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!”

Emer Clarke - Cell Biologist

Education

Primary degree, Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin
PhD (Haematology) in cell biology, Trinity

Career snapshot

Dublin-born, her first job was in a laboratory in St. James Hospital in Dublin. She examined how anti-rejection drugs would impact on patients who had undergone bone marrow transplantations. Following her PhD, she moved to Seattle and worked in bone marrow research first at a teaching hospital, then at a biotechnology company.
Next Emer moved to Bristol to the UK’s National Blood Service as a clinical scientist on a bone marrow treatment programme. Her work involved identifying how patients’ bone marrow could be adapted to increase the chances of successful transplants. She took up her current role in 1998.

What’s so brilliant about your job?

“I love the diversity. I enjoy going into the laboratory and doing experiments and finding out what’s new. There’s also the knowledge that the work I do benefits patients. It helps the discovery of new drugs and involves training people in laboratories to treat illnesses.”

How do you spend a typical day?

“I get in at around 7.45, and start the day trying to do some damage control on my emails. I get around 40 emails a day – queries from technical staff, customers. I like to spend four or five hours in the laboratory – I’m a real lab rat. Then I have to report on the experiments, quantitate cells and identify alterations in cell morphology through photographs of colonies.”
“About 20% of my time is spent travelling. It’s anything but glamorous and is quite tiring.”

Are you a science bore?

“No. My husband works in the same company but we don’t talk about work all the time. Our friends are varied -accountants, artists but not geeks. The only time we ever talk about science at home is when there’s a discussion about what’s new or novel on the TV.”

Did science give you a buzz at school?

“Not really. I wasn’t really interested in science. I didn’t even study biology at school. I wanted to pick something in college that would mean that I would be gainfully employed. Back in the 80s there weren’t many jobs.”
“I chose biochemistry at Trinity because I thought it would help me get into pharmacy, where there were jobs, but that didn’t happen. It was only when I went to St. James’ that my love of science began. I could then see how interesting and useful the work is.”

What’s been the high point of your career?

“I’m still waiting!”

Want to find out more?

Read about Emer’s employer Stemcell

Ian Brennan - Quality control biochemist

Degree

Applied Biology with Quality Management, Waterford Institute of Technology, 2000

Career snapshot

Ian’s first job after graduation in 2000 was with Trinity Biotech, in Bray, Co Wicklow. There, he was involved in testing products using mammalian antibodies. Subsequently, he worked with Aventis Pharma in Waterford, overseeing the plant’s microbiology laboratory. He stayed there for two years, before joining Genzyme in November 2003.

Genzyme Waterford is a pharmaceutical and biotechnology plant. It manufactures and packages tablets for patients with renal disease. A sterile filling facility is also nearing the completion of qualification. The plant will produce sterile enzyme preparations in both liquid and lyophilized (vacuum frozen) forms.

Initially employed as a microbiologist, his current role involves the transfer of the biochemical testing methods needed for the products that will be filled in the sterile facility. This involves validation of new equipment, and testing and troubleshooting the testing methods.

“The degree that I chose provided the broadest possible base in terms of areas of knowledge,” says Ian. “It has allowed me to work in several different areas and accumulate a range of experience.”

Background info

Brought up in Tramore, Co Waterford, Ian attended CBS Tramore

What’s so brilliant about your job?

“I enjoy my job because it is quite varied. Since joining the company I’ve been involved in both the tabletting and sterile facilities. In my current role, what I do changes from day to day, and it has also afforded me the opportunity for some foreign travel.”

What do you like least about your job?

“Paperwork is a pet hate, but it is part and parcel of the industry.”

How do you spend a typical day?

“The day begins at 8am. I organise my time depending on the method being tested at that time. Some methods might take hours to run, others are much shorter. The time I have then is dependent on any problems that might be encountered with the methods. Other days are spent at my desk collating data or writing reports. I may also spend some time with vendors or agents validating a piece of equipment.”

Does your work require a lot of equipment?

“Yes, all the typical equipment found in a pharmaceutical lab.”

Are you a science/engineering/technology nerd?

“I take an interest in most scientific disciplines, but for the most part, I try to do other things outside of work.”

Did science/engineering/technology give you a buzz at school?

“I always enjoyed the science subjects in school. I had a very enthusiastic biology teacher but I was always curious about the natural world. I also enjoyed English and history. I chose a career in science because of this curiosity about how the world works.”

Learn more:

Visit Genzyme Ireland on the Web
Learn more about the pharmaceutical industry at PharmaChemical Ireland

His career started with studying Biochemistry at NUI Dublin, graduating with a B.Sc. in 1975. He then went on to complete a Ph.D. at the same university in Biochemical Immunology. This subject area has remained the focus of his research.

He now specialises in antibody production and applications, biosensors, immunoanalysis, drug analysis and metabolism. He carries out his research at Dublin City University (DCU) where he has lectured in Biochemistry since joining the university in 1980. He became Head of the School of Biological Sciences (now School of Biotechnology) at DCU in 1989 and Professor of Biological Sciences in 1993.

While in Texas from 1988 to 1989 as a Visiting Scientist working on a novel immunoassay development and sensors in MD Anderson Cancer Centre, Prof. O’Kennedy developed technology that was later patented and nominated as ‘Invention of the Year’ by the University of Texas.

Professor O’Kennedy is actively involved in encouraging young people into science and generating interest in the subject. He has been involved in the Irish Times / RDS Science Today series, whose target audience is mainly secondary school students.

Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of living organisms, from the simplest to the most complex, and it seeks to explain how they work at the molecular level. Biochemists study the elements, compounds and chemical reactions that are controlled by enzymes and take place in these organisms.

What do they do?

Biochemistry is often defined as the ‘chemistry of life’ because it aims to explore and understand every aspect of the structure Biochemistry is very much a research-based subject and organisms. Such research is essential to medicine. The involvement  of the biochemist in the development of new diagnostic procedures and drugs for the treatment of diseases if of central importance to the pharmaceutical industry.

Biochemistry is also fundamental to biotechnology and developed. Biochemistry is the key player in modern biomedical research as biochemists contribute to the design of new drugs diabetes and cancer. Developments in this rapidly-growing area molecular biology, genetic engineering and environmental monitoring. This is an exciting and rapidly expanding field which is at the forefront of advances in biology and medicine.

Career opportunities

The massive increase in knowledge and the genomics, proteomics and computing revolutions, mean that biochemistry will be a decisive factor in the 21st century. The fundamental new findings in this area of science will have a far-reaching impact on health care, the control of environmental hazards and on life as a whole and offers much potential for the creation and preservation of new, challenging jobs.

Biochemists work in industry, hospitals, agriculture, research institutes and education. There are good career opportunities in industry sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food, brewing, biotechnology and agrochemicals, where biochemical knowledge is needed to develop new products and monitor the production, quality and safety of existing ones.

Biochemistry is a truly interdisciplinary subject having close links with chemistry, the other biological sciences, agriculture and medicine. It is because of this that graduates in biochemistry enjoy a wide range of career opportunities.

Did you know?

Revolutionary treatments

Advances in medicine have resulted in treatments unimaginable just 50 years ago. The pace of change in science and medicine in the next 20 years means that medical intervention will seem increasingly futuristic. We still do not know the structures and biological roles of over 70% of the compounds found in human blood plasma! Scientists speculate that recent developments in genetic science may revolutionise the way we diagnose and treat illnesses.

Fighting bad bugs

Most infections still respond to the so called ‘first line’ antibiotics such as ampicillin. Of those that don’t, most are still killed with more powerful antibiotics; the strongest and most potent is called some bacteria have evolved to outwit even vancomycin and have been found in a number of hospitals. Scientists are now researching new antibiotics, but this takes time. Eventually , as stronger ones are developed, bacteria will develop resistance to those.

Deep breathing

Marine mammals like seals and whales also breathe oxygen like us. However, their red blood cells don’t have hemoglobin, but a very similar protein called myoglobin. Actually hemoglobin is essentially four muoglobin protens stuck together, Myoglobin also binds oxygen, but much more strongly than hemoglobin. Why is this important? Well, sea mammals dive to great depths, and they need to make sure that when they come up for air that they have a protein that really grabs onto oxygen. They have a lot of this protein and a lot of red blood cells that slowly release it to their tissues allowing them to stay underwater for a long time!

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