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Biography
Colin Hill has a Ph.D in molecular microbiology and is Professor in the School of Microbiology at University College Cork, Ireland. He has been an SFI Principal Investigator since 2002 (renewed in 2006 and 2010). He is also a founding Principal Investigator in the APC Microbiome Institute, a multidisciplinary research centre focusing on the role of gut microbiota in health and disease. His main interests are in bacteriophage, bacteriocins and the role they play in shaping the microbiome and as interventions capable of preventing infectious disease. He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed papers and holds 18 patents in this area (in 2017 he had an ISI H factor over 70, Google H factor over 90). More than 50 PhD students have graduated from the laboratory. In 2005 Prof. Hill was awarded a D.Sc by the National University of Ireland in recognition of his contributions to research. In 2009 he was elected to the Royal Irish Academy, the highest honour for an Irish academic. In 2010 he was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology and together with his colleagues Prof. Gerald Fitzgerald, Prof. Paul Ross and Dr Catherine Stanton he was awarded the Metchnikoff Prize in Microbiology. He served as President of ISAPP (International Scientific Association for Prebiotics and Probiotics) from 2012-2015.
Research Interests
Research interests and expertise. Molecular Microbiology, particularly in issues involving infection. Bacteriophages, Bacteriocins (applied and fundamental aspects), Pharmabiotics (bioactives in gut health), Clostridium difficile, antibiotic resistant pathogens
Research Overview. We participate in APC Microbiome Ireland, a multidisciplinary research centre focusing on the role of gut microbiota in health and disease. Our main interests are in infectious disease, particularly in defining the mechanisms of virulence of foodborne pathogens and in developing strategies to prevent and limit the consequences of microbial infections in the gastrointestinal tract. We are also interested in the role of bacteriocins and bacteriophages as agents to limit the growth of bacteria in food or in the human gut.Publications
For a complete list of publications please click on this Link Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body |
---|
| 2014 | APC Person of the Year | APC |
| 2011 | UCC Commercialisation Award | University College Cork |
| 2010 | UCC Commercialisation Award | University College Cork |
| 2010 | Elected Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology | American Academy of Microbiology |
| 2010 | Metchnikoff Prize for Microbiology | International Dairy Federation |
| 2009 | UCC Commercialisation Award | University College Cork |
| 2009 | Elected Member, Royal Irish Academy | Royal Irish Academy |
| 2008 | UCC Commercialisation Award | University College Cork |
| 2005 | D.Sc | National University of Ireland |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To |
---|
| ILSI Europe Expert Group on 'Mechanisms of Probiotic Action' | Member | 2014 / |
| European Food Safety Authority GMO Panel | Member | 2003 / 2004 |
| Foot and Mouth Advisory Committee | Member | 2002 / 2003 |
| Food Safety Authority of Ireland GMO Sub-Committee | Chairperson | 1997 / 1999 |
| Food Safety Authority of Ireland Scientific Committee | Member | 1992 / 1999 |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To |
---|
| American Society for Microbiology | Academy Fellow | 01-JUN-10 / |
| American Academy of Microbiology | Fellow | 01-JUN-10 / |
| International Association for Pre and Probiotics | Board Member | 01-JUN-09 / 01-JUN-15 |
| Royal Irish Academy | Member | 16-MAR-09 / |
| Food Safety Authority of Ireland | Scientific Committee | 01-JAN-97 / 01-JUN-09 |
Employment
| Employer | Position | From / To |
---|
| UCC | Professor of Microbial Food Safety | 01-JAN-08 / |
| UCC | Associate Professor | 01-JAN-01 / 31-DEC-07 |
| UCC | Senior Lecturer | 01-JAN-92 / 31-DEC-00 |
| Moorepark | Senior Research Officer | 01-JAN-90 / 31-DEC-91 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject |
---|
| 2005 | UCC | Doctor of Science | |
| 1988 | UCC | Ph.D. | |
| 1984 | UCC | M.Sc. | |
| 1982 | UCC | B.Sc. | |
Patents
| Patent Number | Title | Granted |
---|
| 07/577,954 | Bacteriophage resistant recombinant bacteria | 01-JAN-10 |
| 07/578,660 | Phage defense rotation strategy | 01-JAN-10 |
| PCT/IE96/00022 | Bacteriocins. | 01-JAN-95 |
| 980499. | An anti-microbial effective against Gram-positive human pathogens | 01-JAN-98 |
| 980500 | A spray-dried bacteriocin powder with antimicrobial activity | 01-JAN-98 |
| PCT/IE2004/0001 | Use of probiotic bacteria for the treatment of infection | 01-JAN-05 |
| S2005/0773. | Antimicrobial Peptides and Bacterial Strains that produce them. | 01-JAN-05 |
| US 20110059060 | Thuricin, an antimicrobial specific for Clostridium difficile | 31-DEC-10 |
| WO 2009092790 A | Listeriolysin S as a chemotherapeutic agent | 31-DEC-10 |
| WO 2009092790 A | Screening for Listeriolysin S Listeria Monocytogenes. | 31-DEC-10 |
| WO 2011076903 A | Derivatives of Nisin with enhanced Anti-Microbial Activity. | 31-DEC-10 |
Other Activities
| Description |
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|
List of Expert Assignments: - Scientific Committee, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, since 1999, Re-appointed 2005. - Microbiology Sub-Committee, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 1996-2005. - Chair, GMO and Novel Food Sub-Committee, since 1997. - GMO Advisory Committee, Environmental Protection Agency, 1998-2001. - Foot and Mouth Expert Advisory Group, Department of Agriculture, 2001-02. - Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Welfare, Department of Agriculture, since 2001. - European Food Safety Authority GMO Panel, 2003-2004.
I have acted as External Examiner to more than 20 PhD committees in the UK, The Netherlands, Norway, France, Spain, Sweden and Denmark.
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| I have given over 200 Research Seminars at conferences and as a guest lecturer. |
Teaching Activities
Teaching Interests
Molecular biology of microorganisms of importance in foods.
Recent Postgraduates
| Graduation Year | Student Name | Institution | Degree Type | Thesis Title |
---|
| 2014 | Alan Marsh | UCC | PHD | IDENTIFICATION & CHARACTERISATION OF NOVEL ANTIMICROBIALS FROM GUT ASSOCIATED MICROORGANISMS. |
| 2014 | Harsh Mathur | UCC | PHD | Thuricin cd: a potential therapeutic targeted against clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (cdad) |
| 2014 | Lorraine Anne Draper | UCC | PHD | Investigation of Lantibiotic regulation, immunity and synergy |
| 2014 | Ruth Morrissey | UCC | PHD | SHINING LIGHT ON FOOD MICROBIOLOGY: APPLICATIONS OF LUCIFERASE-TAGGED MICROORGANISMS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. |
| 2014 | Eamon Culligan | UCC | PHD | Functional metagenomic analysis of the human gut microbiome to identify novel salt tolerance genes |
| 2013 | Nease Wallace O Leary | UCC | MSc | |
| 2013 | Claire Flaherty | UCC | PHD | INVESTIGATION OF GROWTH AND STRESS TOLERANCE CHARATERISTICS OF CRONOBACTER SPP. |
| 2012 | Evelyn Molloy | UCC | PHD | Manipulation of Lantibiotics Using a Bioengineering Approach |
| 2011 | Eileen O Shea | UCC | PHD | An Investigation of Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Intestinal Lactobacillus salivarius Isolates |
| 2011 | James Dalton | UCC | PHD | Detection of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis and Risk Alleles associated with Crohn’s Disease in an Irish Cohort |
| 2011 | Mary Clare Rea | UCC | PHD | |
| 2011 | Srinivasa Suna | UCC | PHD | A Mutagenesis Based Functional Characterisation of the Lantibiotic Lacticin 3147 |
| 2011 | Kiera Considine | UCC | PHD | Molecular Mechanisms for Coping with High Pressure in Listeria monocytogenes |
| 2011 | Alleson Elaine Dobson | UCC | PHD | The Impact of the Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptide, Lacticin 3147 on Complex Microbial Communities |
| 2011 | Sinead Heuston | UCC | PHD | Molecular Analysis of Isoprenoid Biosynthetic Pathways in Listeria monocytogenes |
| 2011 | Clare Piper | UCC | PHD | Investigating the Use of Natural and Bioengineered Lantibiotics against Clinical Pathogens |
| 2011 | Ian Monk | UCC | PhD | |
| 2010 | Katja Klostermann | UCC | PHD | |
| 2010 | Barry Collins | UCC | PHD | |
| 2010 | Heather McLaughlin | UCC | PHD | |
| 2009 | Debbie Watson | UCC | PHD | |
| 2009 | Evelyn Clayton | UCC | PHD | |
| 2008 | Des Field | UCC | PHD | |
| 2007 | Sheila Ryan | UCC | PHD | |
| 2007 | Helena Stack | UCC | PHD | |
| 2007 | Rose Sexton | UCC | MSc | |
| 2007 | Eleanor Ryan | UCC | MSc | |
Current Postgraduate Students
| Student | Degree Type |
---|
| O Reilly Catherine | Doctoral Degree |
| Moloney Eimear Sinead | Masters Degree by Research |
| Las Heras Vanessa | Doctoral Degree |
| Mazhar Shahneela | Doctoral Degree |
| Strain Ronan | Doctoral Degree |
| Mc Mahon Aoife | Doctoral Degree |
| Guerin Emma | Doctoral Degree |
| Mc Hugh Aoife Jane | Doctoral Degree |
| Callanan Julie Ellen | Doctoral Degree |
| Coughlan Laura Maria | Doctoral Degree |
| Uniacke-Lowe Shona Maria | Masters Degree by Research |
| Lynch Mary Jane | Doctoral Degree |
| Angelopoulou Angeliki | Doctoral Degree |
| Sutton Thomas | Doctoral Degree |
| Doyle Natasha Jessica | Doctoral Degree |
| O Sullivan Julie Noreen | Doctoral Degree |
| O Connor Michelle | Doctoral Degree |
| Fitzgerald Cormac Brian | Doctoral Degree |
| Collins Fergus William John | Doctoral Degree |
| Lewis Rhea Joan | Doctoral Degree |
| Ellis Jenna-Claire | Doctoral Degree |
| Egan Kevin Sean | Doctoral Degree |
Modules Taught
| Term (ID)) | Title | Link | Subject |
---|
| 2020 | Microbial Food Safety | MB4611 | Microbial Food Safety |
| 2020 | Research Frontiers in Microbiology | MB4027 | Research Frontiers in Microbiology |
| 2020 | Microbial Food Safety | MB4011 | Microbial Food Safety |
| 2020 | Functional Foods for Health | MB6103 | Functional Foods for Health |
| 2020 | Introduction to Food Science and Technology | FS1011 | Introduction to Food Science and Technology |
| 2020 | Research Frontiers in Food Microbiology | MB6027 | Research Frontiers in Food Microbiology |
| 2020 | Dissertation in Food Microbiology | MB6011 | Dissertation in Food Microbiology |
| 2020 | Principles of Microbiology | MB2006 | Principles of Microbiology |
| 2020 | Microbial Food Safety | MB4111 | Microbial Food Safety |
| 2020 | Research Project | MB4002 | Research Project |
| 2020 | Functional Foods for Health | MB6003 | Functional Foods for Health |
| 2020 | Food Biotechnology | MB4013 | Food Biotechnology |
| 2020 | Food Biotechnology | MB4113 | Food Biotechnology |
| 2020 | Library Project in Food Microbiology | MB6006 | Library Project in Food Microbiology |