TCD Researcher Wins Roche Researcher of the Year Award

Posted on: 21 December 2009

Dr Susan Carpenter of Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology was awarded the Roche Researcher of the Year Award for her work on a new protein named TRIL which may play a role in alleviating central nervous system related disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr Carpenter was announced as the winner from a shortlist of twelve researchers representing universities from all over Ireland.

The researcher carried out her work on TRIL during her PhD and found the protein to have a key role in the inflammatory pathway of the innate immune system.  During her winning presentation, ‘TRIL: A Novel Modulator of TLR4 Signalling with Enriched Expression in the Brain’, Dr Carpenter, who carried out her research under the supervision of Professor Luke O’Neill and Dr Aisling Dunne, made reference to the practical application the research has generated to date and the international attention it has received after its publication in the renowned peer reviewed Journal of Immunology.   

Frank Gannon, SFI, Dr Susan Carpenter, TCD, Finbar Kenny, Roche Diagnostics.

Professor Frank Gannon, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland, commented: “This awards event is essential to acknowledge the excellence and quality of ongoing research within Ireland.  It also recognises the important contribution that postgraduate and postdoctoral research plays within the Irish economy.  I am fully encouraged by Roche’s commitment to facilitating total solutions in biotechnology, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals through strengthening collaborative partnerships with Irish research.”

Roche is a leader in research focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.  The awards are designed to highlight and support excellence in life science research within all academic centres of Ireland, both in the Republic and Northern Ireland.  Scientists from every university in Ireland took part and each presented their scientific paper for independent adjudication by senior academic members from the Irish research community.