APC winner of BioSciences Institute Researcher of the Year Awards 2009
Heather McLoughlin, a postgraduate student at the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre received the PhD category award for this year’s University College Cork BioSciences Institute Researcher of the Year competition. Finalists in the competition presented their current research findings in front of an audience, judged by a panel of experts adjudicated by Professor Michael Berndt, College of Medicine and Health UCC. The Postdoctoral category Award went to Dr Conor Horgan of the Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory. He received a medal and represented the Institute at the national Roche Researcher of the Year Award ceremony subsequently held in Dublin.
Heather works with Listeria monocytogenes, food-borne bacteria responsible for the disease listeriosis. Her research focuses on the role of metal ion uptake systems, particularly iron and magnesium, in infection. The ability to acquire these metals is essential for listerial growth, and survival. One aspect of her research is exploring how a mutant bacteria which cannot take up iron could be used for vaccine delivery..
Research topics proposed spanned the breath of research being undertaken at the Institute such as the impact of human gut flora and the study cancer cell death. The award prizes were sponsored by Roche Diagnostics Ltd., a market leading healthcare group in research and diagnostics supplies. The Roche Research Award scheme re-affirms the partnership between Roche and University College Cork BioSciences Institute to promote and reward outstanding performance in the field of Life Science.
Picture shows winners and panel judges (L to R) Dr Leonard Marshall Roche, winner Dr Conor Horgan, Prof Michael Berndt Head of College, winner Heather McLaughlin, Dr Colman Casey, Prof Ted Dinan, Dr Anne Moore.
