Children's Research Lab TCD - Molloy lab

The lab focuses on advancing our understanding of paediatric health through cutting‑edge translational research.

Led by Professor Eleanor Molloy, Professor and Chair of Paediatrics & Child Health at Trinity College Dublin, the Molloy Translational Research Lab focuses on understanding and modifying immune responses in newborns, particularly those with neonatal brain injury, neonatal encephalopathy, preterm birth, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. The lab’s mission is to develop targeted therapies that improve long‑term outcomes for infants and children by addressing persistent dysfunctional inflammation. The team’s work spans interdisciplinary child health research, biomarker discovery, and translational projects designed to bring scientific advances directly into clinical practice. Their studies build on longitudinal cohorts of affected infants to explore inflammation, neurodevelopment, and opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Professor Molloy’s group is also deeply embedded in national and international collaborations, co‑directing the Trinity Research in Childhood Centre (TRICC) and co‑leading In4Kids, Ireland’s national paediatric clinical trials network, ensuring that children across Ireland have improved access to clinical research and innovative care.

Our Projects

Prof.

Prof. Eleanor Molloy

CP Connect Co-director. Neonatal and Translational lead

Research Staff

Dr.

Dr. Lynne Kelly

Senior Research Fellow

I study sexual dimorphism in neonatal brain injury and immune responses. My research examines how sex-specific biology and hormonal regulation of immune-metabolic pathways influence neuroinflammation and recovery, driving precision medicine strategies for male and female infants. I also lead biobank coordination, teaching, mentorship, and public engagement to advance innovation in paediatric immunology and child health.

Ms.

Ms. Beth Corcoran

Programme manager

Beth coordinates DISCO – The Down Syndrome Research Group and provides a PPI voice to the group. She also provides support to the Brain Health in Sport Advocacy Group. Currently she is completing an MSc in Paediatric Research which will look at initiatives to foster autonomy and support independence in young people with Down Syndrome. She is also a member of the Trinity21 Network – TCD Down Syndrome Research Network.

Dr.

Dr. Johana Isaza-Correa

Research Fellow

I am a Research Fellow in Paediatrics at Trinity College Dublin, my areas of interest  are cellular and molecular mechanisms in immunology. I hope to contribute to the project by helping to improve our understanding of neonatal brain injury in relation to inflammation and to recognize potential therapeutic alternatives.

Associated Researchers in TCD

Prof.

Prof. Rhodri Cusack

Thomas Mitchell Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Director of Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience. I would appreciate if you could send the information back to me with a picture (quality of the picture: 400 x400 px). If you have any questions, please let me know.

Dr.

Dr. Eva Jimenez

Our work focuses on better understand the pathological mechanisms underlying neonatal hypoxia, particularly how neuroinflammation may contribute to neurological outcomes, such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy. We have developed a preclinical mouse model and we use a combination of biochemical techniques and behaviour to evaluate the interlink between the pathological neuroinflammation after hypoxia at birth and delays in neurological outcomes.

Dr.

Dr. Arthur White

Assistant Professor in Statistics

Bayesian statistics, latent variable modelling, computational statistics, applied statistics, with a focus on health, including children’s health, immunology and auto-immune disease, and pharmaco-economics.

Dr.

Dr. Jason Wyse

I am interested in computational statistics, especially Bayesian computation and applications of statistics in medicine and other domains. Some of my areas of interest are: latent class analysis / model based classification, inference for disease models, applications of statistics in medicine, Bayesian model choice/ Bayes factors/ evidence estimation, analysis of network data using latent space models and sequential inference.