Luke O’Neill’s favourite subject at school while studying for the leaving cert was biology. He is now Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin.
His work involves lecturing in various subjects – such as Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Immunology and Molecular Medicine to both science and medical students. It also involves leading a research team of 12 individuals in the areas of immunology and inflammatory diseases, including 6 post-docs, 4 Ph.D. students and two technicians.
He has written many scientific papers and his work has been published in Nature, the world’s leading science journal. In 1995, among various other awards and achievements, he received the Royal Irish Academy Medal for Biochemistry, and in 1999 was runner-up for the Boyle Medal, presented by the Royal Dublin Society.
How it all began
As with many people who pursue a career in science, Luke recalls having an interest in the natural world, in particular geology and biology, from an early age:
“I liked the exactness of science and also the wonders to be found in biology.”
He didn’t particularly enjoy biology in the early part of secondary school, but loved it by the time he completed the leaving cert. The way a subject is taught is often instrumental in how popular it is with students, and this proved true for Luke as he credits his biology teacher as having a part to play in his love for biology.
The second science subject he completed for leaving cert was chemistry, paving the way for future plans to study science after school.
Career path to becoming a researcher
Luke’s next step was to go to Trinity College Dublin, where he now lectures. For four years he studied for a BA (Mod) in Natural Sciences. Studying for a degree in Natural Science at TCD involves studying a combination of subjects from biology, chemistry, physics, geology, geography and maths, in the first and second year, and then specialising in one particular area, such as Genetics, Environmental Science, Physiology or Biochemistry, for example. Luke preferred to specialise in Biochemistry in third and fourth year. As part of this degree, he would have had to complete a research project in his final year, giving the student experience in the laboratory and a chance to make a contribution to an area of research.
Luke graduated with First Class honours in 1985 from Trinity College and had already decided that research was the area for him:
“The idea of discovering and seeing something no-one had seen before, and contributing to knowledge in the world really stimulated me.”
He decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of London (Royal College of Surgeons) in 1988. He then followed what he terms ” the standard career path” – post-doctoral research, which meant a move to the University of Cambridge, and then a lectureship in Biochemistry at Trinity. The decision to lecture came naturally:
” I wanted to lecture as I feel it’s very important to pass on your enthusiasms and knowledge to the next generation.”
Outstanding Contribution to Biomedical Research
The awards and recognition Luke has so far received speak for themselves in terms of how successful he has been in his career to date – among those mentioned before in 1996 he received the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Conway Medal for Biomedical Research and a year later was presented with an Outstanding Achievement award by the International Cytokine Society.
But more importantly than awards, his research has made many important discoveries and contributions in its respective areas. His Ph.D. project made a discovery that led to a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs – the COX-2 selective inhibitors. His research has made important discoveries into the inner workings of cells of the immune system, responsible for helping our bodies to fight disease. Through his work, he has also discovered new proteins and processes, which have a part to play in diseases such as arthritis and sepsis.
In particular in the last couple of years, his research group have made two key discoveries. The first is they have found that pox viruses (such as small pox itself) have ways of disabling our immune system and therefore not allowing it to do its job properly. They have also found a new human protein in white blood cells that acts as a master switch, turning on the immune response to harmful bacteria in the body. This protein is called Mal. Both of the discoveries could lead to better treatment for certain inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
A rewarding career choice
Luke considers his choice of career a particularly rewarding one and outlines three main aspects of the job that are most enjoyable: the first is the rewards from the research itself – “The process of discovering new things that may lead to better treatments for various immune and inflammatory diseases.”
He also enjoys learning about progress in his own research areas through the work of other laboratories and research groups, as well as the teaching element, part of his job as a lecturer at TCD.
Apart from rewards, there are also certain advantages, such as getting to travel and being able to work in almost any location:
“Travel is a major bonus – I have given seminars all over the world and spent time in labs in the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Having a Ph.D. means you can get a job anywhere and there is constant travel to conferences.”
Luke also highlights that as a biomedical research scientist he is his own boss and can work to his own schedule, which he certainly finds an advantage.
A look to the future
Looking to the future of biomedical research, in his opinion, the rate of progress and advancements in this area is “astounding”, eventually leading to new and better treatments for human diseases such as cancer, arthritis, MS, Crohn’s disease and AIDS.
Looking at Luke’s personal future in biomedical research, he seems focused on one goal and that is to make further breakthroughs in his own research area.
His advice for students wishing to pursue a similar career path is simple:
“If you like Biology, sign up!”
