'Sharing Resources During Lean Times: How Hibernators and their Gut Symbionts Work Together During Winter Fasting'

Abundant fat stores and metabolic plasticity enable mammalian hibernators to cease feeding during seasons when food is scarce and low temperatures increase energy demands. However, prolonged fasting markedly alters the gut environment with implications for the hibernator hosts, their microbiotas, and the symbiotic relationship between the two. This presentation will use hibernation to explore tasks that still need doing when guts are “on holiday”, away from their typical day jobs processing and absorbing food. We’ll touch on the retention of key epithelial functions despite extensive mucosal atrophy, maintenance of the intestinal barrier, the remodeled intestinal immune system, how the food-free environment reshapes the microbiota and how some microbes collaborate with their hibernating hosts to recycle urea nitrogen, promoting tissue protein synthesis in the absence of dietary nitrogen intake. 

Biography: Hannah Carey is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.  Her PhD was conferred by the University of California, Davis based on research that explored feeding and nutritional ecology of marmots, a high alpine hibernating mammal.  She followed up with postdoctoral work in intestinal transport physiology at the medical schools of the University of Nevada-Reno and Ohio State University. Her primary research program at UW-Madison has explored adaptations of the gastrointestinal tract and its microbiome to seasonal changes in physiology and nutrition in hibernating ground squirrels, and their potential applications to biomedicine.  Dr. Carey is a Past President of the American Physiological Society and of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).

'The growing understanding of genomics and the rapid availability of data makes genomic sequencing a vital tool for disease surveillance'

The growing understanding of genomics and the rapid availability of data makes genomic sequencing a vital tool for disease surveillance. Timely and in-depth pathogen characterisation supports public health interventions, allowing for targeted and effective control of disease outbreaks. Genomic sequences can also help with the design and quality control of diagnostic assays, drugs, and vaccines by monitoring changes in the virus genome caused by evolutionary dynamics that may affect efficacy. In an outbreak setting, the rapid availability of sequencing data can help to inform epidemiological linkages between cases, identify causative agents of disease or infection, or even identify if an outbreak is over or just beginning. While sequencing can be challenging, improvements in technology over the past 10 years now mean it is possible to carry the lab with you into an outbreak, and start sequencing under sometimes extreme conditions. This talk will draw on experiences from the field to demonstrate how sequencing and diagnostics bridge the gap between basic research and public health interventions, while discussing the pitfalls and challenges of these new technologies as they are introduced into emergency or complex situations. 

Biography: Dr Luke Meredith is a laboratory consultant working with the World Health Organization in the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (WHO/EMRO). The role entails developing, implementing and supporting regional genomic surveillance programmes for high-threat pathogens across the region. His PhD was awarded by Griffith University in Australia, focusing on HIV-1 virology, before spending time as a post-doctoral researcher in the University of Birmingham, working on basic virology of viral hepatitis. His focus switched from basic virology to public health and emergency responses in 2015, working as part of the West African Ebola Outbreak response in Sierra Leone. He then joined the University of Cambridge in 2015, taking a role as part of the ARTICnetwork, helping to bring sequencing to the heart of outbreak responses. He received a research fellowship as part of the inaugural Borysciewicz Biomedical Research Fellowship cohort at the University of Cambridge from 2017-2020, focusing on the development, implementation and commercialisation of portable diagnostics and sequencing platforms for mobile laboratories supporting outbreak responses. During this time, he worked in a variety of roles focused on public health and emergency responses across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, before serving as Laboratory Director for Amazon Diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-22. He then returned to public health and emergency responses as part of the World Health Organization in 2022.

'Following the Science and Personal Passions for an Engaging and Rewarding Career in BioPharma'

Drug development is a long and arduous process; for every great discovery made in the lab, very few make it into phase 1 (first in human) clinical trials. Of those drug candidates that enter phase 1 clinical trials, 90% of them fail either during phase 1-3 clinical trials or do not show sufficient benefit/risk to obtain regulatory approval to market the drug. However, when these drugs do make it, the impact can be life altering, especially in diseases where there are no other options, or the existing treatments are not enough. After a medicine enters the market, knowledge about that medication does not end there. Instead, it’s just the start of an ongoing process, often lead by Medical Affairs, to continue to generate data and educate the clinical community on the safe and appropriate use of the medicines. Given the plethora of human diseases with significant unmet needs and the countless innovative treatments being developed, how do you decide where to focus and why? In this talk, I will give my perspective how I followed the science from leveraging asthma biologics to treat other allergic disorders, to leveraging innovative hemoglobin oxygen affinity modulators to correct the red blood cell sickling in Sickle Cell Disease. In addition, I’ll discuss how my personal passions of scientific story telling with complex data, and health equity and fairness have shaped my career pathway. 

Biography: Dr Noelle Griffin is the Head of Global Medical Affairs for Sickle Cell Disease at Pfizer. She joined Pfizer in 2022 following Pfizer’s acquisition of the San Francisco Bay Area Biotech, Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT). Prior to GBT, she spent several years at large Pharma companies including Genentech/Roche and Novartis.  Noelle is a double graduate from UCD, having earned her BSc (1st Hons) Pharmacology. After a short stint at the RCSI, she returned to UCD and the Conway Institute to complete her PhD in Medicine under the supervision of Professor Des Fitzgerald. She moved to the US in 2006 to initially pursue her post-doc in San Diego but found her way into the pharmaceutical industry where she has spent the last 12+years in roles of increasing responsibility across multiple therapeutic areas. Her work in the pharma industry has focused on developing and executing medical strategies to ensure the safe and appropriate use of medicines. 

Invited Lectures

Dr Liam Faller, Netherlands Cancer Institute

'Not just a gene machine: the ribosome as a regulator of antigen presentation'

Recent years have brought a renewed focus on the ribosome. It is now recognized that there is variability in the forms and function of the ribosome, and this can play a significant role in cellular phenotypes. In this seminar, I will describe how HLA Class I antigen processing and presentation (the process that enables CD8+ T cell immunosurveillance) is regulated by a population of specialized ribosomes. This population is stimulated by cytokines that upregulate APP components, and its loss reduces T cell recognition of tumor cells. Mechanistically, we show that these ribosomes exhibit enhanced translation of HLA Class I molecules and accessory APP components. Finally, analysis of patient data reveals that the this ribosomal population positively correlates with CD8+ T cell infiltration in many cancer types, a trend not seen for other ribosomal proteins. In all, we demonstrate that a specialized ribosome population enhances antigen presentation, something that may be exploited by cancer cells to escape immunosurveillance.

Liam studied for his BSc at NUIG, and graduated in 2003. He followed this with a PhD under the supervision of Prof. William Gallagher at the UCD Conway Institute in Dublin, where his project involved the study of DNA methylation in melanoma cells. He continued his focus on cancer in his Post Doctoral studies with Prof. Owen Sansom at the CRUK Beatson Institute in Glasgow. During this time he began to work on mTOR signalling, particularly focusing on mRNA translation. In 2017 he became a Group Leader at the NKI, where his lab focuses on “non-canonical” forms and functions of the ribosome.

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Dr Carsten Scholz, University Hospital Greifswald

'Cellular oxygen sensing – old ways and new routes'

Oxygen depletion (hypoxia) is a frequently encountered condition in both physiology and disease. Metazoans have evolved several cellular mechanisms to sense decreases in local oxygen availability and to mount adaptive responses to survive. The best characterised cellular oxygen sensing occurs via protein-4-hydroxylases 1-3 (PHD1-3) and factor inhibiting HIF (FIH). These four enzymes regulate α subunits of the dimeric transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) in an oxygen-dependent manner. Pharmacologic HIF hydroxylase inhibitors are an effective treatment of renal anaemia and may also be beneficial for the treatment of other hypoxia-associated diseases, such as chronic inflammation. Nonetheless, the question remains whether other mechanisms exist for the cellular adaptation to hypoxia, and, over the last years, additional cellular oxygen sensing mechanisms as well as oxygen sensors have been proposed. We recently suggested that FIH can form oxygen-dependent stable (likely covalent) protein oligomers (oxomers) with substrate proteins, representing a signalling mechanism for chronic changes in local oxygen supply. Thus, our knowledge about how cells sense and respond to hypoxia is still greatly expanding, increasing our understanding of oxygen (patho)physiology.

Carsten studied for his BSc at the University of Lubeck in Germany and graduated in 2006. During the summer of 2006, he spend two months in the group of Prof. Cormac Taylor at the UCD Conway Institute in Dublin as part of an internship. After this first brief experience at the UCD Conway Institute, Carsten studied for his MSc at the University of Lubeck in Germany and graduated in 2009. Immediately afterwards, he began a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Cormac Taylor at the UCD Conway Institute, where his project involved the study of the regulation of pro-inflammatory signalling by hypoxia and cellular oxygen sensors. He continued his Post Doctoral studies at UCD Systems Biology Ireland under the supervision of Prof. Cormac Taylor, focussing on the regulation of cellular energy metabolism by hypoxia and cellular oxygen sensors. In 2014, Carsten became a Junior Group Leader at the Institute of Physiology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, where his lab focussed on “non-canonical” oxygen-dependent signalling and where he expanded his research focus towards the relevance and regulation of deubiquitinating enzymes. In 2022, he became the director of the Institute of Physiology at University Medicine Greifswald, Germany, where his own research group focusses on novel oxygen-dependent sensing and signalling mechanisms, pharmaceutical targeting of hypoxia-associated diseases as well as on the (patho)physiological relevance of deubiquitinating enzymes.

 

'In Conversation' 

UCD Conway Institute: The Next 20 Years

Claire O'Connell, science journalist will be joined by a panel of guests who will share their memories of the Institute, their thoughts on the future of biomedical research and what the next 20 years might hold.

Panelists:

Prof. Philip Nolan, Director General, Science Foundation Ireland
Prof. Helen Roche, UCD VP Research, Innovation & Impact
Dr Noelle Griffin, Vice-President & Head of Global Medical Affairs, Pfizer
Dr Sarah McLoughlin, PPI Coordinator, Cancer Trials Ireland
Prof. Donal Brennan, UCD Professor of Gynaecological Oncology & Mater Misericordiae University Hospital  
Mr Michael O’Sullivan, Director of Operations, UCD Conway (2000-2021)   

Time	Venue	Session Details
10am	Conway Lecture Theatre	WELCOME & OPENING ADDRESS
		Professor Helen Roche, VPRII
10.05am	Conway Lecture Theatre	PLENARY LECTURE 1
		Professor Hannah Carey University of Wisconsin-Madison 'Sharing Resources During Lean Times: How Hibernators and their Gut Symbionts Work Together During Winter Fasting'.
11am	Conway Foyer	Refreshments
11.30am	Conway Lecture Theatre	INVITED LECTURES Chair:  Dr Liam Faller, Netherlands Cancer Institute 'Not just a gene machine: the ribosome as a regulator of antigen presentation'. Dr Carsten Scholz, Univ. Hosp. Greifswald 'Cellular oxygen sensing – old ways and new routes'
12.30pm	Conway Foyer	Lunch
2.00pm	Charles Foyer /Kevin Barry Gallery TBC	POSTER REVIEW SESSIONS
	2.15pm - 3.15pm	Session 1 (prime numbers)
	3.30pm - 4.30pm	Session 2 (even numbers)
4.00pm	Conway Lecture Theatre	PLENARY LECTURE 2 Dr Luke Meredith World Health Organisation 'The growing understanding of genomics and the rapid availability of data makes genomic sequencing a vital tool for disease surveillance'
5.00pm		Close Day 1

Time	Venue	Session Details
10.00am	O’Reilly Hall Main Stage	PLENARY LECTURE 3 Dr Noelle Griffin, Vice President, Head Global Medical Affairs, Sickle Cell Disease, Pfizer 'Following the Science and Personal Passions for an Engaging and Rewarding Career in BioPharma'
11.00am	O’Reilly Hall Conservatory	Refreshments & Trade Exhibition
11.30am	O’Reilly Hall Main Stage	FESTIVAL MEDAL COMPETITION
12.30pm	O’Reilly Hall Conservatory	Lunch & Trade Exhibition
2pm	O’Reilly Hall Main Stage	'IN CONVERSATION' Claire O'Connell, science journalist will be joined by: Prof. Philip Nolan, Director General, Science Foundation Ireland Prof. Helen Roche, UCD VP Research, Innovation & Impact Dr Noelle Griffin, VP & Head of Global Medical Affairs, Pfizer Dr Sarah McLoughlin, PPI Coordinator, Cancer Trials Ireland Prof. Donal Brennan, UCD Professor of Gynaecological Oncology & Mater Misericordiae University Hospital   Michael O’Sullivan, Director of Operations, UCD Conway (2000-2021)
3.00pm	O’Reilly Hall Conservatory	Refreshments & Trade Exhibition
3.30pm	O’Reilly Hall Main Stage	ALUMNI CAREER ROUNDTABLES Hints & tips for successful career journeys
5.30pm	O’Reilly Hall Conservatory	AWARDS CEREMONY 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Abstract Calls: 2023 UCD Conway Festival of Research & Innovation

*Update: Thank you to all submitting authors. The abstract call is now closed. We will be in touch about the next steps to prepare for the event and look forward to hearing about your research in the poster exhibitions. 

Please find below the details and templates for two separate abstract calls for the 2023 UCD Conway Festival of Research & Innovation, which will take place on Thursday, 19 October in UCD Conway Institute and Friday, 20 October in O'Reilly Hall, UCD.

The format of the competitions has been changed. In consultation with supervisors, researchers should select which competition they are eligible to apply to.

[a] UCD Conway Poster Competition

The Festival committee now invite Conway MSc, PhD and postdoctoral researchers to submit abstracts for presentation at the 2023 UCD Conway Festival general poster session on Thursday, 19 October.

All submitting authors will give a 5 minute outline of research work including mention of any innovative potential to a 2-person panel composed of senior postdoctoral researchers and/or Conway Fellows who will select posters for commendation and prizes on the day.

Submit abstracts to conway.festival@ucd.ie with '2023 Festival Poster Competition' in the subject line. Authors will receive a reference number that will be their poster board number on the day.

Abstract template is available to download here: FRI23_UCD Conway Festival Poster Competition_ Abstract_Template
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 28 July 2023

[b] UCD Conway Festival Gold Medal Competition **New Format**

The Festival committee invite Conway PhD and postdoctoral researchers to submit abstracts for consideration where the submitting author:

-  is a named first author on a publication in the last 12 months (provide citation)

OR

- is a named first author on a manuscript submitted / under review (provide evidence of submission date)

Shortlisted authors will give a 10 minute outline of this research including mention of any innovative potential to a judging panel on Friday, 20 October in O’Reilly Hall. The 2023 Conway Festival Medal sponsored by Cruinn Diagnostics will be awarded for the best presentation.

Submit abstracts to conway.festival@ucd.ie with '2023 Festival Gold Medal' in the subject line.
Abstract template is available to download here: FRI23_UCD Conway Festival Gold Medal_ Abstract_Template.
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 28 July 2023