Research Ireland congratulates Professor Luke O’Neill on appointment as ERC Vice-President for Life Sciences
Research Ireland has today welcomed the appointment of Professor Luke O’Neill of Trinity College Dublin as Vice-President for Life Sciences at the European Research Council (ERC), describing it as as an important moment for Irish research and its contribution to European science.
Professor O’Neill is Professor of Biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin’s Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute. An expert in innate immunity and inflammation, his research explores how the body’s immune defences work and how a deeper understanding of these processes can inform new approaches to treating disease.
Welcoming the appointment, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said:
Research Ireland congratulates Prof. Luke O’Neill on this significant appointment. His outstanding scientific leadership, international reputation and track record of translating research into new approaches to treating disease will bring valuable experience and insight to the role. This appointment is a proud moment for Irish research, and we wish Prof. O’Neill every success in helping to shape and champion research excellence across Europe.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Luke O’Neill said:
I am honoured to take up the role of Vice President for Life Sciences at the European Research Council. I am delighted to represent Ireland and be a voice for European life scientists at this most critical time for science in Europe. We face many challenges, with human health and wellbeing, as well as European competitiveness, being uppermost in our thoughts as life scientists. I look forward to working with the ERC to help achieve our ambitious goals for European science.”
The ERC supports frontier research across all disciplines, with scientific excellence as its sole selection criterion. As Vice-President for Life Sciences, he will be one of three Vice-Presidents who support the ERC President and serve as Vice-Chairs of the Scientific Council, each representing one of the ERC’s three research domains.
Professor O’Neill is a co-founder of Sitryx and Inflazome, companies established to develop new medicines for inflammatory diseases; Inflazome was subsequently acquired by Roche. Supported through successive Research Ireland awards and two ERC Advanced Grants, Professor O’Neill brings experience of both fundamental and translational research to this leadership role.
Image Caption: Luke O’Neill in the library of Trinity College Dublin. Photo by Mark Condren, Irish Independent.
