2010
Phd in Physiology
Dr Evelan Flanagan received her Phd in Physiology at the cermoney which took place in Aula Maxima in December 2010
Recent PhD graduates
Dr. Evelyn Flanagan
Dr. Evelyn Flanagan successfully defended her PhD thesis on 5th November 2010 and graduated at the Christmas 2010 conferring. Her thesis, entitled ‘Cytokine Regulation of Kidney Function in Pathophysiological States’ was concerned with the role of the inflammatory cytokine TGB-b in contributing to the deterioration in kidney function that occurred in rodent models of chronic renal failure. The research also explored the potential of siRNA to downregulate TGF-b as a potential prophylactic/therapeutic tool for the management of chronic renal disease. Supervisor: Prof. Edward Johns. Examiners: Dr. John Haylor from the Academic Nephrology Unit, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK and Dr. John Mackrill, Dept. of Physiology, UCC.
Mr. Ciaran Lee
Mr. Ciaran Lee successfully defended his PhD thesis on 22nd June 2011 and intends to graduate in September 2011. His thesis, entitled ‘Cystic fibrosis gene repair: Development of Zinc finger nucleases for homology directed repair of the cftr gene’ investigated the use of a novel strategy for repair of disease causing mutations in the cftr gene. This approach has potential for use in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and of other diseases that have underlying genetic causes. Supervisors: Drs. Patrick Harrison and Martina Scallan Examiners: Prof. Charles Coutelle, Emeritus Professor of Gene Therapy at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London and Dr. Paul O’Toole Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Microbiology, UCC.
Ms. Maria Buckley
Ms. Maria Buckley underwent her viva voce on her PhD thesis on 27th June 2011 and aims to graduate in September 2011. The thesis, entitled ‘Neural control of the kidney in heart hypertrophy’ was concerned with how cardiac hypertrophy was associated with derangements in the reflex regulation of renal sympathetic nerve activity and renal nerve dependent excretory responses. The knowledge has significance not only in relation to the deficits that may arise in a pre-heart failure state but also raises the question of how regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis may alter during extreme exercise training where cardiac hypertrophy may develop.
Supervisor : Prof. Edward Johns. Examiners: Dr. Alan Noble, Dept. of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Southampton, UK and Dr. Vincent Healy, Dept. of Physiology, UCC.