanoma , Multiple Myeloma, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer• Investigation into the molecular determinants of resistance toendocrine-directed therapies• Investigation of kinases and signalling pathways in cancer• Mutation driven selection of malignant neoplasms• Label-free quantitation of cellular proteins from cancer modelsusing LC-MS• Identification of novel cancer invasion-associated targets• Investigation into Epstein-Barr virus and associated lymphomasDr. Sinead AherneDr. Norma O’DonovanDr. Kathleen O’ConnellDr. Paula MeleadyDr. Stephen Maddenwww.nicb.dcu.ieProf. John Crownwww.mtci.ieDr. Dermot Wallswww.dcu.ie/BiotechnologyNOVEL DIAGNOSTICS• Discovery and early stage validation of cancer biomarkers• Patented biomarker panels for diagnostic and prognosticapplications• Generation of monoclonal antibodies to cancer targetsTHERAPEUTIC DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENT• Novel targeted therapies for triple negative Breast Cancer responseand resistance to HER2 targeted therapies in Breast Cancer• Characterisation of cellular responses to anti-cancer agents• Quantitation of cancer drugs using LC-MS• Translational Cancer Pharmacology: correlation of drug actionswith toxicity/resistance• Elucidating the potential health benefits of combiningpolyunsaturated fatty acids with chemotherapy drugs fortreatment of drug-resistant cancer• Phase I /II clinical trials• BiosafetyProf. Martin ClynesDr. Paul DowlingDr. Anne-Marie Larkinwww.nicb.dcu.iewww.mtci.iewww.icorg.ieProf. John Crownwww.mtci.ieProf. Martin ClynesDr. Robert O’ConnorDr. Anne-Marie LarkinSandra RocheDr. Rosaleen Deverywww.nicb.dcu.iewww.icorg.ieENABLING TECHNOLOGIES• Bioinformatics• Proteomics• In vitro modelsDr. Stephen MaddenDr. Colin Clarkewww.nicb.dcu.ie11 12

Specialist Facilities & EquipmentExpand and strengthen your research capacitythrough strategic engagement with DCU.Target SelectionPre-ClinicalDevelopmentDesign &Developmentof TherapeuticsDesign &Optimisation ofMedical DevicesClinical TestingManufacturingProteomics• ABI 4800 Plus MALDITOF• Thermo LTQ Orbitrap XLAdvanced microscopy• Leica SP2 AOBSConfocal Microscope• Time-lapse Nikon EclipseTie fluorescent invertedmicroscope with a cooledPhotometrics Cool SnapHQ2 camera (controlledvia Metamorph software)• Flow cytometry includinghigh-throughput analysis(Guava EasyCyte Plusplatform)• BD FACSAria cell sorterBio-informatics• Date analysis routinesusing R and Bioconductorand the application ofmultivariate statisticsand machine learningapproaches such as:Animal Models• Pain> Osteo-Arthritis,> Rheumatoid Arthritis> Neuropathic Pain• Inflammatory Disease• Cardiovascular Disease• Diabetes• Automated highthroughputscreeningfor ion-channel activity(Q-patch technology)- dose-response andtoxicity studies• Advanced facilities forrapid screening andcharacterisation ofantibodies• Biocore 4000 - highquality, high content data,parallel analysis arrayformat system• Ultra-sensitivePharmaceuticalQuantification andPharmacokinetics(Agilent 1200 RapidResolution LC systemintegrated to a 6400Triple Quad Mass Specdetector).• PolymerMicrofabrication Suite• Ultrasonic medicaldevice technology• Casting• Prototyping of medicaldevices• Computer Aided Designof medical devices• Computational FluidDynamics• Non-contact TopographyCharacterisation• High velocity oxy-fuelcoating spraying (HVOF)and Thermal Spraycapabilities• Biosafety• Phase I/II clinical trials• GMP accreditedmanufacturing• Bioprocessing pilotplant, including on-linemonitoring and control ofbio-processes• Principal componentsanalysis• Partial least squares• Artificial neural networks• Support vector machinesSample Biobank(Oncology)13 14

LIFE SCIENCE EXPERTISEEnablingTechnologiesResearch & Development15 16

Enabling TechnologiesPlatform Diagnostic TechnologiesEnabling the discovery and designof Novel Lifescience products.ANTIBODY DEVELOPMENT• Development of antibody-based diagnostic devicesSENSOR TECHNOLOGIES• Transduction Science• Signal Amplification Science• Wearable sensors for health monitoringMICROFLUIDICS• Integrated lab-on-a chip technologies• Design and fabrication of microfluidic platforms for analytical andbio-analytical platformsProf. Richard O’KennedyDr. Stephen HeartyDr. Paul Leonardwww.bdi.ieProf. Colette McDonaghProf. Robert Forsterwww.bdi.ieProf. Dermot Diamondwww.dcu.ie/chemistryProf. Jens Ducreewww.bdi.iePlatform Bio-Therapeutic Development TechnologiesANTIBODY TECHNOLOGIES• Immuno-analysis of therapeutics, drugs of abuse, cancer-relatedmarkers, infectious diseases and disease markers• High-throughput cell screeningBIO-THERAPEUTIC PRODUCTION• Analysis of gene and protein expression profiles in CHO cell lines• Identification of biomarkers indicative of improved cellperformance in the bioreactor• On-line monitoring and control of bioprocesses (incl. in-situproduct recovery)• Use of bacterial lectins to characterise glycoforms of biotherapeuticsENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGIES• Micro- and nano- encapsulation for targeted drug delivery• Degradable polymers (polyesters, polypeptides) for drug delivery• Membrane dynamics in liposomes• MagnetoliposomesSYNTHETIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY• Synthesis and structural characterisation of biologically activecompounds and anion sensing agents• Design of metal-based therapeutics• Design of low-mass, metallo-enzyme mimics for superoxidedismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)• Synthesis and structure of organometallic hetero-aromatics asnovel therapeutics (K+ channel blockers)Prof. Richard O’KennedyDr. Stephen Heartywww.bdi.ieDr. Paul Leonardwww.dcu.ie/~leonarp/Dr. Niall BarronProf. Martin ClynesDr. Padraig Doolanwww.nicb.dcu.ieProf. Ian Marrisonwww.nibrt.ieDr. Paul ClarkeDr. Michael O’Connellwww.dcu.ie/BiotechnologyProf. Ian Marrisonwww.nibrt.ieDr. Dermot BroughamDr. Andreas Heisewww.dcu.ie/chemistryDr. Andrew KellettDr. Peter KennyDr. Paraic JamesDr. John Gallagherwww.dcu.ie/chemistry17 18

Enabling TechnologiesAdvanced AnalyticsCell and Molecular AnalysisBIO-ANALYSISCYTOMETRY• Design and characterisation of monolithic and particulatestationary phases for bio-analysis• Multi-dimensional chromatography• Bio-affinity sample preparation and/or chromatographic separations• Capillary electrophoresis (CE)• Capillary electrochromatography (CEC)• Microchip electrophoresisBIO-INFORMATICS & BIOSTATISTICS• Evolutionary analyses of mammalian genomes and disease• Machine learning• Multivariate statistics• Correspondence analyses• Co-inertia analysis• Microarray analysis• Transcriptomics analysis• Mathematical modelling of dissolution environments (DE models)• Probabilistic dissolution models (direct & inv MC models, hpc)• Therapeutic implant integration model (hpc, Bayesian & DEmodels)MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY• Medicinal chemistry via asymmetric catalysis• Chemical crystallography• Crystal engineering in solid state design• Macrocycles, alkaloids• Green chemistrySENSOR TECHNOLOGIESDr. Blanaid WhiteDr. Damian ConnollyDr. Mercedes VazquezDr. Fengjun Shangwww.separationscience.ieDr. Mary O’Connellwww.dcu.ie/BiotechnologyDr. Colin ClarkeDr. Stephen MaddenDr. Padraig Doolanwww.nicb.dcu.ieDr. Heather RuskinDr. Martin Cranehttp://sci-sym.dcu.ie/Dr. Nick GathergoodDr Christopher O’BrienDr. Paraic JamesDr. John Gallagherwww.dcu.ie/chemistry• Circulating biomarkers• Cell fate and function (cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation)• Platelet activation• Cellular characterisation and enumeration• Cell isolation• Rare cell characterisation (eg. circulating progenitor cells)TRANSCRIPTOMICS AND EPIGENETICS• Epigenetic profiling• Focused pathway analysis and bioinformatics• microRNA profilingComputer ModellingCOMPLEX SYSTEMS MODELLING AND ANALYSIS• Artificial Intelligence• Computational models of spatiotemporal processes in physical,biological and related systems• Statistical modelling applications in the natural and medicalsciences including;> Bacteria - antibiotic interaction> Multiple infection network and immune modelling> Drug dissolution modelling> Theoretical analysis of drug delivery and drug delivery systems> Computational epigenetics: modelling and analysisDr. Ronan Murphywww.preventivemedicine.ieDr. Ronan Murphywww.preventivemedicine.ieProf. Heather RuskinDr. Martin CraneRay Walshewww.computing.dcu.iewww.sci-sym.dcu.ie• Stimuli-responsive polymers and gels• Photo-controlled uptake and release of molecular guests• Polymer (artificial muscle) actuatorsProf. Dermot Diamondwww.dcu.ie/chemistryHuman PerformanceSEPARATION & DETECTION TECHNIQUESHEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE• Application of analytical separation and detection techniquesincluding HPLC, CE, MS and biochemistry (FACS, Comet)• Investigating the role of metals (e.g. iron and copper) in initiationand propagation of oxidative stress• Development of chromatographic stationary phases using novelmonolithic polymers to develop tunable stationary phasesSPECTROSCOPYDr. Blanaid Whitewww.separationscience.iewww.dcu.ie/chemistry• Eccentric Exercise• Optimising sport technique• Human locomotion• Health promotion through innovation• Athletes’ injury and medical management• The regulation of energy expenditure• Effects of acute and chronic exercise on vascular health inpatients with:Dr Catherine WoodsDr Davide SustaDr Donal O’GormanProf. Niall MoynaDr. Kieran Moranwww4.dcu.ie/shhp• NMR spectroscopy applied to materials science• Electrochemistry• Interfacial science• NMR spectroscopy for study of dynamic processes in the solid andliquid state• Nanoparticulate contrast agents for medical imagingDr. Dermot BroughamProf. Robert Forsterwww.dcu.ie/chemistry> coronary artery disease> peripheral arterial disease (PAD)> heart failure (HF)> metabolic syndrome19 20

Enabling TechnologiesMedical DevicesProtein EngineeringMATERIALSANTIBODIES• Semi-solid material processing• Composite materials processing• Laser material processing• Material property characterisation• Advanced processes to improve functionality of biomaterials• Polymer and hydrogel processing• Thermal spraying surface engineering• Powder processing• Degradable polymers (polyesters, polypeptides) for hydrogels anddrug delivery• Bioconjugated porous polymers as scaffolds and for bioseparation• Bioabsorbable implants• Medical applications of magnesium alloysMODELLING AND DESIGN• Casting• High shear rate and temperature rheology• Non-contact topography characterisation• Rapid manufacturing• Finite element analysis• Design manufacturing ProcessesDr. Dermot BrabazonDr. Lisa LooneyDr. Garrett McGuinnesswww.medeng.dcu.ieDr. Finbarr O’Sullivanwww.dcu.ie/biotechnologywww.nicb.dcu.ieDr. Andreas Heisewww.dcu.ie/chemistryDr. Bryan Mac Donaldwww.medeng.dcu.ieDr. Dermot BrabazonDr. Garrett McGuinnessDr. Catriona LallyDr. Bryan Mac DonaldDr. Joseph Stokeswww.medeng.dcu.ie• Antibody production and antibody engineering• Investigation of protein-protein interactions• High-throughput screeningGLYCOPROTEINS• Purification and analysis• Cloning and mutagenesis of bioligandsLECTINS• Cloning and expression of novel lectins• Development and recombinant production of carbohydrate bindingproteins• Integration of CBPs into novel glycoanalytical platforms• Immobilisation of lectins on novel stationary phases to enhance thespeed, resolution and effectiveness of the glycoprotein separations• Protein-protein interactions• Bacterial lectinsENZYMES• Enhancing enzymes’ fitness-for-purpose by chemical modificationand by mutational protein engineering and protein stabilisation• Exploiting horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a multipurpose proteintrypsin and other proteases “in reverse” for enzymatic peptidesynthesisProf. Richard O’KennedyDr. Stephen HeartyDr. Paul Leonardwww.dcu.ie/biotechnologywww.bdi.ieDr. Brendan O’Connorwww.dcu.ie/BiotechnologyDr. Brendan O’ConnorDr. Paul ClarkeDr. Michael O’ConnellRoisin Thompsonwww.dcu.ie/BiotechnologyDr. Ciaran FaganDr. Michael O’Connellwww.dcu.ie/Biotechnology• Computation modelling of the in-service behaviour of medicaldevices• Finite element modelling• Soft tissue testing and constitutive modelling• Design and development of orthopaedic medical devices• Ultrasonic medical device technologyMICROFLUIDICS• Integrated lab-on-a-chip technologies• Comprehensive polymer microfabrication facility for rapid and costefficientprototyping• Integration of particulate/monolithic stationary phases intomicrofluidic platformsProf. Jens Ducreewww.bdi.ieDr. Mercedes Vazquezwww.separationscience.ieNanotechnologyNANOPARTICLE TECHNOLOGY & NANO-MEDICINE• Nanoparticulate contrast agents for medical imaging transport inconducting materials• Development of synthetic polymers and polymer graftednanoparticles• Bio-conjugation of polymers and nanoparticles• In vitro tests of biomaterials including surfaces and nanoparticlesDr. Dermot BroughamDr. Andreas Heisewww.dcu.ie/chemistry21 22

To find out more about how you could benefitfrom DCU’s expertise and facilities, pleasecontact a member of the Invent team at:tel: + 353 1 700 7777www.dcu.ie/inventInvent, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin 9Invent are proudly supported by:DCU would like to acknowledge the following:4.5"