(1) Host-Microbe interactions in health and inflammatory disease
(2) Immunopathology in inflammatory disease and cancer
(3) Mechanisms underpinning cross-talk and synergism between inflammatory signalling pathways
(4) Specific focus on Interferon (IFN) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) signalling pathways
(5) Crosstalk between inflammatory and oncogenic signalling pathways
(6) Epigenetic mechanisms underpinning regulation of inflammatory, anti-viral and oncogenic gene expression
(7) Functional genomics analysis of inflammatory, cell survival and cell death pathways
(8) Discovery of cancer cell intrinsic tumour suppressor mechanisms underpinning immune-mediated suppression of cancer
My research interests are in the areas of Host-Microbe Interaction, Inflammation and Cancer Biology. My group is exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning the role of the immune system in host recognition of microbes, chronic inflammatory diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), type I diabetes and colon cancer. In terms of IBD and colon cancer, we are particularly interested in how the relative sensitivity and resistance of intestinal epithelial cells and colon cancer cells to immune-mediated apoptosis contributes to disease pathogenesis. The molecular mechanisms – signal transduction, transcriptional regulation and epigenetic - underpinning the regulation of gene expression in response to inflammatory stimuli in immune, non-immune cells and cancer cells and how this contributes to disease pathogenesis is the main focus of our research. Specifically, we have an interest in understanding how the synergistic interactions between IFN-gamma and other inflammatory stimuli such as LPS, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha both in terms of their overall effect on inflammatory gene expression and also cell fate decisions contribute to pathogenesis in diseases such as IBD, type I diabetes and other inflammatory conditions. It is well appreciated that in IBD and type I diabetes, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha) induce the death of epithelial cells thereby compromising the function of the gut and the pancreas respectively. Currently, in the context of collaborations with academic and pharmaceutical groups we are investigating the possible roles of microRNAs and epigenetic modifiers such as chromatin modifying enzymes – histone methyltransferases and histone demethylases - in regulating inflammatory gene expression and cell fate decisions in response to these and other stimuli. We use a combination of in vitro cell and molecular biology based approaches, functional genomics approaches, in vivo based animal models of inflammation, inflammation linked colon cancer and human biopsy tissue to investigate basic mechanisms of disease with a focus on inflammatory bowel disease. In addition we use these various systems for drug target identification, drug target validation studies and for pre-clinical profiling of novel drug candidates for efficacy in the setting of chronic intestinal inflammation. We also have ongoing active research projects in the areas of host microbe interactions with a particular interest in the interaction of host cells with gut commensal bacteria.
Biography
Dr. Ken Nally is a Lecturer in The School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and is a Principal Investigator and Group Leader at APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork (UCC). He has spent the last 15 years working in the area of Gut Inflammation discovery research primarily in the context of collaborations with multinational biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK), Regulus Therapeutics (USA), Smart Cells (USA) and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (USA). He is currently collaborating with AbbVie Inc. (USA) in the area of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). During the period (2006-2012), Dr. Nally directed and managed part of a successful 5 year research collaboration (approx. value €10 million) between APC Microbiome Ireland and GSK in area of IBD with a focus on early drug discovery research, inflammation, leukocyte trafficking, miRNA and epigenetic regulation of inflammatory gene expression. Dr. Nally was awarded an independent SFI Career Development Award grant (2014) to expand his research activities in these areas. His research group takes a functional genomics approach to discover the fundamental mechanisms underpinning cross-talk between inflammatory cytokine networks and their downstream effects on the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of inflammatory, anti-microbial and cell death gene expression. In 2015 Dr. Nally was awarded an SFI Spoke grant award (€7.5 million) to fund a five-year collaboration between the APC Microbiome Institute and AbbVie Inc. to discover new therapeutic targets for the next generation of biologics that could be used to treat patients with Crohn’s Disease (CD). Dr. Nally established the first Flow Cytometry Platform at APC/UCC and he is currently Group Leader of the Gut Inflammation and Host Microbe Dialogue Research Groups and Director of the Flow Cytometry Platform at APC/UCC.
Research Interests
Host-Microbe Interaction, Inflammation, and Cancer Biology
(1) Host-Microbe interactions in health and inflammatory disease
(2) Immunopathology in inflammatory disease and cancer
(3) Mechanisms underpinning cross-talk and synergism between inflammatory signalling pathways
(4) Specific focus on Interferon (IFN) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) signalling pathways
(5) Crosstalk between inflammatory and oncogenic signalling pathways
(6) Epigenetic mechanisms underpinning regulation of inflammatory, anti-viral and oncogenic gene expression
(7) Functional genomics analysis of inflammatory, cell survival and cell death pathways
(8) Discovery of cancer cell intrinsic tumour suppressor mechanisms underpinning immune-mediated suppression of cancer
My research interests are in the areas of Host-Microbe Interaction, Inflammation and Cancer Biology. My group is exploring the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning the role of the immune system in host recognition of microbes, chronic inflammatory diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), type I diabetes and colon cancer. In terms of IBD and colon cancer, we are particularly interested in how the relative sensitivity and resistance of intestinal epithelial cells and colon cancer cells to immune-mediated apoptosis contributes to disease pathogenesis. The molecular mechanisms – signal transduction, transcriptional regulation and epigenetic - underpinning the regulation of gene expression in response to inflammatory stimuli in immune, non-immune cells and cancer cells and how this contributes to disease pathogenesis is the main focus of our research. Specifically, we have an interest in understanding how the synergistic interactions between IFN-gamma and other inflammatory stimuli such as LPS, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha both in terms of their overall effect on inflammatory gene expression and also cell fate decisions contribute to pathogenesis in diseases such as IBD, type I diabetes and other inflammatory conditions. It is well appreciated that in IBD and type I diabetes, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha) induce the death of epithelial cells thereby compromising the function of the gut and the pancreas respectively. Currently, in the context of collaborations with academic and pharmaceutical groups we are investigating the possible roles of microRNAs and epigenetic modifiers such as chromatin modifying enzymes – histone methyltransferases and histone demethylases - in regulating inflammatory gene expression and cell fate decisions in response to these and other stimuli. We use a combination of in vitro cell and molecular biology based approaches, functional genomics approaches, in vivo based animal models of inflammation, inflammation linked colon cancer and human biopsy tissue to investigate basic mechanisms of disease with a focus on inflammatory bowel disease. In addition we use these various systems for drug target identification, drug target validation studies and for pre-clinical profiling of novel drug candidates for efficacy in the setting of chronic intestinal inflammation. We also have ongoing active research projects in the areas of host microbe interactions with a particular interest in the interaction of host cells with gut commensal bacteria.
Overall goals of my research activities are
(i) To identify and progress new pharmacological approaches for treatment of inflammation and inflammation triggered tissue damage
(ii) To identify novel molecular targets in cancer cells which would sensitise cancer cells to immune-mediated cell death
(iii) To identify mechanisms facilitating the conversion of endogenous TNF-alpha from a tumour promoter to a tumour suppressor in human cancer
Research Grants
| Project | Funding Body | Start Date | End Date | Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of the Molecular Pathways that mediate Cytokine induced Immunopahology of the Gut Epithelium. | Science Foundation of Ireland | 01-SEP-14 | 31-DEC-18 | €648,642.00 | |
| purchase of a VIAFLOW 384/96 Channel Pipetting System. | Miscellaneous | 01-OCT-13 | 30-SEP-14 | €12,000.00 | |
| SFI 12/RC/2273 Spoke 4A Host Microbe Dialogue | Science Foundation of Ireland | 01-JUN-13 | 30-SEP-19 | €892,307.00 | |
| Investigation of the expression and function of the Type 1 interferon Pathway in irritable bowel syndrome. | Health Research Board | 10-JUN-13 | 02-AUG-13 | €2,000.00 | |
| Evaluation of altered Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) expression as a possible biomarker of disease in Ulcerative Colitis. | Health Research Board | 13-JUN-11 | 05-AUG-11 | €2,000.00 | |
| [HRB PD/2003/14] {Nally Dr. K} N | Health Research Board | 01-OCT-03 | 30-SEP-06 | €182,946.00 |
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2014) | 'Disturbance of the gut microbiota in early-life selectively affects visceral pain in adulthood without impacting cognitive or anxiety-related behaviors in male rats' O'Mahony SM, Felice VD, Nally K, Savignac HM, Claesson MJ, Scully P, Woznicki J, Hyland NP, Shanahan F, Quigley EM, Marchesi JR, O'Toole PW, Dinan TG, Cryan JF (2014) 'Disturbance of the gut microbiota in early-life selectively affects visceral pain in adulthood without impacting cognitive or anxiety-related behaviors in male rats'. Neuroscience, 277C :885-901 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2013) | 'Bcl-3 deficiency protects against dextran-sodium sulphate-induced colitis in the mouse' O'Carroll C, Moloney G, Hurley G, Melgar S, Brint E, Nally K, Nibbs RJ, Shanahan F, Carmody RJ (2013) 'Bcl-3 deficiency protects against dextran-sodium sulphate-induced colitis in the mouse'. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 173 (2):332-342 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2013) | 'Identification of TLR10 as a Key Mediator of the Inflammatory Response to Listeria monocytogenes in Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Macrophages' Regan, T,Nally, K,Carmody, R,Houston, A,Shanahan, F,MacSharry, J,Brint, E (2013) 'Identification of TLR10 as a Key Mediator of the Inflammatory Response to Listeria monocytogenes in Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Macrophages'. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 191 :6084-6092 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2013) | 'TL1A/TNFSF15 directly induces proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF alpha, from CD3+CD161+T cells to exacerbate gut inflammation' Jin, S.,Chin, J.,Seeber, S.,Niewoehner, J.,Weiser, B.,Beaucamp, N.,Woods, J.,Murphy, C.,Fanning, A.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Kajekar, R.,Salas, A.,Planell, N.,Lozano, J.,Panes, J.,Parmar, H.,DeMartino, J.,Narula, S.,Thomas-Karyat, D. A. (2013) 'TL1A/TNFSF15 directly induces proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF alpha, from CD3+CD161+T cells to exacerbate gut inflammation'. Mucosal immunology, 6 (55):886-899 [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Shining a Light on Intestinal Traffic' Murphy, C. T.,Nally, K.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S. (2012) 'Shining a Light on Intestinal Traffic'. Clin Dev Immunol, [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Differential intestinal M-cell gene expression response to gut commensals' Lapthorne, S.,MacSharry, J.,Scully, P.,Nally, K.,Shanahan, F. (2012) 'Differential intestinal M-cell gene expression response to gut commensals'. Immunology, 136 (33):312-324312 [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'The Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Analogue FTY720 Impairs Mucosal Immunity and Clearance of the Enteric Pathogen Citrobacter rodentium' Murphy, C. T.,Hall, L. J.,Hurley, G.,Quinlan, A.,MacSharry, J.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Melgar, S. (2012) 'The Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Analogue FTY720 Impairs Mucosal Immunity and Clearance of the Enteric Pathogen Citrobacter rodentium'. Infect Immun, 80 (88):2712-27232712 [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Bifidobacterial surface-exopolysaccharide facilitates commensal-host interaction through immune modulation and pathogen protection' Fanning, S.,Hall, L. J.,Cronin, M.,Zomer, A.,MacSharry, J.,Goulding, D.,Motherway, M. O.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Dougan, G.,van Sinderen, D. (2012) 'Bifidobacterial surface-exopolysaccharide facilitates commensal-host interaction through immune modulation and pathogen protection'. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S Aproc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 109 (66):2108-2113 [Details] | |
| (2012) | 'Mechanism of protection of transepithelial barrier function by Lactobacillus salivarius: strain dependence and attenuation by bacteriocin production' Miyauchi, E.,O'Callaghan, J.,Butto, L. F.,Hurley, G.,Melgar, S.,Tanabe, S.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,O'Toole, P. W. (2012) 'Mechanism of protection of transepithelial barrier function by Lactobacillus salivarius: strain dependence and attenuation by bacteriocin production'. American Journal Of Physiology-Gastrointestinal And Liver Physiology, 303 (99) [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Induction and Activation of Adaptive Immune Populations During Acute and Chronic Phases of a Murine Model of Experimental Colitis' Hall, L. J.,Faivre, E.,Quinlan, A.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Melgar, S. (2011) 'Induction and Activation of Adaptive Immune Populations During Acute and Chronic Phases of a Murine Model of Experimental Colitis'. Dig Dis Sci, 56 (11):79-8979 [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'Technical Advance: Function and efficacy of an alpha(4)-integrin antagonist using bioluminescence imaging to detect leukocyte trafficking in murine experimental colitis' Murphy, C. T.,Moloney, G.,MacSharry, J.,Haynes, A.,Faivre, E.,Quinlan, A.,McLean, P. G.,Lee, K.,O'Mahony, L.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2010) 'Technical Advance: Function and efficacy of an alpha(4)-integrin antagonist using bioluminescence imaging to detect leukocyte trafficking in murine experimental colitis'. J Leukoc Biol, 88 (66):1271-12781271 [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'Down-regulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and proinflammatory cytokine production by mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors in inflammatory bowel disease' Docena, G.,Rovedatti, L.,Kruidenier, L.,Fanning, A.,Leakey, N. A.,Knowles, C. H.,Lee, K.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,McLean, P. G.,Di Sabatino, A.,MacDonald, T. T. (2010) 'Down-regulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and proinflammatory cytokine production by mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors in inflammatory bowel disease'. Clin Exp Immunolclin Exp Immunol, 162 (11):108-115 [Details] | |
| (2010) | 'Use of bioluminescence imaging to track neutrophil migration and its inhibition in experimental colitis' Murphy, C. T.,Moloney, G.,Hall, L. J.,Quinlan, A.,Faivre, E.,Casey, P.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2010) 'Use of bioluminescence imaging to track neutrophil migration and its inhibition in experimental colitis'. Clin Exp Immunolclin Exp Immunol, 162 (11):188-196 [Details] | |
| (2005) | 'Targeting the Fas/Fas ligand pathway in cancer' O'Brien, D. I.,Nally, K.,Kelly, R. G.,O'Connor, T. M.,Shanahan, F.,O'Connell, J. (2005) 'Targeting the Fas/Fas ligand pathway in cancer'. Expert Opin Ther Targets, 9 (55):1031-10441031 [Details] | |
| (2002) | 'Type I insulin-like growth factor receptor expression on colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines is decreased in response to the chemopreventive agent N-acetyl-L-cysteine' Kelly, R. G.,Nally, K.,Shanahan, F.,O'Connell, J. (2002) 'Type I insulin-like growth factor receptor expression on colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines is decreased in response to the chemopreventive agent N-acetyl-L-cysteine'. Cell Signaling, Transcription, and Translation as Therapeutic Targets, 973 :555-558555 [Details] | |
| (2000) | 'Interferon-gamma sensitizes colonic epithelial cell lines to physiological and therapeutic inducers of colonocyte apoptosis' O'connell, J.,Bennett, M. W.,Nally, K.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Collins, J. K.,Shanahan, F. (2000) 'Interferon-gamma sensitizes colonic epithelial cell lines to physiological and therapeutic inducers of colonocyte apoptosis'. Journal Of Cellular Physiology, 185 (33):331-338 [Details] | |
| (2000) | 'Altered mechanisms of apoptosis in colon cancer: Fas resistance and counterattack in the tumor-immune conflict' O'connell, J.,Bennett, M. W.,Nally, K.,Houston, A.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Shanahan, F. (2000) 'Altered mechanisms of apoptosis in colon cancer: Fas resistance and counterattack in the tumor-immune conflict'. Colorectal Cancer: New Aspects Of Molecular Biology And Immunology And Their Clinical Applicationscolorectal Cancer: New Aspects Of Molecular Biology And Immunology And Their Clinical Applications, 910 :178-195 [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2014) | DDW, Chicago 2014 Darby T, Smith E, Quinlan A, Hurley G, Clarke D, Shanahan F, Nally K, Melgar S. (2014) The colonic adherent-invasive Escherichia coli strain HM605 induces anti-apoptotic responses in intestinal epithelial cells, reduces barrier integrity and worsens experimental colitis DDW, Chicago 2014 [Details] | |
| (2012) | National Conference 2012 Kennedy, B.,Kennedy, M. P.,Plant, B. J.,Henry, M. T.,O'Driscoll, M.,Maher, M.,Nally, K.,Shanahan, F.,Curran, D. R.,O'Connor, T. M. (2012) Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Derived CD14(+) Cells as Agents of Tissue Remodelling in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis National Conference 2012 [Details] | |
| (2012) | DDW 2012; Gastroenterology Hall, L. J.,Murphy, C.,Quinlan, A.,Hurley, G.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Melgar, S. (2012) NK Cells Protect Mice During Acute Experimental Colitis by Regulating Neutrophil Function via NKG2A-dependent Mechanisms DDW 2012; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2012) | DDW 2012; Gastroenterology Darby, T.,Clarke, D.,Nally, K.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S. (2012) Deficiency in ATG16L1 Increases the Ability of the Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli (HM605) to Replicate in and Reduce Barrier Integrity of Intestinal Epithelial Cells DDW 2012; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2012) | DDW 2012; Gastroenterology Ambrose, M.,Moloney, G.,Heuston, S.,Rahman, A.,Davies, J. M.,Murphy, C.,Hurley, G.,Quinlan, A.,Karras, J.,Hessel, E. M.,Prinjha, R.,Lee, K.,Hyland, N. P.,Shanahan, F.,Hammarstrom, M. L.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2012) MiR-375 is a Key Regulator of Intestinal Homeostasis in Response to Inflammatory Stress DDW 2012; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2012) | DDW 2012; Gastroenterology Fanning, A.,Moloney, G.,MacSharry, J.,Ambrose, M.,Quigley, E. M.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2012) Elevated Expression of the Cytosolic DNA Sensors AIM2 and ZBP1/DAI in Active Ulcerative Colitis but Not Crohn's Disease Colonic Tissue DDW 2012; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2012) | DDW 2012; Gastroenterology Moloney, G.,Fanning, A.,Mac Sharry, J.,Hall, L. J.,Shanahan, F.,Quigley, E. M.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2012) Altered Expression and Activation of the CXCR3/CXCL10 Chemokine System in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Mucosal Biopsy Tissue DDW 2012; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2012) | DDW 2012; Gastroenterology Beltran, C.,Fanning, A.,Moloney, G.,Grenham, S.,Heuston, S.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K.,Cryan, J. F.,Dinan, T. G.,Quigley, E. M. (2012) The Role of IL-9/Il9r in Irritable Bowel Syndrome DDW 2012; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2012) | DDW 2012; Gastroenterology Fanning, A.,Moloney, G.,MacSharry, J.,Ambrose, M.,Prinjha, R.,Lee, K.,Quigley, E. M.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2012) Differential Expression of Epigenetic Modifier Genes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Colonic Tissue-PRDM1 and PRDM8 are up-Regulated in Active Ulcerative Colitis DDW 2012; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2011) | DDW 2011; Gastroenterology Moloney, G.,Fanning, A.,O'Malley, D.,Scanlan, N.,Cryan, J. F.,Dinan, T. G.,Shanahan, F.,Quigley, E. M.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2011) Stimulation of T-Cells in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Mucosal Biopsy Tissue Releases Cytokines Which Selectively Activate Submucosal Neurons DDW 2011; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2011) | DDW 2011; Gastroenterology Lapthorne, S.,MacSharry, J.,Scully, P.,Nally, K.,Shanahan, F. (2011) The Discriminatory Intelligence of M Cells - Beyond a Simple Translocation Portal DDW 2011; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2011) | DDW 2011; Gastroenterology Murphy, C.,Hall, L. J.,Hurley, G.,Quinlan, A.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Melgar, S. (2011) The Immunomodulatory Drug FTY720 Prevents Clearance of Citrobacter rodentium Infection in Mice DDW 2011; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2011) | DDW 2011; Gastroenterology Woznicki, J.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2011) IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha Synergise to Induce Expression of the Novel PRO-Apoptotic Gene BCL-G and Apoptosis in Intestinal Epithelial Cells and BCL-G Expression is Reduced in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Colon Cancer DDW 2011; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2011) | DDW 2011; Gastroenterology Ambrose, M.,O'Keeffe, A.,Fanning, A.,Murphy, C.,Hurley, G.,Quinlan, A.,Mac Sharry, J.,Hammarstrom, M. L.,Hessel, E. M.,Lee, K.,Shanahan, F.,Melgar, S.,Nally, K. (2011) MiR-146a Negatively Regulates IL-17A Inflammatory Response and is Elevated in Intestinal Epithelial Cells From Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patients DDW 2011; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2009) | DDW 2009; Gastroenterology Moloney, G.,Corr, S.,Hall, L. J.,Murphy, C.,Quinlan, A.,Kruidenier, L.,Calver, A. R.,Mclean, P. G.,Lee, K.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Melgar, S. (2009) The Effect of the Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) and It's Agonist-GSK488062B-On Experimental Models of Colitis and Cytokine Production from IBD Tissue DDW 2009; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2009) | DDW 2009; Gastroenterology Hall, L. J.,Quinlan, A.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,Melgar, S. (2009) Natural Killer Cell Responses in Both Acute and Chronic Phases of a Murine Model of Experimental Colitis DDW 2009; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2008) | DDW 2008; Gastroenterology Corr, S. C.,O'Hara, A.,O'Mahony, L.,Nally, K.,Shanahan, F.,Hill, C.,Gahan, C. G. (2008) Mechanism of epithelial CCL20 response to listeria DDW 2008; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2008) | DDW 2008; Gastroenterology Docena, G. H.,Fanning, A.,Rovedatti, L.,Di Sabatino, A.,Leakey, N. A.,Knowles, C. H.,Lee, K.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K.,McLean, P.,MacDonald, T. T.,Kruidenier, L. (2008) Activation and modulation of the MAP kinase pathway in IBD DDW 2008; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2008) | BMC Gastroenterology Murphy, C.,Moloney, G.,Casey, P.,Haynes, A. C.,Kruidenier, L.,Calver, A.,McLean, P.,Lee, K.,Hill, C.,O'Mahony, L.,Shanahan, F.,Nally, K. (2008) Modification of lymphocyte trafficking in an in vivo model of IBD following administration of a novel alpha 4 integrin antagonist BMC Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2006) | DDW 2006; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,O'Brien, D.,MacSharry, J.,Bairead, E.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,O'Connell, J.,Shanahan, F. (2006) IFN gamma and TNF alpha synergize to induce maximal NF-kappa B activation, NF-kappa B mediated trail expression and apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells DDW 2006; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2004) | DDW 2004; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,O'Brien, D.,O'Connell, J.,Shanahan, F. (2004) Interferon gamma(IFN-gamma) selectively suppresses TNF-alpha-induced COX-1 and COX-2 expression in intestinal epithelial cells by inhibiting NF-kappa B function DDW 2004; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2004) | DDW 2004; Gastroenterology Rosberg-Cody, E.,Ross, P.,Nally, K.,Anwar, M.,O'Mahony, L.,Ryan, A.,Hussey, S.,Murphy, B.,Fitzgerald, G.,Shanahan, F.,Stanton, C. (2004) Metabolic basis of host-flora interactions in the gut - Role of CLA DDW 2004; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2001) | DDW 2001; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,O'Connell, J.,Morgan, J.,Collins, J. K.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Shanahan, F. (2001) IGF-1 protects colonic epithelial cells from cytokine induced apoptosis by maintaining cellular phospho-tyrosine content and preventing cytochrome C release DDW 2001; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2001) | DDW 2001; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,Mullan, B.,O'Connell, J.,Morgan, J.,Collins, J. K.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Shanahan, F. (2001) Pro inflammatory cytokines suppress p53 function in colonic epithelial cells - A link between inflammation and tumorigenesis DDW 2001; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2001) | DDW 2001; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,Kelly, R.,Ryan, P.,O'Connell, J.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Morgan, J.,Shanahan, F. (2001) The chemopreventative agent N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) decreases epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) levels on colonic carcinoma cell lines DDW 2001; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2000) | DDW 2000; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,O'Connell, J.,Morgan, J.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Collins, J. K.,Shanahan, F. L. (2000) Maximal activation of epithelial NFKB - An additional molecular mechanism underlying synergy between IFN-Gamma and TNF-Alpha DDW 2000; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (2000) | DDW 2000; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,O'Connell, J.,Morgan, J.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Collins, J. K.,Shannon, F. L. (2000) The Th1 cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha reactivate components of the p53 pathway in mutant p53 epithelial cells DDW 2000; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (1999) | DDW 1999; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,O'Connell, J.,Morgan, J.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Collins, J. K.,Shanahan, F. L. J. (1999) The commitment to die: Role of c-myc in lowering epithelial cell threshold for apoptosis by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha DDW 1999; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (1998) | DDW 1998; Gastroenterology Nally, K.,Newton, F.,O'Connell, J.,Morgan, J.,O'Sullivan, G. C.,Collins, J. K.,Shanahan, F. (1998) Epithelial cytoprotection is part of the therapeutic effect of interleukin-10 in mucosal inflammation DDW 1998; Gastroenterology [Details] | |
| (1997) | DDW 1997; Gastroenterology Winter, D. C.,Nally, K.,OCallaghan, J.,Matthews, J. B.,Harvey, B. J.,OSullivan, G. C.,Shanahan, F. (1997) Cytoskeletal disruption by jasplakinolide inhibits colon cancer growth in vitro DDW 1997; Gastroenterology [Details] |
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2002) | 'Rapid development of a quantitative-competitive (qc) RT-PCR assay using a composite primer approach' O'Connell J., Houston A., Kelly R., O'Brien D., Ryan A., Bennett MW., Nally K.; (2002) 'Rapid development of a quantitative-competitive (qc) RT-PCR assay using a composite primer approach' In: Methods in Molecular Biology. New Jersey: Humana Press. [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Science Foundation Ireland Career Development Award | Science Foundation Ireland | |
| 2008 | Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, Scientist of the Year | Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, UCC | |
| 2003 | Herbert W. Rand Scholarship, MBL | The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA | |
| 2003 | Health Research Board Postdoctoral Fellowship Award | Health Research Board of Ireland |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Association for Cancer Research | Council Member | 01-JAN-14 / 01-JAN-17 |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Research Committee | Member | 2014 / 2015 | |
| School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology Health and Safety Committee | Member | 2014 / 2015 | |
| University Biological Safety committee | Committee member | 2014 / 2015 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | University College Cork (UCC) | PhD | Medicine & Microbiology | |
| 1995 | National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) | BSC - NUIG | Biochemistry |
Teaching Activities
Teaching Interests
Currently, I teach Cellular Metabolism, Cell Biology and facilitate Small Group Learning (SGL) sessions to Graduate Entry Medicine students (GM1001, GM1002 and GM1003). In addition, I teach BC4022 Immunobiology of Health and Disease to 4t year Biochemistry students and I have taught Advanced Metabolism in Health, Disease and Cancer to 4th year Biochemistry students and 3rd year Biomedical Science students (BC3002, BC4016). I also teach and supervise 3rd year Biochemistry students for their Literature Review Project (BC3012) and 4th year Biochemistry students for their laboratory based 8 week Research Project (BC4012). My main interest and objective in teaching is to try and make students be they undergraduate or postgraduate as excited and enthusiastic about continual learning as I am. Part of the motivation for learning has to come in some way from an innate curiosity about the natural world we live in, how it all works and how understanding that natural world can lead to new possibilities for knowledge and the application of knowledge to treating for example human diseases such as chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer. So, a main objective of my teaching is to ignite a little bit of that innate curiosity which lies within all of us and to assist students to use that curiosity as a source of motivation to learn about the biology that is relevant to their own lives, course or research project. It is important therefore to continually remind students about the relevance of the discipline been taught and how the discovery and application of existing and new knowledge might give us fresh insights into the biological world and ultimately have a positive impact on human health and disease.
Recent Postgraduates
| Graduation Year | Student Name | Institution | Degree Type | Thesis Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Jerzy Woznicki | UCC | PhD | Molecular mechanisms underpinning IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha synergy in intestinal epithelial cells | |
| 2014 | Gerry Moloney | UCC | PhD | Novel Insights into the Inflammatory Basis of Gastrointestinal Disease | |
| 2014 | Trevor Darby | UCC | PhD | Functional consequences of Crohn´s disease mutations in intestinal epithelial cells infected with adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC). | |
| 2014 | Ludovica Butto | UCC | PhD | Molecular mechanisms underpinning interaction of host innate immune cells with Lactobacillus salivarius bacteria | |
| 2013 | Carola Murphy | UCC | PhD | Investigation of the mechanisms underpinning leukocyte trafficking in animal models of intestinal inflammation | |
| 2005 | Raymond Kelly | UCC | PhD | Molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of N-acetyl-L-cycteine | |
| 2005 | Darren O'Brien | UCC | PhD | Non-apoptotic signalling pathways activated by the Fas/CD95 death receptor |
Research Information
Internal Collaborators
| Name | Institute | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor John Cryan | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Professor Rosemary O'Connor | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Professor Fergus Shanahan | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Dr. Silvia Melgar | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Professor Paul O'Toole | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Professor Douwe Van Sinderen | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Dr. Ian Jeffery | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Dr. Aileen Houston | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Dr. John MacSharry | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Dr. Beth Brint | University College Cork | IRELAND | |
| Dr. Marcus Claesson | University College Cork | IRELAND |
External Collaborators
| Name | Organisation / Institute | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Jeremy Simpson | University College Dublin | IRELAND | |
| Professor Grant McFadden | University of Florida | U.S.A. | |
| Dr. Christian Riedel | University of Ulm | GERMANY | |
| Dr. Laurens Kruidenier | GlaxoSmithKline, UK | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Dr. Norma O'Donovan | Dublin City University | IRELAND | |
| Dr. Rab Prinjha | GlaxoSmithKline, UK | UNITED KINGDOM | |
| Dr. Patrick Walsh | Trinity College Dublin | IRELAND |