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Pat Lonergan grew up in Dublin in a family from a farming background and spent his childhood summers on a dairy farm in Tipperary. It was there that he discovered his love of agriculture and dairy farming that ultimately led him to a career decision to study Agricultural Sciences in, what was then, a 5-year degree programme in University College Dublin.
Motivated by the teaching and the world-renowned UCD Professor Ian Gordon, Pat Lonergan developed a lasting interest in the science of animal reproduction. He subsequently completed a master’s degree, followed by a PhD, both supervised by Professor Gordon, during which he gained extensive training in reproductive physiology and embryo technologies.
Professor Lonergan graduated with his PhD in 1992, conducting research in bovine in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). At the time, IVF in cattle was still relatively new and was just being rolled out into commercial practice. Under the guidance of Professor Ian Gordon, a pioneer in the field, Lonergan worked to successfully grow bovine embryos to a stage suitable for transfer and establishment of pregnancy. Notably, the first calf born through these techniques at UCD Lyons Farm in 1987 positioned Lonergan to begin his research career in a leading facility.
Following his PhD, he worked in Oslo and France. . He subsequently returned to UCD as a postdoctoral researcher from 1997 to 2001 and was then appointed as a College Lecturer, where he began teaching and supervising research. He is a prolific scientist and together with his collaborators and postgraduate students has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers . In recognition of this output, he was awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree on Published Work, a highly distinguished academic honour. Today, Pat is a Full Professor at the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, a position that reflects his contributions and achievements in the field.
Current Research Challenges
Professor Lonergan’s research focuses on animal reproduction, particularly cattle due to their economic importance. He is particularly interested in the application of so-called assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to animal breeding and to increasing the potential of genetically elite females to contribute more to breeding programmes. Traditionally, through artificial insemination (the original AI!), most genetic improvement was achieved by selecting the best males, such that a single elite bull could have tens of thousands of offspring in his lifetime (compared with approximately five calves on the cow side). Techniques such as multiple ovulation embryo transfer and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), where embryos from elite cows can be gestated in the uterus of a surrogate female, facilitate the production of many more offspring from such females than the maximum of one calf per year that would be possible using normal breeding methods. These techniques used in cattle IVF closely mirror those used in human reproductive medicine, and many of Pat’s students have gone on to successful careers in human IVF.
The main focus of Professor Lonergan’s laboratory is understanding pregnancy establishment in cattle, specifically why some pregnancies succeed while others fail. It is well established that most pregnancy losses occur very early, within the first three weeks, often before the cow ‘knows’ she is pregnant (or before we can measure any indicator of pregnancy). Using the IVF model, the laboratory at Lyons Farm can produce thousands of embryos each week, providing a powerful system to study embryo survival and the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms of embryo–maternal communication.
The agri-food sector is our largest and most important indigenous exporting sector and plays a critical role in the environmental, societal and economic sustainability of Ireland. The dairy and beef industries together represent a cornerstone of the Irish agri-food industry, accounting for approximately 61% of the total agricultural output. Reproductive efficiency is a major driver of profitability in most livestock production systems, particularly due to the short 12-week seasonal breeding season. Typically, farmers must align herd nutrition with grass growth to maximise profitability, placing pressure on cows to conceive within this limited window. Early embryonic losses have a direct financial impact, as cows that fail to establish pregnancy on time may be lost from the system. Understanding factors affecting pregnancy success is therefore critical for herd fertility and farm profitability.
The Researcher
Professor Pat Lonergan is widely recognised for his contributions to reproductive biology and animal science. In 2012, he was elected member of the Royal Irish Academy, the highest academic award in Ireland. In 2024, he received the Pioneer Award from the Association for Embryo Technology in Europe (AETE), one of the highest honours in the field, reserved for researchers whose work has had a profound and lasting impact on embryo technology and animal reproduction. The award acknowledges Lonergan’s decades-long contributions to understanding early embryo development, IVF, and pregnancy establishment in cattle, and his influence on both fundamental research and applied reproductive technologies worldwide.
Professor Lonergan maintains a broad international network of collaborators and is regularly invited to speak at major conferences. He has attended nearly every International Embryo Technology Society (IETS) conference since 1991 and served on the Board of Governors, including being elected President in 2009. He is affiliated with (opens in a new window)SSR, (opens in a new window)AETE, (opens in a new window)ADSA, (opens in a new window)ASAS, (opens in a new window)SBTE, and serves on journal editorial boards.
Professor Lonergan’s work receives funding from a variety of sources including Science Foundation Ireland, the Department of Agriculture Food and The Marine (DAFM), and the European Commission, including industry. As well as current grants from DAFM investigating the application of ARTs to dairy breeding, he is currently involved in three EU-funded Doctoral Networks, each with 10-15 PhD students spread across Europe and working on defined projects within a specific theme related to reproduction. His work addresses key challenges in the agricultural sector, contributing to One Health by linking animal, and human health, and promoting sustainability by improving reproductive efficiency in livestock. In UCD, he serves as chair of the Animal Research Ethics Committee and chair of the Academic Integrity Committee in the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.
Outside of his professional work, Pat is an avid birdwatcher, with a lifelong passion for bird identification. He travels extensively to observe bird migration, most recently returning from Mongolia to study the spring migration of Siberian species. He is married to Professor Trudee Fair, whom he met while they were both postgraduate students at UCD and together they have four children. The family enjoys outdoor life, surfing and watching rugby together.
Future Research Aspirations
Professor Lonergan aims to build on the incremental progress his group has made in understanding early embryo development and pregnancy establishment in cattle. He seeks to maintain the group as a global leader in reproductive biology, continuing to publish high-quality research and mentor students, particularly at early stages of their careers. He values the extensive network of students and collaborators he has supported worldwide and recognises the power of these connections to drive future scientific progress.
A key focus for the future is the advancement of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) to accelerate genetic improvement and enhance sustainability, productivity, efficiency, and One Health outcomes. Techniques such as IVF, MOET, sex sorting of sperm, and oocyte retrieval and IVF in prepubertal animals are being applied to reduce generation intervals and increase the number of elite offspring. Future innovations, including in-vitro gametogenesis, could further transform genetic selection by enabling selection entirely in vitro. Ethical considerations remain central, with procedures carefully managed to safeguard animal welfare and transparency maintained through visual documentation.
Through these approaches, Professor Lonergan aims to continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge in reproductive biology while ensuring practical applications of ART improve livestock systems worldwide. The new Dairy Calf Research Facility and upcoming UCD FBD Agricultural Science Centre will significantly strengthen research capacity in animal health, nutrition, and reproduction. These investments will directly benefit his work and advance scientific understanding in sustainable dairy and livestock systems
Related Links
List associated links to key work.
(opens in a new window)UCD Profile