Luke O'Neill (scientist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luke O'Neill
FRS MRIA
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O'Neill in 2016
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| Born | 17 June 1964 Dublin, Ireland
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| Education |
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| Spouse(s) |
Margaret Worrall
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | EMBO Member (2005) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunology |
| Institutions |
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| Thesis | Characterisation of interleukin-1-induced prostaglandin E₂ release in human synovial cells (1988) |
Luke O'Neill is a famous Irish scientist who studies the human body. He was born on June 17, 1964. He is a professor of biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. He has been teaching there since 2009.
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About Luke O'Neill
Luke O'Neill is a leading expert in a field called immunology. This is the study of how our bodies fight off sickness. He is known for his work on how our bodies react to infections and injuries.
Early Life and School
Luke O'Neill grew up in Dublin, Ireland. He went to school at St Peter's School and Presentation College. Later, he studied at Trinity College Dublin. He earned a degree in Natural Sciences in 1985.
He continued his studies at the University of London. There, he earned his PhD in 1988. His research looked at how certain molecules cause inflammation in cells. After his PhD, he worked as a researcher in Cambridge, England.
What He Studies
Professor O'Neill's main research is about inflammation. This is how your body reacts when you get sick or hurt. Inflammation helps you heal, but sometimes it can cause problems. It can lead to diseases that are hard to treat.
He studies the body's natural defense system, called the innate immune system. He has found new ways that our bodies sense infections and injuries. He also studies how these signals cause inflammation. His work helps scientists create new medicines to fight inflammation.
He has also helped start companies like Inflazome and Sitryx. These companies work on developing new treatments. In 2023, he became the Chief Scientific Officer at Senda Biosciences. This company is working on new types of medicines.
His research has received funding from many important groups. These include Science Foundation Ireland and the European Research Council.
Awards and Honors
Luke O'Neill has won many awards for his scientific work.
- In 2009, he received the Robert Boyle Medal.
- In 2012, he won the Gold Medal for Life Sciences from the Royal Irish Academy.
- He was made a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2004.
- He became a member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation in 2005.
- In 2016, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists.
He also won the Landsteiner Award in 2019. In 2021, he received the George Sigerson Award. In 2022, he was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree. He also received a special lifetime membership award. In 2023, he joined the governing body of the European Research Council. He also received another honorary Doctor of Science degree. In 2024, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society.
Sharing Science with Everyone
Professor O'Neill loves to share science with the public. He has a weekly science segment on the radio show "Pat Kenny" on Newstalk. He also has his own podcast called 'Show Me the Science'.
He has written several books to explain science in an easy-to-understand way:
- In 2018, he published Humanology: A Scientist's Guide to our Amazing Existence.
- In 2019, he wrote a science book for children called The Great Irish Science Book.
- In 2020, his book Never Mind the B*ll*cks, Here's the Science won an award. It was also a best-seller.
- In 2021, he published Keep Calm and Trust the Science. This book was his diary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In 2023, he published 'To Boldly Go Where No Book has Gone Before'.
He also writes a weekly science column in the Sunday Independent newspaper. He wrote a lot about the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland. He even got COVID-19 himself in 2021.
Family Life
Luke O'Neill married Margaret Worrall in 1993. They have two sons.
