Trinity Translational Medicine Institute - Symposium 2019
Dr. Sharon O'Toole
Sharon O'Toole is a senior research fellow in Trinity College Dublin working in the area of ovarian cancer. She qualified with a BSc Hons in UCG in 1994 and then completed an MSc Biotechnology in 1996. Having worked in industry she then returned to research and completed a PhD in Trinity College in 2003. She has gained enormous experience in the area of ovarian cancer and has played a major role in the development of studies in gynaecological cancer. She was instrumental in establishing the DISCOVARY consortium which is a multidisciplinary and trans- institutional consortium dedicated to addressing the problems of ovarian and uterine cancer. The consortium manages the largest ovarian cancer bioresource in the country. The consortium has now merged to form INNOVATION- the Irish National Network for Ovarian Cancer Collaboration which has brought together the medical, research and charity organisations involved in ovarian cancer in Ireland. Her research interests centre around diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and understanding the fundamental biology of the metastatic cascade and circulating tumour cells. She has been successful in identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ovarian cancer and her ultimate aim is to translate these into the clinic. She has presented at both national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. She works closely with the 3 ovarian cancer charities in Ireland whose mission is to improve outcomes for ovarian cancer in Ireland. She was part of the organising committee of the first World Ovarian Cancer Day on May 8th in 2013 and this has now become an annual event.