ProfessorStephen Pennington

Our research interests and activities are joined by a common theme of measurement of protein expression and function on a comprehensive proteomics scale. We are currently actively engaged in 'Biomarker Discovery and Development'. New and better biomarkers are urgently needed to improve diagnosis and clinical decision-making in a wide range of diseases. In recent years it has become increasingly appreciated that novel biomarkers may only be effective when assembled as groups or panels and the 'omics are well-suited to deliver such multi-marker panels. Over a number of years we have established the infrastructure and excellent local clinical research capability and multi-disciplinary teams, including clinical investigators, biomedical researchers and statisticians for the discovery of panels of proteomic biomarkers with the potential to support their subsequent translation to clinical utility. In key specific clinical areas - including inflammatory arthritis, breast cancer and prostate cancer, where there remains significant unmet need for new biomarkers of clinical importance - we have undertaken broad discovery programmes and identified panels of potential protein biomarker candidates. Our approach has taken competitive advantage of the excellent local clinical bioresource infrastructure for access to clinical samples and a 'quantitative proteomics' mass spectrometry platform (nanoflow ESI Q-Tof, Q-Exactive and QQQ mass spectrometers) to support biomarker discovery and quantitative multiplexed measurement of protein expression. Current research interests and funded projects (Health Research Board, Horizon2020, Enterprise-Ireland, EU, Movember, Irish Cancer Society and St Luke's Institute for Cancer Research) are focussed on the mass spectrometry based discovery, measurement and validation of protein biomarkers to take them from discovery to clinical utility, predominantly in oncology and inflammatory disease. We are also investigating the mechanisms of disease progression focussing on prostate cancer and psoriatic arthritis. Projects are undertaken in collaboration with scientists and clinical colleagues within UCD and between institutions in Dublin/Ireland and internationally as a part of significant consortia. Steve has recently founded a UCD spinout company 'Atturos' to bring a prostate cancer blood-based biomarker test using MRM mass spectrometry platform that has the capability to distinguish patients with organ-confined and non-organ confined disease that helps clinicians make better patient treatment decisions. Over the past few years, Steve has also established collaborative agreements that are in place with Agilent Technologies to provide mass spectrometry instrumentation and support and have agreed to continue provide this for the technical development and clinical evaluation of the prostate cancer test that Steve and his team are working on. UCD Medicine Research Group: Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease