Lorraine O’Driscoll's Biography

Lorraine O’Driscoll, Professor in Pharmacology, Trinity College Dublin

Lorraine O'Driscoll (BSc(Hons, Pharm), MSc(Res, Clin Pharm), MA(Ed), PhD(Biotech), FTCD) Lorraine holds a BSc(Hons), pharmacology; MSc(Res), clinical pharmacology; MA, education; PhD, biotechnology. In 2012, she was elected to Fellowship in TCD and in 2018 she was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV). Following her PhD, Lorraine undertook biotechnology/biomedical research for US and EU industry (including Berlex; Archport Ltd-Axonobel; MediSyn Ltd; MedaNova Ltd.) before returning to academic research and teaching. Lorraine research group focuses on diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers; discovering new therapeutic targets; cancer cells communication via extracellular vesicles (EVs); elucidating and circumventing resistance to targets agents and classical chemotherapy; milk EVs; and EVs in regenerative medicine. She has been a P.I. on 5 cancer cancer clinical trials. She is TCD's Principal Investigator on SFI-supported Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland; Strand Leader of Irish Cancer Society-supported Breast-PREDICT; and P.I. and Chair, H2020-supported European Network Cooperation in Science and Technology focused on Exosomes & Microvesicles in Health & Disease which brings together researchers from 27 European countries, 3 US universities, Australia and 7 industry partners. In 2017, she was awarded approx. €4,000,000 as Director of a H2020 ITN aimed at training 15 PhD students in TRAIN-EV i.e. training in extracellular vesicles: for benefit in health and disease. In 2019 she was awarded an Irish Research Council Advanced Laurate Award of €1,000,000 to further her research on EV in cancer. She has developed tailored courses for academia, semi-state bodies and industry. Her graduates and mentees are now employed at NIH; Harvard University; Pfizer; Amgen; Leo; Roche; AstraZeneca; ICON plc; some are entrepreneurs/company CEOs; 2 are Managers of Research Centres; others hold lecturing and research posts in academia or clinical posts in hospitals.