Dr Orla O'Donovan obtained a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from NUI, Galway and continued on in the Biochemistry dept of NUIG to carry out her PhD research on, ‘The activating factor for peptidylglycine monooxygenase in bovine pituitary tissue’. On completion of her PhD she worked as a clinical biochemist in the Limerick Regional hospital where her work mainly focused on endocrinology. 

In 1998, Orla was appointed to a lectureship in Biochemistry in the Waterford Institute of Technology.  During her time at WIT she has been involved in the establishments of the Separation Science Research Group (SSRG), the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG), the Estuarine Research Group (ERG) and the Biomedical Research Cluster (BRC). 

Within the EIRC her research investigates metal sequesterisation by seaweeds and the mechanism this occurs chemically at the surface and intracellularly at a proteomic and genomic level.  Her research within the PMBRC is focused on the identification of the cytokines, adhesion molecules, microparticles and other inflammatory makers that are influenced by cancer, along with the development of novel pharmaceutical delivery systems/platforms for a variety of medical conditions. 

Her research activity in WIT has led to awards of over €5.5 million in research funding from competitive national, industrial, EU and international funding.  Her collaborations involve clinical, academic and industrial partners in Ireland and internationally.

Contact:  Dr Orla O’Donovan 
Email:     oodonovan@wit.ie

Last updated: Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009