The overall goal of our research is to understand the molecular basis of the related topics of animal development and evolution. While this is basic research, the results aim to increase our understanding of human cell and molecular physiology, so that this knowledge can be applied to the physiology of disease, and ultimately to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. There are currently several inter-related strands to our research:

IGF-signaling in development and disease
The IGFs are thought to control cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and apoptosis. We recently used primary mouse myoblasts to show that this system regulates differentiation of skeletal muscle, one of the most abundant tissues in vertebrates. We are now examining the involvement of IGF signaling in the muscle degeneration that is a feature of neurological diseases such as motor neuron disease. (Collaborators: Dr Orla Hardiman; Prof. Phil Jakeman).

Because of the complexity of the IGF-family, conventional gene knock-outs in mice are of limited value in determining the molecular basis of IGF-1 signaling during development. Therefore, we are using an alternative model vertebrate, the zebrafish Danio rerio, for such studies. The beauty of the zebrafish is that it allows the adoption of experimental embryology combined with genetic approaches. By inhibiting the function of the IGF-1receptor, we showed its importance in brain-, eye- and heart formation. (Collaborators: Dr Lucy Byrnes; Dr Maura Grealy)

Evolution of genomic imprinting
One of our approaches to this is to track the evolution of the structure and function of one imprinted gene, the CI-MPR, also known as the IGF2R in mammals. We have established the zebrafish as a model organism for this by determining the cDNA sequence, gene organization and expression pattern of the zebrafish receptor, and have identified its potential role in neural development. We are currently testing the ability of the zebrafish receptor to interact with IGF2 and are examining how this gene is regulated in zebrafish (Collaborators: Dr Lucy Byrnes; Dr Randy Jirtle; Prof Bass Hassan; Dr Oliver Zaccheo).

Although the evolution of genomic imprinting is a subject of much debate, the phenomenon has only been well documented in a limited number of mammalian orders (chiefly rodent, primates and artiodactyls). We are currently examining the occurrence of genomic imprinting in a novel order, the Carnivora. Using the canine M6P/IGF2R, we established the existence of genomic imprinting in the dog. We found some interesting differences between the imprinted canine IGF2R and its ortholog in mouse. We are pursuing this study and expanding the study to other candidate imprinted genes. The dog may be a unique model organism for analysis of imprinting in behavior/cancer/evolution of morphological diversity. This study is extremely timely because of recent advances in the genetics and genomics of dogs (Collaborators: Prof Sean Callanan; Dr Amanda McCann; Dr Susan Murphy; Dr Randy Jirtle).

Prof John J Callanan, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine

Dr Amanda McCann, UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science

Dr Orla Hardiman, Department of Neurology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Prof Phil Jakeman, School of Exercise Physiology, University of Limerick, Ireland.

Prof Bass Hassan, Weatherall Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.

Dr Susan K Murphy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

European Canine Consortium (LUPA project members). Scientific Co-ordinator: Anne-Sophie Lequarre, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium

Dr Randy L Jirtle, Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Module Convenor

CELB30010 Animal Development (2009-2010)

GENE40010 Epigenetics (2009-2010)

Lecturer/Tutor

CELB20010 Cell Biology

CELB20020 Perspectives in Cell Biology

BIOL10020 Cells, Genes and Microbes

Graduate students supervised

Ian Byrne Ph.D. (1998) Molecular characterization of the vitamin D receptor in a 1α,25(OH)2D3-resistant human breast cancer cell line and identification of a novel, hormone responsive, vitamin D receptor promoter.

Margaret A. Lawlor Ph.D. (1999) The role of the insulin-like growth factor receptor in embryonic development.

*Elena Ayaso, Ph.D. (2001) Characterization of the insulin-like growth factor I receptor and the cation-independent mannose 6-phopshate receptor in zebrafish. (In association with Dr Lucy Byrnes, NUI Galway)

Conor D. Galvin Ph.D. (2001) An autocrine role for IGF signaling in differentiation of mouse skeletal muscle myoblasts.

*Edward Eivers, Ph.D. (2004) The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor: Uncovering a role during embryonic development in Xenopus laevis and zebrafish (Danio rerio). (In association with Dr Lucy Byrnes, NUI Galway)

Linda Sullivan, Ph.D (2006) An analysis of genetic diversity in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.) off the Irish coast using microsatellite DNA markers.

Maria Doyle, Ph.D (2006) Alternate splicing of IGF1 gene: evolution and expression.

Olaya Astudillo-Fernandez, M Sc (Research) (2006) The zebrafish cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor. 

*Karena McCarthy, Ph.D (2007) The IGF signaling system in zebrafish development.

Des Brabazon, M Sc (Research) (2008) Imprinting analysis of the IGF2 and H19 genes.

Cathal MacConfhaola, Ph.D (2008) Regulation of translation of the IGF-1 receptor.

Evelyn B Camon, Ph.D (2008) Molecular and functional characterization of bovine interleukin-12: novel production of a IL-12 heterodimer as self-processing 2A polypeptide.

Fiona M O' Sullivan Ph.D (2008) Genomic imprinting in a novel mammalian order, the canine.

Matina Tsalavouta, Ph.D (2008) The zebrafish cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor.  

*Lori Hartnett, Ph.D (2009) Novel roles for insulin-like growth factor signalling in zebrafish cardiovascular development and identification of a role for Mad in Drosophila segmentation.

Jillian G Buchan, M Sc (Research) (2009) Intergenic transcriptioin and its relationship to canine IGF2R imprinting.

* Indicates students based in Biochemistry Dept, NUI Galway, co-supervised with Dr Lucy Byrnes

Recent post-doctoral fellows


Karena McCarthy, Ph.D (2008)

Shaun O'Boyle, PhD (2009-2010)