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Staff Profiles

Dr Enda O'Connell

BSc, Ph.D

Contact Details

Senior Technical Officer
National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES)
Screening Core
Biosciences, Corrib Village, Dangan
National University of Ireland, Galway
Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland

T: 091 495435
E: enda.oconnell@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Enda joined the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science in 2005 from the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science and Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research at University College Dublin. He holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology from UCD, where he studied the regulation of virulence gene expression in the intracellular equine pathogen Rhodococcus equi.

In his role as Senior Technical Officer, Enda provides training and support for researchers in Functional Genomics and Molecular Biology techniques, to examine gene expression and regulation. These include Microarray and Real Time PCR technology, RNA Isolation and QC, Experimental Design and Microarray Data Analysis using the GeneSpring GX data analysis package.

Enda also provides support for the recently established NCBES High Throughput Screening facility, where Drug Discovery and Characterisation, Cellular, Enzymatic and Binding Assays, as well as Sample Analysis may be performed. Enda's responsibilities include, Assay Design, Development and Validation, Operation of the Robotic Equipment and Primary Screening.

Enda also directs the ReelLIFE SCIENCE outreach project (www.reellifescience.com), which is a schools' science video competition supported by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover programme and the School of Natural Sciences Cell Explorers outreach programme.

Research Interests

Gene Expression Profiling by Microarray and qPCR analysis.

Drug Discovery, Repurposing and Characterisation by High Throughput Screening.

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Isolation and synthesis of pygmanilines, phenylurea derivatives from the Northeastern Atlantic lichen Lichina pygmaea'
Mahajan, N,Chadda, R,Calabro, K,Solanki, H,O'Connell, E,Murphy, PV,Thomas, OP (2017) 'Isolation and synthesis of pygmanilines, phenylurea derivatives from the Northeastern Atlantic lichen Lichina pygmaea'. Tetrahedron Letters, 58 :1237-1239 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Sensitivity Profiles of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines to an 80 Kinase Inhibitor Panel'
Burke, AJ,Ali, H,O'Connell, E,Sullivan, FJ,Glynn, SA (2016) 'Sensitivity Profiles of Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines to an 80 Kinase Inhibitor Panel'. Anticancer Research, 36 :633-641 [Details]
(2016) 'Effects of combined progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol treatment on the transcriptome of cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells'
Chandran, S,Cairns, MT,O'Brien, M,O'Connell, E,Mashayekhi, K,Smith, TJ (2016) 'Effects of combined progesterone and 17 beta-estradiol treatment on the transcriptome of cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells'. Physiological Genomics, 48 :50-61 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'A high through-put screen for small molecules modulating MCM2 phosphorylation identifies Ryuvidine as an inducer of the DNA damage response'
FitzGerald J, Murillo LS, O'Brien G, O'Connell E, O'Connor A, Wu K, Wang GN, Rainey MD, Natoni A, Healy S, O'Dwyer M, Santocanale C (2014) 'A high through-put screen for small molecules modulating MCM2 phosphorylation identifies Ryuvidine as an inducer of the DNA damage response'. Plos One, 9 (6) [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Inhibition of protein synthesis and JNK activation are not required for cell death induced by anisomycin and anisomycin analogues'
Monaghan D, O'Connell E, Cruickshank FL, O'Sullivan B, Giles FJ, Hulme AN, Fearnhead HO (2014) 'Inhibition of protein synthesis and JNK activation are not required for cell death induced by anisomycin and anisomycin analogues'. Biochem, 443 (2):761-767 [DOI] [Details]
(2014) 'Post-traumatic Immunosuppression is Reversed by Anti-Coagulated Salvaged Blood Transfusion; Deductions from studying Immune Status after Knee Arthroplasty'
Islam, Nahidul, Whitehouse, Michael, Mehendale, Sanchi, Hall, Michael, Tierney, Joanna, O'Connell, Enda, Blom, Ashley, Bannister, Gordon, Ceredig, Rhodri, Hinde, John, Bradley, Benjamin (2014) 'Post-traumatic Immunosuppression is Reversed by Anti-Coagulated Salvaged Blood Transfusion; Deductions from studying Immune Status after Knee Arthroplasty'. Clinical And Experimental Immunology, 2 (177):509-520 [Details]
(2014) 'Co-acting gene networks predict TRAIL responsiveness of tumour cells with high accuracy'
O'Reilly, P,Ortutay, C,Gernon, G,O'Connell, E,Seoighe, C,Boyce, S,Serrano, L,Szegezdi, E (2014) 'Co-acting gene networks predict TRAIL responsiveness of tumour cells with high accuracy'. BMC Genomics, 15 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'The novel toluidine sulphonamide EL102 shows pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo activity against prostate cancer and circumvents MDR1 resistance'
Toner, AP;McLaughlin, F;Giles, FJ;Sullivan, FJ;O'Connell, E;Carleton, LA;Breen, L;Dunne, G;Gorman, AM;Lewis, JD;Glynn, SA (2013) 'The novel toluidine sulphonamide EL102 shows pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo activity against prostate cancer and circumvents MDR1 resistance'. British Journal Of Cancer, 109 :2131-2141 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'A Role for MRP8 in in stent restenosis in diabetes'
Stocca, A,O'Toole, D,Hynes, N,Hynes, SO,Mashayekhi, K,McGinley, L,O'Connell, E,Coleman, C,Sultan, S,Duffy, A,Tunev, S,O'Brien, T (2012) 'A Role for MRP8 in in stent restenosis in diabetes'. Atherosclerosis, 221 :325-332 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'A comparison of the efficacy of transplantation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and unrestricted somatic stem cells on outcome after acute myocardial infarction'
Flynn AW, Chen X, O'Connell E, O'Brien T (2012) 'A comparison of the efficacy of transplantation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and unrestricted somatic stem cells on outcome after acute myocardial infarction'. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 3 (5) [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Regulation of the DNA damage response and gene expression by the Dot1L histone methyltransferase and the 53Bp1 tumour suppressor'
FitzGerald J, Moureau S, Drogaris P, O'Connell E, Abshiru N, Verreault A, Thibault P, Grenon M, Lowndes NF. (2011) 'Regulation of the DNA damage response and gene expression by the Dot1L histone methyltransferase and the 53Bp1 tumour suppressor'. Plos One, 6 (2) [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'The vapA co-expressed virulence plasmid gene vcgB (orf10) of the intracellular actinomycete Rhodococcus equi'
Miranda-Casoluengo R, Miranda-Casoluengo AA, O'Connell EP, Fahey RJ, Boland CA, Vázquez-Boland JA, Meijer WG (2011) 'The vapA co-expressed virulence plasmid gene vcgB (orf10) of the intracellular actinomycete Rhodococcus equi'. Microbiology, 157 (Pt 8):2357-2368 [DOI] [Details]
(2010) 'Gene expression analysis of the microvascular compartment in multiple sclerosis using laser microdissected blood vessels'
Cunnea, P,McMahon, J,O'Connell, E,Mashayekhi, K,Fitzgerald, U,McQuaid, S (2010) 'Gene expression analysis of the microvascular compartment in multiple sclerosis using laser microdissected blood vessels'. Acta Neuropathologica, 119 :601-615 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'Human coronary artery smooth muscle cell response to a novel PLA textile/fibrin gel composite scaffold'
Gundy S, Manning G, O'Connell E, Ellä V, Harwoko MS, Rochev Y, Smith T, Barron V (2008) 'Human coronary artery smooth muscle cell response to a novel PLA textile/fibrin gel composite scaffold'. Acta Biomaterialia, 4 (6):1734-1744 [DOI] [Details]
(2008) 'Differential mRNA stability of the vapAICD operon of the facultative intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi'
Byrne GA, Boland CA, O'Connell EP, Meijer WG (2008) 'Differential mRNA stability of the vapAICD operon of the facultative intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi'. Fems Microbiology Letters, 280 (1):89-94 [DOI] [Details]
(2005) 'The iron-regulated iupABC operon is required for saprophytic growth of the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi at low iron concentrations'
Miranda-Casoluengo R, Duffy PS, O'Connell EP, Graham BJ, Mangan MW, Prescott JF, Meijer WG (2005) 'The iron-regulated iupABC operon is required for saprophytic growth of the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi at low iron concentrations'. Journal Of Bacteriology, 187 (10):3438-3444 [DOI] [Details]
(2004) 'The LysR-type transcriptional regulator VirR is required for expression of the virulence gene vapA of Rhodococcus equi ATCC 33701'
Russell DA, Byrne GA, O'Connell EP, Boland CA, Meijer WG (2004) 'The LysR-type transcriptional regulator VirR is required for expression of the virulence gene vapA of Rhodococcus equi ATCC 33701'. Journal Of Bacteriology, 186 (17):5576-5584 [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2012) 'Evaluating the potential of quantum dots for in vitro biological studies: effects on gene expression using microarray analysis'
Prasad BR, O'Connell E, Smith TJ, Gérard VA, Gun'ko YK, Rochev Y (2012) 'Evaluating the potential of quantum dots for in vitro biological studies: effects on gene expression using microarray analysis' In: Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine: Methods and Protocols. Clifton, N.J: Methods in Molecular Biology. [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2014) Irish Association for Cancer Research
Cuffe, S; O’Connell, E; Morrison, C (2014) Inducing Centrosome Amplification to Radiosensitise Prostate Cancer Cells Irish Association for Cancer Research [Details]
(2014) Irish Association for Cancer Research
O'Reilly, P; O'Connell, E; Gernon, G; Szegezdi, E. (2014) Panel of 25 co-acting genes identified as a powerful predictor of TRAIL sensitivity Irish Association for Cancer Research [Details]
(2014) Irish Association for Cancer Research
Toner, AP; Giles, FJ; Carleton, LA; O’Connell, E; Harte, E; Breen, L; Dunne. G; Clynes, M; Lewis, JD; Gorman, AM; Sullivan, FJ; Glynn, SA. (2014) Characterisation of a new class of prostate cancer chemotherapeutics Irish Association for Cancer Research [Details]
(2014) Irish Association for Cancer Research
Ali, H; Burke, A; O’Connell, E; Giles, FJ; Sullivan, F; Glynn, S. (2014) Novel Kinase Inhibitors as Drug Targets in Prostate Cancer Irish Association for Cancer Research [Details]
(2014) Irish Association for Cancer Research
Fitzgerald, J; Murillo, L; O’Brien, G; O’Connell, E; O’Connor, A; Wu, K; Wang, GN; Rainey, MD; Natoni, A; Healy, S; O’Dwyer, M; Santocanale, C (2014) A high through put screen identifies Ryuvidine as a modulator of Cdc7 dependent phosphorylation of MCM2 and an inducer of the DNA damage response Irish Association for Cancer Research [Details]
(2013) British Association of Urological Surgeons AGM
Toner, AP; McLaughlin, F; Giles, FJ; Sullivan, FJ; O’Connell, E; Carleton, LA; Breen, L; Gorman , AM; Lewis, JD and Glynn, SA. (2013) Introducing Novel Toluidine Sulphonamide EL102: A Potential Chemotherapeutic In Prostate Cancer British Association of Urological Surgeons AGM [Details]
(2013) American Society for Cell Biology
Sandra Cuffe, Enda O'Connell, Ciaran Morrison (2013) Centrosome amplification as a strategy for radio-sensitisation of prostate cancer American Society for Cell Biology New Orleans, USA, , 14-DEC-13 - 18-DEC-13 [Details]
(2013) Irish Association for Cancer Research
Cuffe, S; Gaboriau, D; O’Connell, E; Morrison, C (2013) Centrosome amplification as a strategy for radiosensitization of prostate cancer Irish Association for Cancer Research [Details]
(2013) Academic Screening Workshop
Toner, AP; Burke, A; Giles, FJ; Harte, E; Carleton, LA; O’Connell, E; Lewis, JD; Glynn, SA. (2013) Preclicincal analysis of EL102, a novel compound proposed for the treatment of prostate cancer Academic Screening Workshop Baltimore, MD, USA, [Details]
(2013) Irish Association for Cancer Research
Murillo, L; Natoni, A; O’Connell, E; Fitzgerald, J; O’Dwyer, M; Santocanale, C (2013) Development of a High-Throughput Screening assay for the identification of compounds affecting Cdc7 dependent MCM helicase phosphorylation Irish Association for Cancer Research [Details]
(2012) Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Annual Meeting
Burke, AJ; O'Connell, E; Miranda, KM; Giles, FJ; Sullivan, F; Glynn, SA (2012) Nitric Oxide and its effects on cellular proliferation and phenotype in prostate cancer Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Annual Meeting NUI Galway, Ireland, [Details]
(2011) Irish Association for Cancer Research
Monaghan, D; O’Connell, E; Fearnhead, HO. (2011) Repurposing the antifungal ciclopirox olamine for treatment of triple negative multi-drug resistant breast cancer Irish Association for Cancer Research Cork, [Details]
(2011) European Lab Automation Congress
Monaghan, D; Griffin, R; Regan, A; O’Connell, E; Fearnhead, H (2011) Repurposing Drugs For The Treatment of Multi-Drug Resistant Breast Cancer European Lab Automation Congress Hamburg, Germany, [Details]
(2011) American College of Cardiology
Flynn, A; Chen, XZ; O'Connell, E; Barry, F; O'Brien, T. (2011) The Pre-Conditioning of Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells Alters Their Genotype, but Does Not Enhance Their Ability to Repair Cardiac Damage American College of Cardiology , pp.209-209 [Details]
(2010) Irish Cardiac Society AGM
Flynn, A,Chen, X,O'Connell, E,Duffy, A,Shaw, G,O'Loughlin, A,Dennedy, C,McHale, C,MacNeill, B,Nash, P,Crowley, J,Daly, K,Barry, F,O'Brien, T (2010) Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells Improve Cardiac Function Post-Myocardial Infarction With and Without Pre-Conditioning. Authors Irish Cardiac Society AGM , pp.401-402 [Details]
(2010) Irish Thoracic Society
Sharma, K; Talbot, A; Saleem, I; O'Connell, E; Rutherford, R; Gilmartin, JJ; O'Regan, A. (2010) Specific epithelial gene expression profile in acute sarcoidosis Irish Thoracic Society Cork, Ireland, , pp.492-492 [Details]
(2010) Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS-EU)
McCullagh K; Hughes O; Cooney R; O'Connell E; Mashayekhi K; Eglon M; O' Brien T. (2010) Gene Profile Analysis of NOS Transduced Human Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS-EU) [Details]
(2009) Society of Gynecological Investigation 56th Annual Meeting
Chandran, S; Mashayekhi, K; O'Connell, E; O'Brien, M; Smith, T. (2009) Estrogen Induced Differential Expression of Genes in Human Uterine Smooth Muscle Cells - A Global Analysis Society of Gynecological Investigation 56th Annual Meeting Glasgow, UK, , 17-MAR-09 - 21-MAR-09 , pp.112-113 [Details]
(2004) Society for General Microbiology 155th Meeting
Byrne, GA; Russell, DA; O'Connell, EP; Meijer, WG. (2004) Transcriptional organisation and regulation of the vapA locus of the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi Society for General Microbiology 155th Meeting Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, [Details]
(2004) Society for General Microbiology - Irish Branch
Russell, DA; Byrne, GA; O'Connell, EP; Boland, CA; Meijer, WG. (2004) The LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator VirR is Required for Expression of the Virulence Gene vapA of Rhodococcus equi ATCC 33701 Society for General Microbiology - Irish Branch NUI Galway, Ireland, [Details]
(2002) Rhodococcus equi and Equine Rhodococcal Pneumonia Workshop
Duffy, P; O’Connell, E.; Meijer, W. (2002) Using Gene expression profiling to analyse the virulence of Rhodococcus equi Rhodococcus equi and Equine Rhodococcal Pneumonia Workshop Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA, [Details]

Technical Publication

  Year Publication
(2017) The reliability of assay-ready plates for cell-based screening enabled by the Echo® 550 Liquid Handler.
Gul, S,Wolf, M, O'Connell, E,Fearnhead, H (2017) The reliability of assay-ready plates for cell-based screening enabled by the Echo® 550 Liquid Handler. Technical Publication [DOI] [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2015 ALIVE Presidential Award for Volunteering NUI Galway
2014 Scientific Outreach Award Biochemical Society
2014 ALIVE Presidential Award for Volunteering NUI Galway
2013 EXPLORE Innovation Initiative Award NUI Galway Student's Union
2012 "I'm a Scientist...get me out of here!" zone winner "I'm a Scientist...get me out of here!" outreach programme
2008 Award in Team Leading Institute of Leadership and Management
2003 Open Postgraduate Scholarship Award University College Dublin
2000 Research Scholarship Enterprise Ireland

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach ReelLIFE SCIENCE Schools Video Competition Director 01-MAY-13 / 31-DEC-16
Outreach "I’m a Scientist, Get me out of Here", Ireland - Health Zone Winner 2012 12-NOV-12 / 23-NOV-12

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Galway Science and Technology Forum Committee Member 01-JAN-15 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
NUI Galway (NCBES/REMEDI/NBCRI) Microarray Technologist 05-SEP-05 / 18-MAR-08
NUI Galway (NCBES) Senior Technical Officer (Functional Genomics and High Throughput Screening) 18-MAR-08 /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
1996 Garbally College Ballinasloe Leaving Certificate Various
2000 University College Dublin BSc Industrial Microbiology
2009 University College Dublin PhD Regulation of Virulence Gene Expression of the Intracellular Pathogen Rhodococcus equi.

Teaching Interests

Enda is the Molecular Biology practical director for the MSc Biomedical Science programme http://ncbes.nuigalway.ie/msc-biomedical-science.aspx and MSc Biomedical Science via Distance Learning programme  http://ncbes.nuigalway.ie/msc-biomedical-science-via-distance-learning.aspx.