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Dr. Stephen Maher
Associate Professor, Surgery

Biography

Stephen Maher graduated from RCSI in 2004 with a PhD in Oncology. Having spent 3 years as a visiting fellow at the National Cancer Institute in the USA, in 2007 he returned to Ireland and the Department of Surgery at Trinity College Dublin, St. James's Hospital as a research fellow. In 2010 he established his on group having secured an Irish Cancer Society Fellowship and HRB project grants in 2011 and 2012, all in the area of radiation research. In 2012 Stephen moved to the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School as a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor, where he led the Cancer Biology and Therapeutics lab. During his time at Hull he gained substantial teaching experience and qualifications, and is a fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. Subsequently he developed and directed the MSc in Translational Oncology at Hull, as well as undergraduate cancer biology teaching. Additionally, he acquired funding for and established an optical imaging and radiotherapy core at the University of Hull, and aided in establishing the local tumour biobank for translational cancer studies. He has successfully supervised 6 PhD students and has mentored several postdoctoral researchers. He has secured in excess of €1.9m in competitive research funding, and is well published in the field of microRNA, oesophageal cancer and therapeutics research. In 2016 Stephen returned to TCD as the Ussher Assistant Professor in Translational Oncology, Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy. Here he leads programmes in translational oesophageal and pancreatic cancer research, focusing on radiotherapy, radiobiology and chemotherapy. He has recently established new hypoxia and radiotherapy research cores at the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute. Stephen delivers oncology teaching at both the UG and PG at TCD, and is on the teaching advisory board for the Trinity St. James Cancer Institute.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Donlon NE, Davern M, O'Connell F, Sheppard A, Heeran A, Bhardwaj A, Butler C, Narayanasamy R, Donohoe C, Phelan JJ, Lynam-Lennon N, Dunne MR, Maher S, O'Sullivan J, Reynolds JV, Lysaght J., Impact of radiotherapy on the immune landscape in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, World Journal of Gastroenterology, 2022 Journal Article, 2022

Davern M, Donlon NE, Sheppard AS, Majcher KD, Connell FO, Heeran AB, Grant M, Farrell RA, Hayes C, Bracken-Clarke D, Conroy MJ, Foley E, Toole DO, Bhardwaj A, Ravi N, Reynolds JV, Maher SG, Sullivan JO, Lysaght J., FLOT and CROSS chemotherapy regimens alter the frequency of CD27+ and CD69+ T cells in oesophagogastric adenocarcinomas: implications for combination with immunotherapy, Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 2022 Journal Article, 2022 URL

Kane LE, Mellotte GS, Mylod E, O'Brien RM, O'Connell F, Buckley CE, Arlow J, Nguyen K, Mockler D, Meade AD, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Diagnostic accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Gastroenterology, 2022 Journal Article, 2022

Davern, M. and Donlon, N.E. and O†Connell, F. and Sheppard, A.D. and Hayes, C. and King, R. and Temperley, H. and Butler, C. and Bhardwaj, A. and Moore, J. and Bracken-Clarke, D. and Donohoe, C. and Ravi, N. and Reynolds, J.V. and Maher, S.G. and Conroy, M.J. and Lysaght, J., Cooperation between chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade to enhance anti-tumour T cell immunity in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, Translational Oncology, 20, (101406), 2022 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

McGrath J, Kane LE, Lowery ME, Maher SG, The influence of microRNA-31 on oxidative stress and radiosensitivity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022 Journal Article, 2022

Mylod E, McKenna E, Davern M, Barr MP, Donlon NE, Bibby BA, Bhardwaj A, Reynolds JV, Lysaght J, Maher SG, Conroy MJ., Investigating the susceptibility of treatment-resistant oesophageal tumours to natural killer cell-mediated responses, Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2022 Journal Article, 2022

Davern M, Fitzgerald MC, Buckley CE, Heeran AB, Donlon NE, McGrath J, O'Connell F, Deshpande MR, Hayes C, MacDonald J, Sheppard AD, Reynolds JV, Maher SG, Lynam-Lennon N, Murphy B, Lysaght J, PD-1 and TIGIT blockade differentially affect tumour cell survival under hypoxia and glucose deprived conditions in oesophageal adenocarcinoma; implications for overcoming resistance to PD-1 blockade in hypoxic tumours, Cancer Letters, 2022 Journal Article, 2022

McGrath, J. and Kane, L.E. and Maher, S.G., The Influence of MicroRNA-31 on Oxidative Stress and Radiosensitivity in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Cells, 11, (15), 2022 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Davern, M. and O†Brien, R.M. and McGrath, J. and Donlon, N.E. and Melo, A.M. and Buckley, C.E. and Sheppard, A.D. and Reynolds, J.V. and Lynam-Lennon, N. and Maher, S.G. and Lysaght, J., PD-1 blockade enhances chemotherapy toxicity in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, Scientific Reports, 12, (1), 2022 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Kane LE, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Diagnostic accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis, AACR Pancreatic Cancer Special Conference, 2021, 2021 Oral Presentation, 2021

Edge SD, Renard I, Pyne E, Li C, Moody H, Roy R, Beavis AW, Archibald SJ, Cawthorne CJ, Maher SG, Pires IM., PI3K inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy resistant oesophageal adenocarcinoma., The British journal of radiology, 94, (1119), 2021, p20201191 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Kane LE, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Multi-omic profiling of pancreatic cyst fluid for the identification of a novel biomarker panel of patient cancer risk, Irish Society of Gastroenterology Winter Meeting, 2021 Oral Presentation, 2021

Davern M, Donlon NE, Sheppard A, Connell FO, Hayes C, Bhardwaj A, Foley E, Toole DO, Lynam-Lennon N, Ravi N, Reynolds JV, Maher SG, Lysaght J., Chemotherapy regimens induce inhibitory immune checkpoint protein expression on stem-like and senescent-like oesophageal adenocarcinoma cells., Translational oncology, 14, (6), 2021, p101062 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Kane LE, Lyons R, Mellotte G, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Profiling the immune component of pancreatic cyst fluid to identify novel biomarkers of patient cancer risk, British Society of Immunology Congress, 2021, 2021 Poster, 2021

Kane LE, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Investigating the role of pancreatic cyst fluid in the development of pancreatic cancer, IACR Annual Meeting, 2021, 2021 Oral Presentation, 2021

Alhusaini A, Cannon A, Maher SG, Reynolds JV, Lynam-Lennon N., Therapeutic Potential of PARP Inhibitors in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers., Biomedicines, 9, (8), 2021 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Kane LE, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Multi-omic profiling of pancreatic cyst fluid for the identification of a novel biomarker panel of patient cancer risk, AACR Pancreatic Cancer Special Conference, 2021, 2021 Oral Presentation, 2021

Kane LE, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Multi-omic profiling of pancreatic cyst fluid for the identification of a novel biomarker panel of patient cancer risk, Cancer Research, 2021, 81, (22), 2021, pp7 - 8 Poster, 2021

Kane LE, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Diagnostic accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for pancreatic cancer, 2021, 2021 Oral Presentation, 2021

Kane LE, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Investigating the role of pancreatic cyst fluid in the development of pancreatic cancer, IACR Annual Meeting, 2021, 2021 Oral Presentation, 2021

Kane LE, Mellotte GS, Conlon KC, Ryan BM, Maher SG., Multi-Omic Biomarkers as Potential Tools for the Characterisation of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions and Cancer: Innovative Patient Data Integration., Cancers, 13, (4), 2021 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Melo AM, Maher SG, O'Leary SM, Doherty DG, Lysaght J, Selective effects of radiotherapy on viability and function of invariant natural killer T cells in vitro, Radiotherapy and Oncology, 145, 2020, p128 - 136 Journal Article, 2020 DOI TARA - Full Text

Heavey S, Lynam-Lennon N, Quinn J, Sommerville G, Simpson BS, Reynolds JV, Maher SG, miR-153 and two members of the miR-17/92 cluster are upregulated in a stem-like subpopulation of radioresistant esopahgeal cancer cells, targeting genes involved in EMT, radioresistance and stemness, Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2020 Journal Article, 2020

Amy Buckley, Becky Bibby, Margaret Dunne, Susan Kennedy, Maria Davern, Breandan Kennedy, Stephen Maher, Jacintha O'Sullivan, Characterisation of an isogenic model of cisplatin resistance in oesophageal adenocarcinoma cells, Pharmaceuticals, 2019 Journal Article, 2019

Buckley AM, Dunne MR, Lynam-Lennon N, Kennedy SA, Cannon A, Reynolds AL, Maher SG, Reynolds JV, Kennedy BN, O'Sullivan J., Pyrazinib (P3), [(E)-2-(2-Pyrazin-2-yl-vinyl)-phenol], a small molecule pyrazine compound enhances radiosensitivity in oesophageal adenocarcinoma., Cancer letters, 447, 2019, p115-129 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Bibby BA, Miranda CS, Reynolds JV, Cawthorne CJ, Maher SG, Silencing microRNA-330-5p increases MMP1 expression and promotes an invasive phenotype in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, BMC Cancer, 19, 2019, p784- Journal Article, 2019

Buckley A, Lynam-Lennon N, Kennedy S, Cannon A, O'Toole D, Maher SG, Reynolds JV, Ravi N, Kennedy B, O'Sullivan J, The action of a novel radio sensitiser within the oesophageal adenocarcinoma tumour microenvironment, Diseases of the Esophagus, 31, 2018, pp171- Poster, 2018

Heavey S, Dowling P, Moore G, Barr MP, Kelly N, Maher SG, Cuffe S, Finn SP, O'Byrne KJ, Gately K., Development and characterisation of a panel of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase - mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor resistant lung cancer cell lines., Scientific Reports, 8, (1), 2018, p1652- Journal Article, 2018 TARA - Full Text DOI

Conroy MJ, Maher SG, Melo AM, Doyle SL, Foley E, Reynolds JV, Long A, Lysaght J., Identifying a Novel Role for Fractalkine (CX3CL1) in Memory CD8+ T Cell Accumulation in the Omentum of Obesity-Associated Cancer Patients., Frontiers in immunology, 9, 2018, p1867 Journal Article, 2018 TARA - Full Text DOI

Lynam-Lennon N, Heavey S, Sommerville G, Bibby BA, Ffrench B, Quinn J, Gasch C, O'Leary JJ, Gallagher MF, Reynolds JV, Maher SG, MicroRNA-17 is downregulated in esophageal adenocarcinoma cancer stem-like cells and promotes a radioresistant phenotype, Oncotarget, 8, (7), 2017, p11400 - 11413 Journal Article, 2017 DOI TARA - Full Text

Moody HL, Lind MJ, Maher SG., MicroRNA-31 Regulates Chemosensitivity in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma., Molecular therapy. Nucleic acids, 8, 2017, p317-329 Journal Article, 2017 DOI

Moore C, Wood T, Cawthorne C, Hilton K, Maher SG, Saunderson J, Archibald SJ, Beavis AW, A method to calibrate the RS2000 X-ray biological irradiator for radiobiological flank irradiation of mice, Biomedical Physics and Engineering Express, 2, 2016, p037001 Journal Article, 2016

Lynam-Lennon N., Bibby B., Mongan A., Marignol L., Paxton C., Geiersbach K., Geiersbach K., Bronner M., Bronner M., O"Sullivan J., Reynolds J., Maher S., Maher S., Low MiR-187 expression promotes resistance to chemoradiation therapy in vitro and correlates with treatment failure in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, Molecular Medicine, 22, 2016, p388-397 Journal Article, 2016 DOI

Mongan A.M, Lynam-Lennon N, Casey R, Maher S, Pidgeon G, Reynolds J.V, O†Sullivan J, Erratum to: Visceral obesity stimulates anaphase bridge formation and spindle assembly checkpoint dysregulation in radioresistant oesophageal adenocarcinoma (Clin Transl Oncol, 10.1007/s12094-015-1411-y), Clinical and Translational Oncology, 18, (6), 2016, p651- Journal Article, 2016 DOI URL

Moody HL, Lind MJ, Maher SG, MicroRNA-31 regulates chemrsensitivity in malignant pleural mesothelioma via altered intracellular drug localisation, European Journal of Cancer, 61, 2016, ppS140- Poster, 2016

Mongan AM, Lynam-Lennon N, Casey R, Maher SG, Pidgeon GP, Reynolds JV, O'Sullivan J, Visceral obesity stimulates anaphase bridge formation and spindle assembly checkpoint dysregulation in radioresistant oesophageal adenocarcinoma, Clinical Translational Oncology, 18, 2016, p632 - 640 Journal Article, 2016

Bibby BAS, Cawthorne C, Reynolds JV, Maher SG, MicroRNA-330-5p downregulation in oesophageal adenocarcinoma is a potential therapeutic target for enhancing chemoradiation sensitivity in patients, European Journal on Cancer, 61, 2016, ppS158- Poster, 2016

Argyle SD, Bibby BAS, Lynam-Lennon N, Reynolds JV, Cawthorne C, Maher SG, Investigating the role of miR-187 as a modulator of chen-radiation sensitivity in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, European Journal on Cancer, 61, 2016, ppS158 - S159 Poster, 2016

Bibby B.A.S, Reynolds J.V, Maher S.G, MicroRNA-330-5p as a putative modulator of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy sensitivity in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, PLoS ONE, 10, (7), 2015, p013418- Journal Article, 2015 URL DOI TARA - Full Text

MicroRNA and cancer in, editor(s)Steven G Gray , Epigenetic cancer therapy, London, Elsevier, 2015, pp67 - 90, [Maher SG, Bibby B, Moody H, Reid G] Book Chapter, 2015

Moody HL, Lind MJ, Maher SG, MicroRNA-31 expression mediates chen-resistance in malignant pleural mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, 87, 2015, ppS1 - S2 Poster, 2015

Lynam-Lennon N, Maher SG, Maguire A, Phelan J, Reynolds JV, O'Sullivan J, Dysfunctional mitochondria and enhanced metabolic plasticity is associated with a radioresistant phenotype in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, PLoS ONE, 9, 2014, pe100738 Journal Article, 2014

Lynam-Lennon, N., Maher, S.G., Maguire, A., (...), Reynolds, J.V., O'Sullivan, J., Altered mitochondrial function and energy metabolism is associated with a radioresistant phenotype in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, PLoS ONE , 9, (6), 2014, pe100738- Journal Article, 2014 DOI TARA - Full Text

CMcCrory, Clinical pain perception, Faculty of Pain Medicine, 2013 Invited Talk, 2013

microRNA in Oncogenesis in, editor(s)Trygve Tollefsbol , Epigenetics in Human Disease, Elsevier, 2012, pp89 - 110, [Niamh Lynam-Lennon, Steven G. Gray, Stephen G. Maher] Book Chapter, 2012

Niamh Lynam-Lennon, John V. Reynolds, Laure Marignol, Orla M Sheils, Graham P. Pidgeon, Stephen G. Maher, microRNA-31 modulates tumor sensitivity to radiation in esophageal cancer through the regulation of DNA repair genes, Journal of Molecular Medicine, 90, 2012, p1449 - 1458 Journal Article, 2012

Picardo SL, Maher SG, O'Sullivan JN, Reynolds JV, Barrett's to oesophageal cancer sequence: a model of inflammatory-driven upper gastrointestinal cancer., Digestive surgery, 29, (3), 2012, p251-60 Journal Article, 2012 DOI

Lynam-Lennon N, Reynolds JV, Marignol L, Sheils OM, Pidgeon GP, Maher SG, MicroRNA-31 modulates tumour sensitivity to radiation in oesophageal adenocarcinoma., Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany), 2012 Journal Article, 2012 DOI

Gijsbert J. Hotte, Niamh Lynam-Lennon, John V. Reynolds, Stephen G. Maher, Radiation sensitivity of oesophageal adenocarcinoma: The contribution of the RNA-binding protein RNPC1 and p21-mediated cell cycle arrest to radioresistance, Radiation Research, 177, (3), 2012, p272 - 279 Journal Article, 2012

Stephen G. Maher, Dermot T. McDowell, Ben C. Collins, Cian Muldoon, William M. Gallagher, John V. Reynolds, Serum proteomic profiling reveals that pre-treatment complement protein levels are predictive of esophageal cancer patient response to neo-adjuvant chemoradiation, Annals of Surgery, 254, (5), 2011, p809 - 817 Journal Article, 2011

Maher SG, Reynolds JV, Basic concepts of inflammation and its role in carcinogenesis., Recent results in cancer research. Fortschritte der Krebsforschung. Progrès dans les recherches sur le cancer, 185, 2011, p1-34 Journal Article, 2011 DOI

Basic concepts of inflammation and its role in carcinogenesis in, editor(s)Janusz A. Jankowski , Inflammation and Gastrointestinal Carcinogenesis, Springer, 2011, pp1 - 34, [Stephen G. Maher, John V. Reynolds] Book Chapter, 2011

Lynam-Lennon N, Reynolds JV, Pidgeon GP, Lysaght J, Marignol L, Maher SG, Alterations in DNA repair efficiency are involved in the radioresistance of esophageal adenocarcinoma., Radiation research, 174, (6), 2010, p703 - 711 Journal Article, 2010 DOI

Miriam Byrne, John V. Reynolds, James S. O'Donnell, Mary Keogan, Barry White, Mary Byrne, Seamas Murphy, Stephen G. Maher, Graham P. Pidgeon, Activation of the procoagulant response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and long-term activation following major cancer surgery., British Journal of Cancer, 102, (1), 2010, p73 - 79 Journal Article, 2010

Byrne M, Reynolds JV, O'Donnell JS, Keogan M, White B, Byrne M, Murphy S, Maher SG, Pidgeon GP, Long-term activation of the pro-coagulant response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation and major cancer surgery., British Journal of Cancer, 102, (1), 2010, p73-9 Journal Article, 2010 DOI TARA - Full Text

Stephen G. Maher, Charles M. Gillham, Shane P. Duggan, Paul C. Smyth, Nicola Miller, Cian Muldoon, Kenneth J. O'Byrne, Orla M. Sheils, Donal Hollywood, John V. Reynolds, Gene expression microarray analysis of diagnostic biopsies predicts pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy of oesophageal cancer, Annals of Surgery, 250, (5), 2009, p729 - 737 Journal Article, 2009

Dermot T. McDowell, Fraser M. Smith, John V. Reynolds, Stephen G. Maher, C. Adida, P. Crotty, Eoin F. Gaffney, Donal Hollywood, B. Mehigan, R. B. Stephens, Michael J. Kennedy., Increased spontaneous apoptosis, but not survivin expression, is associated with histomorphologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer., International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 24, (11), 2009, p1261 - 1269 Journal Article, 2009

Catriona H. Miller, Stephen G. Maher, Howard A. Young, Cytokine therapies: clinical applications of interferon-gamma, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1182, 2009, p69 - 79 Journal Article, 2009

Stephen G. Maher, Charles M. Gillham, Shane P. Duggan, Paul C. Smyth, Nicola Miller, Cian Muldoon, Kenneth J. O'Byrne, Orla M. Sheils, Donal Hollywood, John V. Reynolds, Gene expression analysis of diagnostic biopsies predicts pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy of esophageal cancer., Annals of surgery, 250, (5), 2009, p729-37 Journal Article, 2009 DOI

Lynam-Lennon N, Maher SG, Reynolds JV, The roles of microRNA in cancer and apoptosis., Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, 84, (1), 2009, p55-71 Journal Article, 2009

Niamh Lynam-Lennon, Stephen G. Maher, John V. Reynolds, The Roles of microRNA in Cancer and Apoptosis, Biological Reviews, 84, (1), 2009, p55 - 71 Journal Article, 2009

Maher, S.G. and Sheikh, F. and Scarzello, A.J. and Romero-Weaver, A.L. and Baker, D.P. and Donnelly, R.P. and Gamero, A.M., IFNα and IFNλ differ in their antiproliferative effects and duration of JAK/STAT signaling activity, Cancer Biology and Therapy, 7, (7), 2008, p1109-1115 Journal Article, 2008 DOI

Stephen G. Maher, Faruk Sheikh, Anthony J. Scarzello, Ana L. Romero-Weaver, Darren P. Baker, Raymond P. Donnelly, Ana M. Gamero, IFN-alpha and IFN-lambda differ in their antiproliferative effects and duration of JAK/STAT signaling activity, Cancer Biology and Therapy, 7, (7), 2008, p1109 - 1115 Journal Article, 2008

Interferon-gamma in, editor(s)Alexander Zdanov , Class II Cytokines, Kerala, India, Transworld Research Network, Research Signpost, 2008, pp51 - 106, [Howard A. Young, Ana L. Romero-Weaver, Ram Savan, Stephen G. Maher, Jonathan M. Weiss] Book Chapter, 2008

Stephen G. Maher, Ana L. Romero-Weaver, Anthony J. Scarzello, Ana M. Gamero, Interferon: Cellular Executioner or White Knight?, Current Medicinal Chemistry, 14, 2007, p1279 - 1289 Journal Article, 2007

Anthony J. Scarzello, Ana L. Romero-Weaver, Stephen G. Maher, Timothy D. Veenstra, Ming Zhou, Angel Qin, Raymond P. Donnelly, Faruk Sheikh, Ana M. Gamero, A Mutation in the SH2 Domain of STAT2 Prolongs Tyrosine Phosphorylation of STAT1 and Promotes Type-I IFN-induced Apoptosis, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 18, 2007, p2455 - 2462 Journal Article, 2007

Scarzello, A.J. and Romero-Weaver, A.L. and Maher, S.G. and Veenstra, T.D. and Zhou, M. and Qin, A. and Donnelly, R.P. and Sheikh, F. and Gamero, A.M., A mutation in the SH2 domain of STAT2 prolongs tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1 and promotes type I IFN-induced apoptosis, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 18, (7), 2007, p2455-2462 Journal Article, 2007 DOI

Stephen G. Maher, Claire M. Condron, David J. Bouchier-Hayes, Deirdre M. Toomey, Taurine attenuates CD3/Interleukin-2-induced T cell Apoptosis in an in vitro model of Activation-Induced Cell Death (AICD), Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 139, 2005, p279 - 286 Journal Article, 2005

Stephen G. Maher, Deirdre M. Toomey, Claire M. Condron, David J. Bouchier-Hayes, Activation-induced Cell Death: The Controversial Role of Fas and Fas Ligand in Immune Privilege and Tumour Counterattack, Immunology and Cell Biology, 80, 2002, p131 - 137 Journal Article, 2002

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Maher SG, Point-of-care testing versus lab-based testing - striking a balance, Konstanz, Germany, 2021, BioLago Invited Talk, 2021

Kane LE, Mellotte GS, Mylod E, O'Brien RM, O'Connell F, Buckley CE, Arlow J, Nguyen K, Mockler D, Meade AD, Ryan BM, Maher SG, Diagnostic accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Cancer Research, 2021, 2021, pp6 - 7 Poster, 2021

Maher SG, Modelling radioresistance in vitro, The role of radiotherapy in a stratified approach to the treatment of oesophageal cancer, London - Cambridge University, 10 June 2019, 2019 Invited Talk, 2019

Stephen Maher, Cancer - The Patient Journey, 60th London International Youth Science Forum, London, UK, 2018, 2018 Oral Presentation, 2018

Cawthorne C, Maher SG, Ahmed N, Beavis AW, Improving the application of PET to radiotherapy via preclinical research: status and potential, RAD Magazine, 42, (492), 2016, p29 - 30 Review Article, 2016

Stephen Maher, MicroRNAs as modulators of therapeutic sensitivity, MicroRNA Europe Annual Conference, Cambridge, UK, 2016, 2016 Oral Presentation, 2016

Maher SG, Reynolds JV, Oesophageal cancer: The potential of modern molecular tools in treatment, Cancer Professional, 6, 2012, p21 - 25 Review Article, 2012

Research Expertise

Description

Stephen has always been interested in cancer and its treatment. Having completed a PhD that examined T cell biology and interleukin-2 therapy for melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, he moved the the National Cancer Institute in the USA to pursue postdoctoral studies in the anti-tumour potential of a newly discovered cytokine, interferon-lambda (IL-29). Over the past 15 years his research interests have largely focused on understanding and predicting tumour response and resistance to more conventional, broadly applicable, cancer treatments, specifically chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Stephen's group examines the influence of the microRNA compartment, DNA damage response and, more recently hypoxia, on regulating cellular sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in oesophageal and mesothelial tumours. His team is internationally recognised as leaders in translational radiotherapy research. More recently he initiated and leads an award-winning pancreatic cancer research programme. Being a member of the department of surgery at TTMI, based at St. James's Hospital in Dublin, his work is highly patient centric.

Projects

  • Title
    • The role of microRNA and random mitochondrial DNA mutations in a novel clinically-relevant isogenic model of radioresistance in oesophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 2011
  • Date To
    • 2013
  • Title
    • Tissue and Serum microRNA signatures for predicting response to chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Funding Agency
    • Irish Cancer Society
  • Date From
    • 2010
  • Date To
    • 2013
  • Title
    • The role of the chemokine CCL28 (MEC) in oesophageal adenocarcinoma progression: interaction between the immune system and the tumour
  • Funding Agency
    • Irish Cancer Society
  • Date From
    • 2010
  • Date To
    • 2013
  • Title
    • The role of a cancer stem-like cells in an isogenic model of radioresistance in oesphageal adenocarcinoma
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 2012
  • Date To
    • 2016
  • Title
    • The role of miR-330 and miR-187 in regulating sensitivity to chemoradiation in oeosphageal adenocarcinoma
  • Funding Agency
    • Cancer and Polio Research Fund UK
  • Date From
    • 2013
  • Date To
    • 2015
  • Title
    • Hull York Medical School PhD Project stimulus
  • Funding Agency
    • Hull York Medical School
  • Date From
    • 2013
  • Date To
    • 2016
  • Title
    • Development of translational radiotherapy research in the East Yorkshire region
  • Funding Agency
    • Help for Health UK and Castle Hill Hospital Cancer Trust Fund
  • Date From
    • 2014
  • Date To
    • 2019
  • Title
    • The role of miR-187 as a radiosensitiser in oesophageal cancer
  • Funding Agency
    • University of Hull
  • Date From
    • 2015
  • Date To
    • 2019
  • Title
    • The role of miR-187 as a radiosensitiser in oesophageal cancer
  • Funding Agency
    • Cancer and Polio Research Fund UK
  • Date From
    • 2016
  • Date To
    • 2019
  • Title
    • Mechanisms underpinning miR-31 mediated chemoresistance in MPM
  • Funding Agency
    • Kazan McClane Partners
  • Date From
    • 2017
  • Date To
    • 2018
  • Title
    • Development of a novel bioscaffold for radiosensitising microRNA delivery in cancer
  • Funding Agency
    • Wellcome Trust-HRB-SFI
  • Date From
    • 2017
  • Date To
    • 2018
  • Title
    • Development of a hydrogel system for delivery microRNA in vivo
  • Funding Agency
    • Trinity College Dublin
  • Date From
    • 2017
  • Date To
    • 2018
  • Title
    • Upgrade and installation of a new radiotherapy and radiobiology core
  • Funding Agency
    • Science Foundation Ireland
  • Date From
    • 2017
  • Date To
    • 2022
  • Title
    • The role of microRNA-31 in regulating therapeutic sensitivity in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
  • Funding Agency
    • Trinity College Dublin
  • Date From
    • 2018
  • Date To
    • 2022
  • Title
    • Validation of a panel of novel radiosensitising agents for cancer
  • Funding Agency
    • Science Foundation Ireland
  • Date From
    • 2019
  • Date To
    • 2020
  • Title
    • The use of liquid biopsy in patients with pancreatic cystic lesions
  • Funding Agency
    • Meath Foundation
  • Date From
    • 2019
  • Date To
    • 2022
  • Title
    • A MicroRNA-based replacement therapy for chemoradiosensitising oesophageal cancer
  • Funding Agency
    • Enterprise Ireland
  • Date From
    • 2020
  • Date To
    • 2021
  • Title
    • Targeting IL-6 in the obese tumour microenvironment to overcome chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance in oesophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Funding Agency
    • HRCI/HRB
  • Date From
    • 2020
  • Date To
    • 2023
  • Title
    • Investigating novel cancer immunotherapies in upper gastrointestinal cancers and the impact of combination chemotherapy
  • Funding Agency
    • Irish Research Council
  • Date From
    • 2017
  • Date To
    • 2021

Keywords

Apoptosis; Apoptosis, molecular control; Autoimmune and hypersensitivity diseases; Autoimmunity; Bioinformatics; Breast cancer; Cancer genetics and cell biology including metastasis; Cell cycle control; Cell Death; Cellular, molecular and developmental immunology; Chronic Disease; Chronic inflamation; Coagulation biochemistry and disorders; Cytokines, Nitric Oxide; Cytoskelton, cell division; DNA transcription and translation; Gene targeting in breast cancer; Gene therapy; Gene transcription in human cancer; General surgery, upper GI, colorectal and breast; Genetic/Molecular epidemiology; Genomics; Haemotology; Human genetics; Immune system; Immunoassays; Immunochemistry and immunogenetics; Immunological response to surgical trauma; Immunotherapies; Immunotherapies for Cancer; Inflammation and coagulation syndromes; Inflammatory bowel disease; Innate immunology; Intra and intercellular signalling; Leukemias and lymphomas; Leukocyte Biology; Mammilian and human genetics and genomics; Membrane and protein trafficking; Mucosal immunology; Oesophageal cancer; Oesophageal, gastric, intestinal and pancreatic diseases; Oncogenes, apoptosis and tumour development; Protein processing, stability and regulation; Protein sequence, function and expression; Quantitative and molecular genetics; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy, Biological response modifiers and chemoprevention; Regulatory methods of gene expression; RNA processing, stability and degradation; Stem Cell biology and hematopoiesis; Therapeutic and Clinical oncology; Therapeutic radiography; Tumour immunology and immunotherapy; Vascular Biology, Thrombosis

Recognition

Representations

Editorial Board, Frontiers in Oncology - Associate Editor - Molecular and Cellular Oncology 2017

Editorial Board, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology - Associate Editor 2018

Awards and Honours

1st prize - best basic science paper - iCHAMS international conference (supervisor) 2022

1st prize - best scientific paper - Irish Society of Gastroenterology (supervisor) 2021

Patrick G. Johnston Award - Irish Association of Cancer Research (supervisor) 2021

Irish Lab Awards - Research Lab of the Year 2019

1st prize - best poster - TSJCI 11th International Cancer Conference (supervisor) 2019

Association of Radiation Research (ARR) SIT bursary (supervisor) 2017

iMig Young Investigator Award (Supervisor) 2016

Researcher of the Year, Hull York Medical School (Supervisor) 2016

NCRI Hamilton-Fairley Young Investigator Awards (double-shortlisting) (Supervisor) 2015

1st Prize, Best Research Paper, 12th Annual International Medical Postgraduate Conference, Charles University in Prague (Supervisor) 2015

1st Prize, Best Poster, UK Radiation Oncology (UKRO) Annual Meeting (Supervisor) 2015

1st Prize, Best Research Paper, 11th Annual International Medical Postgraduate Conference, Charles University in Prague (Supervisor) 2014

Biochemical Society Summer Studentship (Supervisor) 2013

Researcher of the Year, Irish Cancer Society 2013

Patey Prize, SARS Annual Meeting 2011

Fellowship, Irish Cancer Society 2010

Roche Researcher of the Year, TCD (Supervisor) 2010

Poster Prize, 7th International Cancer Conference (Dublin) 2009

1st Prize, TCD Molecular Medicine Entrepreneurship Course 2009

Travel Award, St. James's Hospital Dublin 2009

Donald Weir Medal for Research, Trinity College Dublin 2008

Oncology Scholars Travel Award, Irish Cancer Society 2008

Fellowship, National Cancer Institute (USA) 2004

Irish Representative at 39th LIYSF 1997

Memberships

Irish Association of Radiation Research (IRRS) 2016 – Present

Association of Radiation Research (UK) 2015 – Present

Mesothelioma Research Network (MRN) 2014 – present

Biochemical Society UK 2013 – Present

Clinical Trials Ireland (formerly ICORG) 2009 – present

British Association of Cancer Research (BACR) 2013 – Present

European Association of Cancer Research (EACR) 2009 – Present

Irish Association of Cancer Research (IACR) 2008 – Present

American Association of Cancer Research (AACR): Associate Member 2006 – Present

British Lung Foundation 2013 – 2016

International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research (ISICR) 2004 – 2009