Biography
Dr. Niamh O'Boyle is an Associate Professor in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in Trinity College Dublin. She received her BSc(Pharm)(1st class) and PhD degree from Trinity College Dublin, working with Prof. Mary J. Meegan. She subsequently completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) with Prof. Ann-Therese Karlberg and the School of Biochemistry and Immunology (TCD), working with Prof. Daniela Zisterer. Dr. O'Boyle is fascinated by the interaction of chemicals, both drugs and toxins, with the body. This inspires her research in the development of novel drugs for hard-to-treat cancers and in discovering the underlying mechanisms of skin allergy. She runs several diverse research projects and her research is supported by the TCD Provost's PhD Project Award, Panoz Pharmaceutical Innovation PhD Scholarships, Research Ireland, EU MSCA-RISE (EVEREST), Wellcome Trust, CAMS-UK, the Royal Society of Chemistry, Enterprise Ireland, Breakthrough Cancer Research and the City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital Charity. Her research work is consistently published in high-quality international, peer-reviewed journals and she has been a co-applicant on two published patents. She was awarded a Fellowship of TCD in 2023. Dr. O'Boyle is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland. She is a member and secretary of the Physical, Chemical & Mathematical Sciences multidisciplinary committee of the Royal Irish Academy (2022-2026). Dr. O'Boyle is a long-standing committee member of the international GP2A Medicinal Chemistry organisation. She was previously the early career representative on the Royal Society of Chemistry Ireland Regional Steering Group (2020-2023).
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Fiona Sexton, Julia O'Mahony, Sumera Sumera, Romina Golchin, Anne Lonergan, Siobhan McCarthy, Cecilia Svedman, Martin Mowitz, Niamh O'Boyle, Colin P Hawkes, John Bourke, Culprit allergens in diabetes technology-associated allergic contact dermatitis: investigation remains challenging, British Journal of Dermatology, 193, (4), 2025, p792-794
Tonelotto, Valentina, Qaisar, Alina, McLoughlin, Eavan C., Cassaday, Amelia, Kundu, Karishma, Pendino, Marzia, Marcone, Simone, O'Sullivan, Jacintha, Twamley, Brendan, Jensen, Lasse D., Thorpe, Stephen D., Kennedy, Breandán N. and O'Boyle, Niamh M., Characterization of a water soluble quininib prodrug that blocks metabolic activity and proliferation of multiple cancer cell lines, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 296, 2025
Ana G, Malebari AM, Noorani S, Fayne D, O'Boyle NM, Zisterer DM, Pimentel EF, Endringer DC, Meegan MJ., (E)-1-(3-(3-Hydroxy-4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-(3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)allyl)-1H-1,2,4-Triazole and Related Compounds: Their Synthesis and Biological Evaluation as Novel Antimitotic Agents Targeting Breast Cancer., Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 18, (1), 2025, p118
Bayraktar G, Carro L, Decker M, Giuntini F, Helesbeux JJ, Marchand P, Matthews SE, McCarthy FO, Mistry SN, Moreira VM, O'Boyle NM, Pace V, Rochais C, Saylam M, Sotelo E., Shaping Future Medicinal Chemists: Perspectives from European Schools of Pharmacy within the GP2A Network., Journal of medicinal chemistry, 2025
Matthew Ward, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Analysis of the structural diversity of heterocycles amongst European medicines agency approved pharmaceuticals (2014-2023), RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 16, (10), 2025, p4540-4570
Moore, Aaron I., Moreira, Ana S. P., Conde, Tiago, Melo, Tania, Domingues, Pedro, O'Boyle, Niamh M., Domingues, M. Rosario, Terpene Hydroperoxides as Lipid Peroxidation Inducers: Biomimetic and HaCaT Cell Studies in Allergic Contact Dermatitis, Contact Dermatitis, 93, (1), 2025, p16-30
Moore AI, Moreira ASP, Guerra IMS, Goracci L, Domingues P, Melo T, Domingues MR, O'Boyle NM., A lipidomic approach towards identifying the effects of fragrance hydroperoxides on keratinocytes., Contact dermatitis, 92, (3), 2025, p176 - 186
Sofia Botvid, Helen Vaher, Alexandra T. Seibel, Aaron Moore, Niamh O'Boyle, Lina Hagvall, Niels Højsager Bennike, Charlotte Menné Bonefeld, Jeanne Duus Johansen, FS-10 Repeated open application test (ROAT) with hydroperoxides of linalool, Contact Dermatitis, 16th Congress of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD), Dresden, Germany, September 2024, 91, (S1), 2024
Aoife Clancy, Lina Hagvall, Per Malmberg, Niamh O'Boyle, P-18 Using ToF-SIMS to investigate skin lipid composition upon exposure to allergens, Contact Dermatitis, 16th Congress of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD), Dresden, Germany, September 2024, 91, (S1), 2024
James Patrick McKeown, Andrew J Byrne, Sandra A Bright, Clara E Charleton, Shubhangi Kandwal, Ivan Cmelo, Brendan Twamley, Anthony M McElligott, Darren Fayne, Niamh M O'Boyle, D.Clive Williams, Mary Jane Meegan, Synthesis and Biochemical evaluation of Ethanoanthracenes and Related Compounds: Antiproliferative and Pro-apoptotic Effects in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), Pharmaceuticals, 17, (8), 2024, p1034
Ndreu L., Carlsson J., Ponting D.J., Niklasson I.B., Steen E.J.L., McHugh L., O'Boyle N.M., Luthman K., Karlberg A.-T., Karlsson I., Bioactivation of cinnamic alcohol in a reconstructed human epidermis model and evaluation of sensitizing potency of the identified metabolites, Frontiers in Toxicology, 6, 2024
Aoife Clancy, Lina Hagvall, Per Malmberg, Niamh O'Boyle, FS-12 Skin deep: The distribution and effects of methylisothiazolinone and fragrances in the skin, Contact Dermatitis, 16th Congress of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD), Dresden, Germany, September 2024, 91, (S1), 2024
McVicker RU, O'Boyle NM., Chirality of New Drug Approvals (2013-2022): Trends and Perspectives., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, (4), 2024, p2305-2320
McLoughlin EC, Twamley B, O'Boyle NM., Candida antarctica Lipase B mediated kinetic resolution: A sustainable method for chiral synthesis of antiproliferative ß-lactams., European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 276, 2024, p116692
McLoughlin E.C., Twamley B., O'Brien J.E., Hannon Barroeta P., Zisterer D.M., Meegan M.J., O'Boyle N.M., Synthesis by diastereomeric resolution, biochemical evaluation and molecular modelling of chiral 3-hydroxyl b-lactam microtubule-targeting agents for the treatment of triple negative breast and chemoresistant colorectal cancers, Bioorganic Chemistry, 141, 2023
Byrne A.J., Bright S.A., McKeown J.P., Bergin A., Twamley B., McElligott A.M., Noorani S., Kandwal S., Fayne D., O'Boyle N.M., Williams D.C., Meegan M.J., Synthesis and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Nitrovinylanthracenes and Related Compounds in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) and Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL), Molecules, 28, (24), 2023
Wang S., Malebari A.M., Greene T.F., Kandwal S., Fayne D., Nathwani S.M., Zisterer D.M., Twamley B., O'Boyle N.M., Meegan M.J., Antiproliferative and Tubulin-Destabilising Effects of 3-(Prop-1-en-2-yl)azetidin-2-Ones and Related Compounds in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells, Pharmaceuticals, 16, (7), 2023, p1000-
McLoughlin EC, O'Brien JE, Trujillo C, Meegan MJ, O'Boyle NM., Application of 2D EXSY and qNMR Spectroscopy for Diastereomeric Excess Determination Following Chiral Resolution of Beta-Lactams, ChemistryOpen, 2022, pe202200119
O'Boyle, Niamh; Niklasson, Ida; Ponting, David; Ortega, Miguel; Seifert, Tina; Natsch, Andreas; Luthman, Kristina; Karlberg, Ann-Therese, Nature-Derived Epoxy Resins: Synthesis, Allergenicity and Thermosetting Properties of Pinoresinol Diglycidyl Ether, Toxicology and Industrial Health, 38, (5), 2022, p259-269
Knox S, Hagvall L, Malmberg P, O'Boyle NM., Topical Application of Metal Allergens Induces Changes to Lipid Composition of Human Skin., Frontiers in Toxicology, 4, 2022, p867163
Malebari AM, Duffy Morales G, Twamley B, Fayne D, Khan MF, McLoughlin EC, O'Boyle NM, Zisterer DM, Meegan MJ., Synthesis, Characterisation and Mechanism of Action of Anticancer 3-Fluoroazetidin-2-ones., Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 15, (9), 2022, p1044
Mary J. Meegan and Niamh M. O'Boyle, Anticancer Drugs 2021, MDPI, 2021
Gloria Ana, Patrick M. Kelly, Azizah M. Malebari, Sara Noorani, Seema M. Nathwani, Brendan Twamley, Darren Fayne, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Elisangela Flavia Pimentel, Denise Coutinho Endringer and Mary J. Meegan, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-1,2,4-Triazoles and 1-(Diarylmethyl)-1H-Imidazoles as a Novel Class of Anti-Mitotic Agent for Activity in Breast Cancer, Pharmaceuticals, 14, (2), 2021, p169-
Sophie Knox, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Skin Lipids in Health and Disease: A Review, Chemistry and Physics of Lipids, 236, 2021, p105055
Malebari A.M., Wang S., Greene T.F., O'Boyle N.M., Fayne D., Khan M.F., Nathwani S.M., Twamley B., McCabe T., Zisterer D.M., Meegan M.J., Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of 3-chloroazetidin-2-ones with antimitotic activity: Heterocyclic bridged analogues of combretastatin A-4, Pharmaceuticals, 14, (11), 2021, part. 1119-
Malebari, A.M. and Fayne, D. and Nathwani, S.M. and O'Connell, F. and Noorani, S. and Twamley, B. and O'Boyle, N.M. and O'Sullivan, J. and Zisterer, D.M. and Meegan, M.J., β-Lactams with antiproliferative and antiapoptotic activity in breast and chemoresistant colon cancer cells, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 189, (112050), 2020
Malebari, A.M. and Fayne, D. and Nathwani, S.M. and O'Connell, F. and Noorani, S. and Twamley, B. and O'Boyle, N.M. and O'Sullivan, J. and Zisterer, D.M. and Meegan, M.J., Beta-Lactams with antiproliferative and antiapoptotic activity in breast and chemoresistant colon cancer cells, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 189, (112050), 2020
Eavan C. McLoughlin and Niamh M. O'Boyle, Colchicine-Binding Site Inhibitors from Chemistry to Clinic: A Review , Pharmaceuticals, 13, (1), 2020
McLoughlin, E.C. and O'Boyle, N.M., Correction: Colchicine-binding site inhibitors from chemistry to clinic: A review. (Pharmaceuticals, (2020)13, 8), Pharmaceuticals, 13, (4), 2020
T. S. Ibrahim, M. M. Hawwas, A. M. Malebari, E. S. Taher, A. M. Omar, N. M. O'Boyle, E. McLoughlin, Z.K. Abdel-Samii, Y. A. M. M. Elshaier, Potent Quinoline-Containing Combretastatin A-4 Analogues: Design, Synthesis, Antiproliferative, and Anti-Tubulin Activity, Pharmaceuticals, 13, (11), 2020, p393-
Miriam Carr, Andrew J.S. Knox, Daniel K. Nevin, Niamh O'Boyle, Shu Wang, Billy Egan, Thomas McCabe, Brendan Twamley, Daniela M. Zisterer, David G. Lloyd, Mary J. Meegan, Optimisation of Estrogen Receptor Subtype-Selectivity of a 4-Aryl-4H-Chromene Scaffold Previously Identified by Virtual Screening, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 28, (5), 2020, p115261-
Twamley, B., O'Boyle, N.M., Meegan, M.J., Azetidin-2-ones: Structures of antimitotic compounds based on the 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)azetidin-2-one core, Acta Crystallographica Section E: Crystallographic Communications, 76, 2020, p1187 - 1194
Wang, S., Malebari, A.M., Greene, T.F., O'Boyle, N.M., Fayne, D., Nathwani, S.M., Twamley, B., McCabe, T., Keely, N.O., Zisterer, D.M. and Meegan, M.J., 3-Vinylazetidin-2-Ones: Synthesis, antiproliferative and tubulin destabilizing activity in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells, Pharmaceuticals, 12, (2), 2019
Mary J. Meegan and Niamh M. O'Boyle, Anticancer Drugs, 1, MDPI, 2019
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Gloria Ana, Patrick M. Kelly, Seema M. Nathwani, Sara Noorani, Darren Fayne, Sandra A. Bright, Brendan Twamley, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Synthesis and evaluation of antiproliferative microtubule-destabilising combretastatin A-4 piperazine conjugates, Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 17, 2019, p6184 - 6200
O'Boyle, NM, Barrett, I, Greene, LM, Carr, M, Fayne, D, Twamley, B, Knox, AJS, Keely, NO, Zisterer, DM, Meegan, MJ, Lead Optimization of Benzoxepin-Type Selective Estrogen Receptor (ER) Modulators and Downregulators with Subtype-Specific ER-alpha and ER-beta Activity, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 61, (2), 2018, p514 - 534
Pollock JK, Greene LM, Nathwani SM, Kinsella P, O'Boyle NM, Meegan MJ, Zisterer DM., Involvement of NF-kB in mediating the anti-tumour effects of combretastatins in T cells., Investigational new drugs, 36, (4), 2018, p523-535
Malebari, A.M. and Greene, L.M. and Nathwani, S.M. and Fayne, D. and O'Boyle, N.M. and Wang, S. and Twamley, B. and Zisterer, D.M. and Meegan, M.J., β-Lactam analogues of combretastatin A-4 prevent metabolic inactivation by glucuronidation in chemoresistant HT-29 colon cancer cells, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 130, 2017, p261-285
Malebari, AM, Greene, LM, Nathwani, SM, Fayne, D, O'Boyle, NM, Wang, S, Twamley, B, Zisterer, DM, Meegan, MJ, Beta-lactam analogues of combretastatin A-4 prevent metabolic inactivation by glucuronidation in chemoresistant HT-29 colon cancer cells, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 130, 2017, p261-285
Meegan MJ, Nathwani S, Twamley B, Zisterer DM, O'Boyle NM., Piperlongumine (piplartine) and analogues: Antiproliferative microtubule-destabilising agents., European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 125, 2017, p453 - 463
Greene TF, Wang S, Greene LM, Nathwani SM, Pollock JK, Malebari AM, McCabe T, Twamley B, O'Boyle NM, Zisterer DM, Meegan MJ, Synthesis and Biochemical Evaluation of 3-Phenoxy-1,4-diarylazetidin-2-ones as Tubulin-Targeting Antitumor Agents., Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 59, (1), 2016, p90 - 113
Hagvall, L, Niklasson, IB, Rudbäck, J, O'Boyle, NM, Niklasson, E, Luthman, K, Karlberg, A-T, Assessment of cross-reactivity of new less sensitizing epoxy resin monomers in epoxy resin-allergic individuals, Contact Dermatitis, 75, (3), 2016, p144-150
Pollock, JK, Verma,NK, O'Boyle, NM, Carr, MG, Meegan, MJ, Zisterer, DM, Combretastatin (CA)-4 and its novel analogue CA-432 impair T-cell migration through the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway, Biochemical Pharmacology, 92, (4), 2014, p544-557
O'Boyle NM, Pollock JK, Carr M, Knox AJ, Nathwani SM, Wang S, Caboni L, Zisterer DM, Meegan MJ., β-Lactam estrogen receptor antagonists and a dual-targeting estrogen receptor/tubulin ligand., Journal of medicinal chemistry, 57, (22), 2014, p9370-9382
O'Boyle, NM, Niklasson, IB, Tehrani-Bagha,AR, Delaine, T, Holmberg, K, Luthman, K, Karlberg, AT, Epoxy resin monomers with reduced skin sensitizing potency, Chemical Research in Toxicology, 27, (6), 2014, p1002-1010
O'Boyle, NM, Pollock, JK, Carr, M, Knox, AJS, Nathwani, SM, Wang, S, Caboni, L, Zisterer, DM, Meegan, MJ, Beta-Lactam Estrogen Receptor Antagonists and a Dual-Targeting Estrogen Receptor/Tubulin Ligand, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 57, (22), 2014, p9370 - 9382
Greene, LM, Wang, S, O'Boyle, NM, Bright, SA, Reid, JEA, Kelly, PJ, Meegan, MJ, Zisterer, DM, Combretazet-3 a novel synthetic cis-stable combretastatin A-4-azetidinone hybrid with enhanced stability and therapeutic efficacy in colon cancer, Oncology Reports, 29, (6), 2013, p2451-2458
O'Boyle, NM, Greene, LM, Keely, NO, Wang, S, Cotter, TS, Zisterer, DM, Meegan, MJ, Synthesis and biochemical activities of antiproliferative amino acid and phosphate derivatives of microtubule-disrupting beta-lactam combretastatins, EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 62, 2013, p705-721
Nathwani, S. M., Hughes, L., Greene, L. M., Carr, M., O'Boyle, N. M., McDonnell, S., Meegan, M. J., Zisterer, D. M., Novel cis-restricted beta-lactam combretastatin A-4 analogues display anti-vascular and anti-metastatic properties in vitro,, Oncol Rep, 29, (2), 2013, p585 - 594
Ann-Therese Karlberg, Kristina Luthman, Krister Holmberg, Niamh O'Boyle, Tamara Delaine, 'Resin compositions', Intellectual Property Office, GB1319110.1, 2013
Greene, LM, O'Boyle, NM, Nolan, DP, Meegan, MJ, Zisterer, DM, The vascular targeting agent Combretastatin-A4 directly induces autophagy in adenocarcinoma-derived colon cancer cells, Biochemical Pharmacology, 84, (5), 2012, p612-624
O'Boyle, NM, Delaine, T, Luthman, K, Natsch, A, Karlberg, AT, Analogues of the epoxy resin monomer diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F: Effects on contact allergenic potency and cytotoxicity, Chemical Research in Toxicology, 25, (11), 2012, p2469-2478
O'Boyle, NM, Meegan, MJ, Designed multiple ligands for cancer therapy, Current Medicinal Chemistry, 18, (31), 2011, p4722-4737
O'Boyle, N.M., Knox, A.J.S., Price, T.P., Williams, D.C., Zisterer, D.M., Lloyd, D.G., Meegan, M.J., Lead identification of beta-lactam and related imine inhibitors of the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 19, (20), 2011, p6055-6068
O'Boyle, NM, Greene, LM, Bergin, O, Fichet, JB, McCabe, T, Lloyd, DG, Zisterer, DM, Meegan, MJ, Synthesis, evaluation and structural studies of antiproliferative tubulin-targeting azetidin-2-ones, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 19, (7), 2011, p2306-2325
O'Boyle, NM, Carr, M, Greene, LM, Keely, NO, Knox, AJS, McCabe, T, Lloyd, DG, Zisterer, DM, Meegan, MJ, Synthesis, Biochemical and Molecular Modelling Studies of Antiproliferative Azetidinones causing Microtubule Disruption and Mitotic Catastrophe, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 46, (9), 2011, p4595 - 4607
O'Boyle NM, Carr M, Greene LM, Bergin O, Nathwani SM, McCabe T, Lloyd DG, Zisterer DM, Meegan MJ, Synthesis and evaluation of azetidinone analogues of combretastatin A-4 as tubulin targeting agents, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 53, (24), 2010, p8569-8584
Yang,Y., Carta,G., Peters, M.B., Price, T.T., O'Boyle, N.M., Knox, A.J.S., Fayne, D., Williams, D.C., Meegan, M.J., Lloyd, D.G., 'TieredScreen' - Layered virtual screening tool for the identification of novel estrogen receptor alpha modulators, Molecular Informatics, 29, (5), 2010, p421-430
Greene,. L.M., Nathwani, S.M., Bright, S.A., Fayne, D., Croke, A., Gagliardi,M., McElligott, A.M., O'Connor, L.M., Carr, M.G., Keely, N.O., O'Boyle, N.M., Carroll, P.V., Sarkadi, B., Conneally, E.C., Lloyd,D.G., Lawler, M.P., Meegan, M.J., Zisterer, D.M., The vascular targeting agent combretastatin-A4 and a novel cis-restricted beta-lactam analogue, CA-432, induce apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia cells and ex vivo patient samples including those displaying multidrug resistance, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 335, (2), 2010, p302-313
Barrett, I., Carr, M.G., O'Boyle, N.M., Greene, L.M., Knox, A., Lloyd, D.G., Zisterer, D.M., Meegan, M.J., Lead identification of conformationally restricted benzoxepin type combretastatin analogs: Synthesis, antiproliferative activity, and tubulin effects, Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 25, (2), 2010, p180-194
Daniela Zisterer, Mary Meegan, Niamh O'Boyle, Miriam Carr, Lisa Greene and Thomas Greene, 'Combretastatin Derivatives and Uses Therefor', European Patent Office, EP2338877 A1, 2009
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
JL Wong, N O'Boyle, L O'Driscoll, 343 Extracellular Vesicles Released from Skin Keratinocytes in Response to Contact Allergens, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, ESDR 2025, Antwerp, Belgium, September 2025, 145, (12), 2025, ppS326-
Aoife Clancy, Anne-Marie Tobin, Fei Lei, Derek G. Doherty, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Investigating the Role of CD1a and CD1d in Nickel Allergic Contact Dermatitis, CD1-MR1 2025 Conference, Portland, OR, USA, 2025, 2025
Fiona Sexton, Julia O'Mahony, Sumera Sumera, Romina Golchin, Cecilia Svedman, Niamh O'Boyle, Colin P Hawkes, John Bourke, CD02 Colophonium derivatives as key allergens in diabetes technology-associated allergic contact dermatitis: a hidden concern in the British Society for Cutaneous Allergy standard series, British Journal of Dermatology, 105th Annual Meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists, Glasgow, Scotland, 193, (Supplement 1), 2025
Aaron I. Moore, Ana S. P. Moreira, Tiago Conde, Pedro Domingues, Tânia Melo, Niamh M. O'Boyle, M. Rosário Domingues, Exploring the Potential of Terpene Hydroperoxides to Induce Lipid Peroxidation and Their Role in Contact Allergy, Lipids in Cellular Function and Disease, Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, CO, United States, April 2025, 2025
Ellie Swords, Eve O'Reilly, Niamh Stephens, Alina Qaisar, Silvia Illa-Tuset, Rob Scoffin, Colm J. Ryan, Niamh O'Boyle, Valentina Tonelotto, Breandán N. Kennedy, Investigating the Therapeutic Potential of Drug Combinations in Pre-Clinical Models of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma, UCD Conway Festival of Research, University College Dublin, October 2024, 2024
Breandan N Kennedy; Eavan McLoughlin; Alina Qaisar; Amelia Cassaday; Marzia Pendino; Simeone Marcone; Jacintha O'Sullivan; Niamh O'Boyle; Valentina Tonelotto, A Water Soluble Quininib Analogue Blocks Metabolic Activity and Proliferation of OMM2.5 Metastatic Uveal Melanoma Cells, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, ARVO Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA, 2024, 65, 2024, pp2258-
Eavan C. McLoughlin , Niamh M. O'Boyle, A biocatalytic approach for kinetic resolution toward enantiopure anti-cancer beta-lactams using Candida antarctica Lipase B, 9th International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, 1-30 November 2023, edited by Alfredo Berzal-Herranz , 2023
Niamh O'Boyle(ed.), 30th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference, Pharmaceuticals, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 16, (3), 24-26th August 2022, 2023, 432-
Mary J. Meegan and Niamh M. O'Boyle, Special Issue 'Anticancer Drugs 2021', Pharmaceuticals, 15, (4), 2022, p479-
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Targeting Tubulin - a Tale of the Development of the Combretazets, SCF 29th Young Research Fellows Meeting, Nantes, 4-6 July 2022, 2022, Société de Chimie Thérapeutique
Niamh M. O'Boyle, FS-44: Nature-Inspired Epoxy Resins: PinoDGE, Contact Dermatitis, European Society for Contact Dermatitis 15th Congress, Amsterdam, 8-10 June 2022, 86, (S1), Wiley, 2022, pp20-
Eavan C. McLoughlin, Patricia Hannon Barroeta, Daniela M. Zisterer, and Niamh M. O'Boyle, P41: A comparison of chiral diastereomeric versus kinetic enzymatic resolution for enantioseparation of microtubule depolymerising beta-lactams, 30th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference, Dublin, 24-26 August 2022, 2022
Niamh M. O'Boyle, FC-48: Probing the skin with ToF-SIMS: skin lipid composition upon exposure to metal allergens, Contact Dermatitis, European Society for Contact Dermatitis 15th Congress, Amsterdam, 8-10 July 2022, 86, (S1), Wiley, 2022, pp54 - 55
Alina Qaisar, Jacintha O'Sullivan, Niamh M. O'Boyle, P22: Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Amino Acid Prodrugs of the Radiosensitser Pyrazinib, 30th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference, Dublin, 24-26 August 2022, 2022
Eavan C. McLoughlin, Nithya Valupadasu, Niamh M. O'Boyle, A phosphate prodrug of pyrazinib: Improved solubility and antiproliferative activity, 7th International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, November 2021, edited by Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , 2021
Helesbeux J.-J., Carro L., McCarthy F.O., Moreira V.M., Giuntini F., O'Boyle N.M., Matthews S.E., Bayraktar G., Bertrand S., Rochais C., Marchand P., 29th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference, Pharmaceuticals, 14, (12), 2021, part. 1278
Niamh O'Boyle, Probing the Skin with ToF-SIMS: do Metal Allergens Change Lipid Composition?, 29th Meeting of the European Research Group on Experimental Contact Dermatitis, Online, 3rd February, 2021
Eavan C. McLoughlin, Niamh M. O'Boyle, Combretazets: Enantiomeric Beta-Lactams for the Treatment of Breast Cancer, 6th International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, 01-30 November 2020, edited by Dr. Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , MDPI, 2020
Niamh O'Boyle, Epoxy Resins: From Chemistry to Clinic, Occupational and Environmental Exposure of the Skin to Chemicals, Dublin, 16 - 18 Sept. 2019, 2019
Niamh O'Boyle, Organic chemistry practicals: introduction of pre-laboratory assessments for first year pharmacy students, Irish Variety in Chemistry Education 2019, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, 26th April 2019, edited by Claire McDonnell , 2019
Eavan Ciara McLoughlin, Mary Meegan, Niamh O'Boyle, Stories from Staudinger: Synthesis of chiral beta-lactams, 5th International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, Online at https://sciforum.net/conference/ECMC2019, November 2019, 2019
Niamh O'Boyle, Benzoxepin-Type Selective Estrogen Receptor (ER) Modulators and Downregulators with Subtype-Specific ERalpha and ERbeta Activity, 26th Annual GP2A Medicinal Chemistry Conference & 32nd Journées Franco-Belges de Pharmacochimie, Asnelles sur Mer, Normandie, France, 13th June 2018, 2018, GP2A
James Patrick Mc Keown, Clara Charleton, Keith Ferris, Sara Noorani, Niamh M O'Boyle, Mary J Meegan, Ethanoanthracenes: Potential chemotherapeutics for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), 4th International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, Online at www.sciforum.net/conference/ecmc-4, November 2018, edited by MDPI , 2018
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Microtubule-Destabilising Actions of Piperlongumine and Analogues, Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Electron. Conf. Med. Chem., 3rd International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, November 2017, edited by Annie Mayence and Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , 11, (1), Pharmaceuticals, 2017, pp18-
Niamh M. O'Boyle, Daniela M. Zisterer, Mary J. Meegan, Lead Optimization of Benzoxepin-Type Selective Estrogen Receptor (ER) Modulators and Downregulators with Subtype-Specific ERalpha and ERbeta Activity, Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Electron. Conf. Med. Chem., 3rd International Electronic Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, November 2017, edited by Annie Mayence and Jean Jacques Vanden Eynde , 11, (1), Pharmaceuticals, 2017, pp18-
Niamh O'Boyle, Designing a capacity plan for the Aseptic Compounding Unit in St. James's Hospital, Irish Pharmacy Journal , 85, 2007, p303 - 306
Research Expertise
Description
Dr. O'Boyle leads a research group that is at the forefront of two fields: developing treatments for drug-resistant cancers and discovering mechanisms of skin allergy. Both are concerned with the intricate interactions between chemicals and the human body. In the inflammation strand of her research, she is elucidating the reasons that certain chemicals cause skin allergy. This had led to a new research area: the characterisation of the effects of chemicals on skin lipids. The key direction of this research is improving the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of skin allergy, leading to improved diagnostics and treatments. In the cancer strand of her research, she is focused on developing treatments for multi-drug resistant cancers and uveal melanoma. Dr. O'Boyle consistently publishes in international peer-reviewed articles, and has also co-edited two books and is a co-inventor on two patents. She has been a keynote speaker at many conferences and seminars. Her research has been supported by the Irish Research Council, CAMS-UK, Wellcome Trust, Enterprise Ireland, Royal Society of Chemistry, H2020-MSCA-RISE (CRYSTAL3 and EVEREST), Panoz Pharmaceutical Innovation PhD scholarships), Trinity College (Trinity Research Boost, Provost's PhD Project Award and Dean of Health Sciences Award), Research Ireland, Horizon-Europe Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral-Network (eRaDicate), Breakthrough Cancer Research and the City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital Charity.Projects
- Title
- Assessment of Skin Allergens in Diabetic Glucose Sensors and Insulin Pumps
- Summary
- Continuous glucose-monitoring devices and insulin pump systems have become an essential component of the management of diabetes, a chronic disease that affects over 500 million people worldwide. As the prevalence of diabetes increases, the use of these devices is also expanding. These devices are affixed to the patient"s skin using an adhesive patch. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to components of glucose-monitoring sensors and insulin pumps is increasingly problematic as disease management becomes dependent on wearable technologies. To date, the most common identified skin allergens fall into two broad classes: acrylates and colophonium-related substances. However, the range of skin allergens discovered in both the devices and the adhesive patches is constantly expanding. Although patch testing is useful in identifying potential allergens, many studies to date have not analysed the chemical composition of the devices. The objective of this project is to analyse diabetic medical devices to understand what allergenic chemicals are present, focusing on emerging skin allergens.
- Funding Agency
- City of Dublin Skin and Cancer Hospital Charity
- Title
- Extracellular Vesicles in Allergic Contact Dermatitis (EV-ACD)
- Summary
- Contact allergy is a skin disease that happens when skin comes into contact with harmful chemicals, called contact allergens. Contact allergens cause inflammation and the skin becomes red, itchy and sometimes blistered. These contact allergens can be natural, like metals and those in poison ivy, or synthetic, for example fragrances used in perfumes. We don"t fully understand why some chemicals cause contact allergy whilst others don"t. Skin cells, called keratinocytes, release small vesicles when they are exposed to contact allergens. This project aims to characterise these vesicles and their contents, to understand what is released from keratinocytes. We also aim to determine if the vesicles cause an immune response. The results of this project will help us to learn more about what happens in our skin upon contact with allergens. In the future, this could lead to breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of contact allergy.
- Funding Agency
- Panoz Pharmaceutical Innovation
- Title
- Synthesis of Novel Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor 1 Antagonists for the Treatment of Uveal Melanoma: Optimisation of Identified Hits into Potential Drug Candidates
- Summary
- Uveal melanoma (UM) is an eye cancer. In half of UM patients, the cancer spreads to the liver. There are no good treatments for preventing the cancer from spreading or for treating the cancer once it has spread. Therefore, there is a clear need to develop new medicines for this disease. Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLTR1) is a protein present naturally in humans. Studies have shown high levels of CysLTR1 in many cancers, and links between CysLTR1 and poor outcomes. Some studies have shown that medicines that block the action of CysLTR1 decrease cancer risk. Therefore, CysLTR1 antagonists could be a useful new UM treatment option. Two exciting new CysLTR1 antagonist drugs have been discovered " quininib and `M6". Quininib has been shown to prevent blood vessel formation (a way that cancer spreads) in zebrafish eyes, and a very similar drug (1,4-dihydroxy quininib) has been shown to kill UM cells and cause other changes in their behaviour. M6, a more recently discovered and less-studied drug, can block CysLTR1, is non-toxic to zebrafish and prevents zebrafish blood vessel formation. This is promising, but neither quininib nor M6 is `patient-ready". There are opportunities for strengthening drug action so that lower doses are needed for treatment. This research will involve synthesising new drugs similar to M6 and quininib but with strategic chemistry changes, to try to give the drugs better activity against UM. These drugs will then be tested using UM cells and zebrafish, ultimately to develop a drug that could one day be used to treat UM patients.
- Funding Agency
- Research Ireland & Breakthrough Cancer Research
- Title
- Biochemical Evaluation of the 'Combretazets' - Novel and Potent Drugs for Treating Multi-Drug Resistant Cancers
- Summary
- The aim of this project is to evaluate the biochemical effects of novel, enantiomerally pure β-lactams on breast cancer cells. Specific assays will investigate effects on breast cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and tubulin polymerisation. This will enable us to identify the best drug candidate for progression to pre-clinical experiments, e.g. in vivo assessment.
- Funding Agency
- Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund
- Title
- Analysis of Skin Lipids in Contact Allergy by Mass Spectrometry
- Funding Agency
- CAMS-UK and Royal Society of Chemistry
- Date From
- August 2020
- Date To
- September 2021
- Title
- Development of Novel Anti-Tumour Beta-Lactams for Treatment of Aggressive Breast Cancer
- Summary
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and lethal form of breast cancer. The most successful drugs target three receptors common to most breast cancers (estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 receptors). TNBC does not express any of these receptors and, despite many advances in cancer treatment, remains difficult to treat. This project aims to address an unmet clinical need by developing drugs to treat TNBC. With an increasing incidence of cancer and an ageing population, we need to address this problem now to improve future outcomes for the individual and for society. The development of new drugs to treat TNBC will improve quality-of-life for patients and alleviate the economic burden of cancer on society. Tubulin is a protein that is essential for tumour cell replication. Drugs targeting tubulin, e.g. paclitaxel, are used to treat a wide range of cancers and have saved countless lives. Unfortunately drug resistance and side-effects are common, hence development of new drugs is necessary. A large library of anti-tumour β-lactams that interact with tubulin and halt the growth of cancer cells, including TNBC cells, have been developed by our research group. These compounds are amongst the most potent tubulin-targeting agents ever reported. The β-lactams were initially evaluated as a racemic mixture of two isomers known as enantiomers. It is common that one enantiomer of a drug has a better therapeutic profile, although many drugs are still produced as racemates. The next critical step in this project involves chemical synthesis of the enantiomers of our β-lactams. The most biologically active compounds from our series of over 250 analogues have been chosen for synthesis as single enantiomers. Upon completion of synthesis, biological evaluation of their relative potencies in TBNC cells will allow us to determine which has superior activity. The most promising compounds will be progressed for preclinical development to establish a clinical drug candidate with the potential to save lives. The three overall aims of this research project are: 1. Development of efficient methods for chemical synthesis of enantiomerically pure β-lactams. 2. Evaluation of the anti-tumour effects of the β-lactams in breast cancer cells. 3. Development of the best β-lactams as potential clinical drug candidates for treatment of TNBC. The outcomes of the project will be twofold: firstly, advances in the design of novel anti-cancer drugs to treat TNBC and secondly, development of more efficient methods to synthesise enantiomerically pure β-lactams. The methodology developed from the latter can potentially be applied to the synthesis of number of commercially available β-lactam-containing drugs, e.g. ezetimibe.
- Funding Agency
- University of Dublin, Trinity College
- Date From
- September 2018
- Date To
- September 2022
- Title
- Synthesis and Analysis of Chiral Anti-Tumour Beta-Lactams for Treatment of Aggressive Breast Cancer
- Summary
- Tubulin is a protein that is essential for tumour cell replication. Drugs targeting tubulin, e.g. paclitaxel, are used to treat a wide range of cancers and have saved countless lives. Unfortunately drug resistance and side-effects are common, hence development of new drugs is necessary. A large library of anti-tumour β-lactams that interact with tubulin and halt the growth of cancer cells, including TNBC cells, have been developed by our research group. These compounds are amongst the most potent tubulin-targeting agents ever reported. They target the colchicine-binding site of tubulin, which is distinct from the binding sites targeted by clinically used tubulin-targeting drugs (paclitaxel, vinblastine and vincristine), and hence our compounds could be of value in overcoming multidrug resistance caused by binding-site specific mutations. Our previously synthesised β-lactams were evaluated as racemic mixtures. It is common that one enantiomer of a drug has a better therapeutic profile. Building on our extensive work, the next critical step in this project involves chemical synthesis of the enantiomers of our β-lactams and determination of their enantiomeric excess (optical purity) using chiral HPLC. The most biologically active compounds from our series of over 250 analogues have been chosen for synthesis as single enantiomers. Our objective is to determine if one or both enantiomers are responsible for the antiprolifeative effects. This will allow us to progress this enantiomer along the drug development pipeline as a clinical candidate.
- Funding Agency
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Date From
- 2020
- Date To
- 2021
- Title
- From Chemistry to Clinic: Increasing the Solubility and Stability of Promising Drugs for Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Summary
- Successful drugs must overcome many hurdles on their journey to clinical use, and it is essential to have a favourable solubility and stability profile. We aim to improve the solubility and stability of two promising anti-cancer agents, CC12 and pyrazinib, which are under development as adjunct treatments for colorectal cancer and oesophageal adenocarcinoma respectively. Drug development options for the two compounds are limited due to suboptimal physiochemical properties: poor water solubility (CC12 and pyrazinib) and stability (CC12). Extremely poor water solubility limits their options for in vivo testing and delivery to patients. CC12 is unstable and undesired degradation products form in solutions of the drug. This project aims to overcome these limitations by chemical synthesis of stable, water-soluble versions of CC12 and pyrazinib called prodrugs. Prodrugs are compounds with little or no inherent pharmacological activity that are enzymatically converted to the active drug in vivo. Prodrug formation is an excellent option for improving the solubility and stability of drugs. We propose to attach the phosphate ester group to CC12 and pyrazinib to optimise their physiochemical profiles and enable further progression of these promising compounds along the drug delivery pipeline into clinical studies.
- Funding Agency
- University of Dublin, Trinity College
- Date From
- 2020
- Date To
- 2021
- Title
- eRaDicate: Developing Innovative Ligands for Nuclear Receptors to Eradicate Cancer Relapse
- Summary
- This project aims to develop a strategy for enabling the efficient delivery of selected RAR" antagonist and VDR agonists. This will be achieved through a systematic approach, beginning with the determination of relevant physicochemical properties of the molecules via preformulation studies. Afterwards, the impact of these properties on functional and biopharmaceutical characteristics such as solubility, dissolution, and permeability will be established. Anti-crystal engineering principles based on polymers and/or other excipients will be applied to create supersaturable drug delivery systems, ensuring maximum solubility and flux across the membrane. The mechanism of drug release and the degree of supersaturation will be determined in vitro, with the goal of identifying an optimum delivery system.
- Funding Agency
- Horizon Europe
Recognition
Representations
Royal Irish Academy Physical, Chemical & Mathematical Sciences multidisciplinary committee (member)
Royal Society of Chemistry Ireland Regional Steering Group - Early Career Representative
Group for the Promotion of Pharmaceutical chemistry in Academia: committee member
COST Action CA17104 Stratagem - management committee substitute (Ireland) and working group member
Journal Reviewer (journals including PNAS, RSC Med.Chem., J.Med.Chem., Eur.J.Med.Chem., ACS Med.Chem.Lett.)
Awards and Honours
Best Poster Presentation, STRATAGEM WG2 Meeting and International Online Symposium on 'Synthesis and nanodelivery strategies for new therapeutic tools against Multidrug Resistant Tumours' (online)
CAMS-UK Fellowship
Trinity College Dublin Provost's PhD Project Award
Outstanding Reviewer Award, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship
University of Gothenburg Department of Chemistry Postdoctoral Scholarship
XVIIIth European Conference of GP2A: Best Presentation
Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Research Studentship
Irish Cancer Society Oncology Scholars Travel Award
Trinity College Dublin Postgraduate Research Studentship (1252)
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland Young Pharmacist's forum: Best poster presentation
Trinity College Dublin Foundation Scholarship
Memberships
Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
Fellow of Trinity College Dublin
Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland
Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Member of the European Society for Contact Dermatitis
Member of the Irish Association for Cancer Research
Member of the European Association for Cancer Research
Associate Member of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland