Maynooth University - The National University of Ireland Maynooth

Maynooth University
Department of Chemistry
Science Building
North Campus
Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Maynooth University - The National University of Ireland Maynooth was established in 1997, but it traces its origins to the foundation in 1795 of St. Patrick’s College Maynooth. It was ranked #67 in the new Times Higher Education 100 Under 50 rankings (2014), voted Irish University of the Year in 2008 (Sunday Times University Guide) and became the first and only institution outside of North America to be included in the Princeton Review of Best Colleges (2011). Its research income per year amounts to €20.7m. The Department of Chemistry has 28 staff members and offers several undergraduate degrees in a vibrant learning environment. It also offers postgraduate degrees at MSc and PhD level based on its research strengths in physical/analytical and synthetic chemistry.

  • Photo of Niall Finnerty
    Dr. Niall Finnerty

    Dr. Niall Finnerty, research fellow in the bioanalytics laboratory at NUIM who has over 12 years’ experience in the development and characterisation of microamperometric sensors for neurochemical analysis.

    Dr Finnerty will be the leader of work package 3 with a specific focus on continuous real-time neurochemical measurements in the striatum of transplanted mouse models. The principle techniques deployed by Dr Finnerty over the course of the project are amperometry and microdialysis. Additionally Dr Finnerty will investigate the effect of the lead compound identified in WP2 on neurochemical levels, as well as supply microdialysate for in-depth metabolomics analysis to be performed in WP4.

  • Photo of Caroline Reid
    Caroline Reid

    Caroline Reid, BSc, is a postgraduate researcher currently under the supervision of Niall Finnerty in the Department of Chemistry at Maynooth University.

    She specialises in the manufacture of NO, O2 and H2O2 microelectrochemical sensors for the real-time monitoring of neurochemical events associated with Parkinson’s Disease. Her work in the project will contribute to the long term amperometric and microdialysis recordings in the striatum of humanised mouse models throughout Work Package 3.