Dr Orla O’Donovan obtained a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from NUI, Galway where she also carried out her Ph.D. research on ‘The activating factor for peptidylglycine monooxygenase in bovine pituitary tissue’. On completion of her Ph.D. Orla worked as a clinical biochemist in the Limerick Regional Hospital where her work mainly focused on endocrinology.

In 1998, Orla was appointed to a lectureship in Biochemistry in the South East Technologucal University. She is active in a variety of research areas such as the development of novel pharmaceutical delivery systems/platforms; the identification of the cytokines, adhesion molecules, microparticles and other inflammatory markers that are influenced by cancer; and the mechanism by which metal sequesterisation by seaweeds occurs at a proteomic and genomic level.

Her research activity in SETU has led to awards of over €5.5 million in research funding from competitive national, industrial, EU and international funding. Her collaborations involve clinical, academic and industrial partners in Ireland and internationally.