Science Foundation Ireland funded researcher and Professor of Biochemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, Luke O’Neill, has won the prestigious RDS Irish Times Boyle Medal for Scientific Excellence for his pioneering work on the molecular understanding of innate immunity and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Professor O’Neill’s distinguished work has focused on “Toll-like receptors”, a family of proteins which respond to infection and trigger inflammation and are required to eliminate invading microbes. He has gained worldwide recognition for his contribution to this field of research.
Prof O’Neill has been supported by SFI since 2002 when he was a recipient of a SFI Principal Investigator (PI) Award. He is also a researcher in the Immunology SFI Strategic Research Cluster that performs research closely linked to industry.
Commenting on the award Prof. O’Neill stated that “SFI has been a key supporter, without whom I would not have been able to pursue my research ideas”.
Congratulating Prof. O’Neill on winning the Boyle Medal, Prof. Frank Gannon, Director General, SFI stated that “Luke is a recognized world leading researcher who has made ground breaking discoveries and significant contributions to science. I am sure he will continue to make a significant impact through his research. He is an outstanding example of the quality of research talent nurtured by SFI in Ireland”.
Professor O’Neill will be conferred with his Medal and give a public lecture at the RDS on Monday, November 16 at 7.00 pm. The lecture is free of charge and open to the general public.
