HIHI Team

Prof. Timothy O’Brien

HIHI Academic Advisor, University of Galway | UG

Prof. Timothy O’Brien is professor and chair of Medicine and Director of REMEDI at the University of Galway. He is consultant physician in Endocrinology and former Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences at the University of Galway.

Research Interest:
Prof. Timothy O’Brien trained in internal medicine and endocrinology in Cork, Milwaukee, Rochester and San Francisco. Prior to joining University of Galway, he worked at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease at the University of California, San Francisco. In 2001 he was appointed as Head of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospital. In 2004 he established the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) at University of Galway with funding from Science Foundation Ireland and currently holds the position of Director.

Research interests include the translation of basic research findings in stem cell biology to regenerative approaches to peripheral vascular disease and diabetic complications in partnership with industry and the health service. He has an active research group at REMEDI NUI Galway investigating the use of mesenchymal stromal cells and endothelial progenitor cells in vascular complications of diabetes mellitus. He is Director of the GMP cell manufacturing facility at NUI Galway and has been a PI on gene therapy and cell therapy clinical trials in Galway. In addition to a laboratory-based programme, his research brings together the Galway HRB Clinical Research Facility, the Galway Blood and Tissue Establishment and the Centre for Cell Manufacturing Ireland for translational research in stem cells and gene therapy.

Professor O’Brien is coordinator of 2 current EU funded projects; EU FP7 REDDSTAR which is developing and testing a novel stromal cell therapy to treat complications of diabetes mellitus and the recently started EU H2020 NEPHSTROM, which will clinically validate a novel stromal cell therapy for the stabilization of progressive diabetic kidney disease.

Publications:
Prof. O’Brien has published an average of 15 manuscripts per year over the past 5 years.
Prof. O’Brien has a total of 254 publications; with 103 Senior Author Publications; 174 Journal Articles; 80 Reviews and 21 Book Chapters.

Team Members

Mr Dave Shanahan
Chair of the National Oversight Group of Health Innovation Hub Ireland
Professor John R. Higgins
HIHI Lead PI, University College Cork and Cork University Maternity Hospital
Professor Seamas Donnelly
HIHI PI, Trinity College Dublin
Professor Martin O’Donnell
HIHI Academic Advisor, HIHI PI, Executive Dean CMNHS, University of Galway
Professor Martin O’Halloran
HIHI PI, University of Galway
Dr Conor Judge
HIHI PI, University of Galway
Dr Tanya Mulcahy
HIHI Director, University College Cork
Jane O’Flynn
HIHI Manager, Munster Technological University
Eimear Galvin
HIHI Manager, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Steven Griffin
HIHI Manager, University of Galway
Noel Murphy
HIHI Clinical Liaison and HSE Biomedical Engineer, Cork University Hospital
Noreen Lynch
HIHI Clinical Liaison and HSE Clinical Nurse Manager, Bantry University Hospital
Niamh Allen
HIHI Clinical Liaison and Clinical Nurse Manager, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
Eimer O’Connell
Project Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland, University of Galway
Michael Duane
HIHI Clinical Liaison and Principal Clinical Engineer, University Hospital Galway
Caroline McGarry
Communications and PR Lead
Professor Joe Eustace
HIHI Academic Advisor, CRF-Cork and University College Cork
Prof. Timothy O’Brien
HIHI Academic Advisor, University of Galway