I am currently a Senior Post-Doctoral researcher and as Associate Director in the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology at Dublin City University. Since 2006, I have been conducting a research project to establish corneal-limbal stem cell culture techniques for corneal epithelial replacement. This is in conjunction with collaborators in The Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital, Dublin and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). This technique received regulatory approval in January 2016 and was used on June 2016 in the clinic for the first time. Current research interests include:

• Identifying and deciphering the interactions of limbal - corneal stem cells with the surrounding environment. 
• Development of methods of culturing other cells of the cornea and their interactions with bio-materials.
• Investigating the role of miRNA in Fuchs dystrophy.
• The potential role of bacterial antigens in Ocular Rosacea.
• The interactions of a novel encapsulation of beta-islets to treat diabetes.
• The differentiation of iPS cells to beta-pancreatic lineage.
• The development of models to study intestinal interactions with metal complexes (in association with Alltech Ltd.). 

I am co-PI for the NICB in DCU of a H2020 consortium DRIVE. This consortium aims to improve pancreatic islet transplant therapy for diabetes mellitus by improving survival and engraftment of transplanted islets in the hostile liver environment with a novel hydrogel and encapsulation technology. I was also the lead scientist for the NICB in DCU of FP7 consortium, BacterioSafe, whose aim was to construct, test and develop a unique active wound dressing, which incorporates novel colorimetric sensor and active therapeutic processes for detecting and counteracting pathogenic bacteria in paediatric burn wounds. I am responsible for managing the cell characterisation facility in the NICB which has flow cytometry, tissue processing and high end microscopy capabilities such as confocal, time lapse and laser capture. This has led to collaborations on a range of different projects. My previous research has included the:

• Performing functional validation of targets identified as part of research improving biopharma production. 
• Investigation of the differentiation of lung epithelial cells by specific factors (Ph.D. Thesis).
• Multiple Drug Resistance (MDR) in cancer and mechanisms to inhibit those factors involved in such resistance.