Dr Eric Downer receives Neuroscience Ireland Early Career Investigator Award

27 Sep 2013

Picture: Dr Eric Downer receiving his award from Dr Richard Roche President Neuroscience Ireland

Dr. Eric Downer Lecturer and Principal Investigator Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, was presented with the prestigious Neuroscience Ireland Early Career Investigator Award at the 8th Neuroscience Ireland Conference which was held recently in UCC.

Dr. Downer was appointed to a Lectureship in Anatomy and Neuroscience in UCC (January 2013) and is currently involved in teaching anatomy and neuroscience modules for Dental, Science, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy students. His research interest is in neuroimmunology, with emphasis on the role of the innate immune system in neuroinflammatory conditions. He has a particular interest in the cannabinoid system, and its role in regulating neuroinflammation. His research in this field has made significant contributions to our understanding of cannabinoids as anti-inflammatory therapies, particularly in Multiple Sclerosis. He leads an active research group, and his research has been funded by the Irish Research Council for Science and Engineering and Technology (IRCSET), the Health Research Board (HRB) and the Translational Research Access Programme (TRAP). He acts as an expert reviewer for 13 journals, and acts as Editor for the British Journal of Pharmacology, Advances in Medicine, International Journal of Cell Biology and Neuroscience Journal. Dr. Downer has been honoured with the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Early Career Award (2009) and the Neuroscience Ireland Early Career Investigator Award (2013). Currently Eric is the secretary of the Cannabinoid Ireland research committee, and acts a council member for the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland (Biomedical Sciences section). (Photo B.Riedewald)