Speakers - Joint Seminars

Dr Oonagh Dwane is involved in the composition and submission of some of the University’s earliest successes in the EU’s doctoral network awards, Oonagh has over 20 years experience in proposing and managing research and training programmes at doctoral level; including the University’s early participation in similar models funded under HEA PRTLI4, through H2020 to Horizon Europe’s current MSCA Doctoral Network funding model. Currently at the OVPRI, she supports applicants from CMNHS and CASSCS for the MSCA DN call annually. 

Dr Will Ronan is a Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Galway, with research spanning biomedical and mechanical engineering. His work combines computational modelling, biomechanics and experimental mechanics to understand how materials and biological systems respond to their physical environment, with applications ranging from tissue-engineering scaffolds and biodegradable medical devices to advanced composite materials.

A central focus of his research is the use of finite element and numerical modelling to investigate cell mechanics, material behaviour and the performance of medical devices. His research has developed from his doctoral work on the mechanics of cells at University of Galway, during which he also spent time as a visiting scholar at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He subsequently undertook research at the University of Cambridge before returning to Galway in 2016.

Will is currently leading the €2.71 million MEDALLOY project, a Horizon Europe Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network doctoral network (link) focused on improving the strength, durability and affordability of minimally invasive medical devices manufactured from Nitinol, including stents and heart-valve support structures. The international project brings together partners from six countries and will train nine PhD researchers.

Research interests: Biomedical engineering | Biomechanics | Finite element modelling | Cell mechanics | Computational modelling | Medical devices | Material mechanics

Professor Sharon Glynn is Professor in Pathology at the University of Galway and a translational cancer researcher specialising in the biological factors that influence cancer development, progression and treatment response. Her research combines molecular pathology, epidemiology and cell biology to investigate how inflammation, redox signalling and the tumour microenvironment contribute to aggressive forms of breast and prostate cancer.

Her work focuses on understanding the role of inflammation and nitrosative stress in triple-negative breast cancer and metastatic prostate cancer. Her research also examines the activation of human endogenous retroviruses, particularly HERV-K, and their potential contribution to cancer progression. Through this work, she seeks to identify new biomarkers, diagnostic approaches and therapeutic targets for cancers where significant unmet clinical needs remain.

Professor Glynn coordinates NO-CANCER-NET, a Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network focused on developing new nitric oxide-based therapies and diagnostic approaches for triple-negative breast cancer. The network brings together nine institutions across six European countries and provides interdisciplinary research and training for ten doctoral candidates.

A 2022 Fulbright Scholar, Professor Glynn collaborated with the Houston Methodist Research Institute and the University of Notre Dame Harper Cancer Research Institute on advanced spatial pathology and imaging approaches for triple-negative breast cancer. In 2024, she was appointed Fulbright Ambassador for the University of Galway, supporting staff and students seeking Fulbright opportunities and helping to strengthen research and educational links between Ireland and the United States.

She has contributed to the development of advanced cancer-research infrastructure at Galway, including multiplex imaging technology capable of analysing up to 100 markers within a single tissue sample.

Research interests: Cancer biology | Triple-negative breast cancer | Prostate cancer | Tumour inflammation | Nitrosative stress | Tumour microenvironment | Molecular pathology | Human endogenous retroviruses | Translational cancer research.