Our Regenerative Neuroimmunology research group are interested in the role of the adaptive immune system and in particular T cells, in both myelin damage and regeneration in the central nervous system. Our goal is to make new biological discoveries to help develop new treatments for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating conditions.
Our expertise:
T cell biology
In vitro cultures of immune cells and glial cells
Ex vivo CNS slice cultures
In vivo models of demyelination and remyelination
MS tissue neuropathology (Dame Ingrid Allen Tissue Bank)
Our main research goal is to investigate the pathological processes occurring during multiple sclerosis (MS) with the aim of developing novel approaches to treating progressive MS. We have completed many post-mortem MS tissue, pre-clinical and ex vivo studies, investigating endoplasmic reticulum stress signalling and modelling various aspects of disease pathology. Our current major focus is the progressive phase of MS.
Our expertise:
Post-mortem MS tissue analysis
Brain cell lines
Murine mix glial cell culture models
Human iPSC-derived cell lines
Ex vivo brain slice culture models
Biomarker biology
Dr. Jill McMahon
Key words:
Myelin / ER stress /
Neuropathology / MS pathology
My research interests are focused on neuroscience and neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and mild-traumatic brain injury. My main aim is to elucidate how endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response influence glial cell differentiation and death, and therefore MS progression and demyelination.
Expertise & techniques:
Neurohistological techniques
Analysis of neuropathological changes in human and animal CNS tissue
Cell culture of mixed glial cells and murine and human cell lines
In vivo models of mild traumatic brain injury
Gene and cell therapy using viral and non-viral vectors
Biomarker biology
- MS tissue neuropathology (Dame Ingrid Allen Tissue Bank)
Jennifer is a Lecturer in Immunology and Biotherapeutics in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Dr Dowling is also Principal Investigator and leads the Brain inflammation Group Ireland (BIGie). Jennifer’s lab is working to understand macrophage biology and particularly NeuroImmune interactions in the CNS and their influence on neurological outcomes of injury and disease. Dr Dowling is a council member of Neuroscience Ireland.
Our research interests are focused on NeuroImmune interactions and their influence on neurological outcomes of injury and disease. We have a particular interest in multiple sclerosis (MS) and Epilepsy. Our main aim in our work in MS is to elucidate how targeting microRNAs and the inflammatory status of glial cells can influence MS progression and demyelination. Our ultimate goal is to target these pathways in order to promote the remyelination and repair of neurons in MS.
Our expertise:
In vitro glial cell culture
Ex vivo brain slice culture
Ex vivo models of de- and remyelination
microRNAs and macrophage polarisation
After graduating in Corporate Law from the University of Galway, in 2021, I worked briefly as a Business Analyst for Parva Consulting, before moving joining MS Ireland in 2022, as an Advocacy and Research Officer.
My experience as a board member and Vice Chair of the Neurology Alliance of Ireland is helping to view the challenges associated with supporting the MS community on the Ireland of Ireland, within the broader context of other neurological disorders.
Ciara O'Meara
I’m a Lecturer in General Nursing at the University of Galway, and have been living with MS for over 15 years. After graduating from University College Cork, with a degree in General Nursing at UCC, I completed an MSc in Health Sciences at the Unviersity of Galway.
The topic of my thesis was “Experiences of a Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis in their young adult sons/daughters: An interpretative phenomenological approach”. To the AIMS-RN network, I bring experience and an enthusiasm for research, having worked in 2020 & 2021 at the Clinical Research Facility at University Hospital Galway ,with the Neurovascular Studies Cluster. Also, at the 2024 meeting of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS, held in Copenhagen, I contributed to the ‘Patient Community Day’, specifically sharing the latest advances on MS Nursing Practices.