DIT PhD Project
Supervisor name & contact details:
Orla Howe
Email: orla.howe@dit.ie
Supervisors Profile:
Research Centre:
Radiation & Environmental Science Centre,
Focas Research Institute
The centre specialises in radiation biology and
environmental toxicology. Non-targeted (nonDNA) effects such as bystander effects,
genomic instability and adaptive responses are
the main focus. Translational research and the
use of vibrational spectroscopy as a diagnostic
tool for cancer and for the identification of
biochemical markers are also investigated.
Research Centre website:
http://www.dit.ie/resc/
Supervisors Publication List;
http://arrow.dit.ie/do/search/?q=Orla%20How
e&fq=virtual_ancestor_link%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2
Farrow.dit.ie
Title of the Project: The role of exosomes in a cellular radiation response
Project Summary: Information exchange between cells may involve soluble factors or direct cellto-cell communication. Cells may also communicate through the secretion of exosomes or
microvesicles. This can involve functional changes in the recipient cells related to transferred
proteins, receptors and/or bioactive lipids. Recent evidence suggests that exosomes shuttle
mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) and thus may induce epigenetic changes in the recipient cells by
transfer of genetic information. This proposed research project aims to investigate molecular
mRNA and microRNA signals involved in a targeted (radiosensitivity/radioresistance) versus a
non-targeted (bystander effects) radiation response and the role of exosomes in transmitting
signals in this radiation response.
Recent studies have suggested that investigating mRNA and/or miRNA in exosomes may be
useful as a screening test and therefore investigating the role of exosomes and their molecular
signature (mRNA and miRNA) may lead to the generation of a predictive screening test for cancer
patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment plans to predict their targeted versus non targeted
radiation response..
Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area:
Health and Biomedical Sciences