Neuroscience Ireland Conference 2025
Conference Speaker Profile
Dr Dearbhaile Dooley
University College Dublin,
Ireland
Congratulations to Dr Dearbhaile Dooley on being awarded the 2025 NSI Early-Career Investigator Award!
Talk Title
Targeted control of microglia polarisation after spinal cord injury
Talk Abstract
RTraumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex medical and psychological challenge. Despite major research progress, there is still no curative therapy currently available. The pathophysiological mechanism associated with SCI involves a multi-step cascade of events; following SCI, microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages dominate the pathological environment and can exert either beneficial or detrimental effects, depending on their activation state.
Put simply, microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages are situated between two spectral ends of functional activation: classically activated which secrete pro-inflammatory molecules contributing to deleterious effects or alternatively activated, which secrete anti-inflammatory mediators as well as neurotrophic factors.
The latter helps to restore a pro-regenerative environment. By using a combination of both in vitro and in vivo models, we aim to investigate the effects of immunomodulation following SCI in order to explore the therapeutic potential of CNS-resident microglia, during the neuroinflamammatory response.
Speaker Biography
Upon completion of a BSc in Anatomy from University of Galway, Dr Dooley relocated to Belgium to undertake a cotutelle PhD at Hasselt University and University of Antwerp, in the field of neuroinflammation and CNS trauma.
Dr Dooley returned to Ireland to join the Renal Inflammation Group at Trinity College Dublin as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, where she investigated the role of monocytes in a humanised mouse model of ANCA Vasculitis. In 2017, she joined UCD School of Medicine and The Conway Institute as Assistant Professor in Anatomy. By using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, her team investigates how immunomodulatory agents can beneficially influence microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages during the neuroinflamammatory response after spinal cord injury.
Dr Dooley has been awarded over €2 million in independent funding over the last 5 years, currently leads a team of 6 researchers at UCD and is also a Senior Conway Fellow.