Assoc ProfessorTara McMorrow

As director of the UCD Centre for Toxicology (www.toxicology.ucd.ie), my research focus is in the area of toxicology and the development of alternatives methods in toxicity testing. Other research areas include the use of high through-put screening in chemical toxicity testing, and identification of novel therapeutic compounds in cancer treatment. Another research area of interest is the development of models of renal cell injury, including the investigation of the role of chemical agents such as environmental toxicants, in renal fibrosis development through the application of genomics and proteomics techniques. Studies on differentially regulated genes and proteins provide insights into chemically induced renal fibrosis, as well as into the molecular mechanisms underlying kidney damage and disease, including tumour biology and fibrosis. Further examination of differentially regulated genes may lead to the identification of novel genes and potential adjunct therapies. Research Funding: EU, SFI, MRCG-HRB Enterprise Ireland, IRCSET, UCD Seed Funding, American Cystinosis Foundation.