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Professor Derek Doherty

Professor In / Head of Immunology (Immunology)
TRINITY CENTRE, S J H
      
Profile Photo

Professor Derek Doherty

Professor In / Head of Immunology (Immunology)
TRINITY CENTRE, S J H

 Derek.Doherty@tcd.ie

 3531896 3326


A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, I completed a PhD at King's College London and postdoctoral research in the University of Washington, Seattle and University College Dublin before holding lecturing positions at NUI Maynooth and subsequently Trinity College Dublin.
  ADIPOSE-TISSUE   AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES   B-CELLS   CANCER   CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNE RESPONSES   DENDRITIC CELLS   GAMMA DELTA TCR   HEPATITIS B   HEPATITIS-C   HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA   HIV   HUMAN LIVER   IMMUNE SYSTEM   IMMUNODEFICIENCY   INFECTIOUS DISEASES   INNATE IMMUNITY   LEUKOCYTE   LIPIDS   LYMPHOCYTES   NATURAL-KILLER-CELLS
Project Title
 CD1d binding peptide motifs for the stimulation of NKT cells.
From
2017
To
2019
Summary
To develop novel CD1d-binding peptides as treatments for cancer
Funding Agency
ImCyse Specific Active Immunotherapeutics
Programme
Contract
Project Type
Biomedical
Person Months
24
Project Title
 The role and treatment potential of innate lymphocytes in neonatal brain injury
From
2016
To
2019
Summary
Investigating the roles of innate T cells in inflammation associated with neonatal encephalopathy
Funding Agency
Libyan Embassy
Programme
PhD scholarship
Project Type
Biomedical
Person Months
36
Project Title
 Metabolic profiles of innate lymphocytes from patients with sepsis
From
2016
To
2019
Summary
Investigating how changes in energy metabolism in NK cells and gamma/delta T cells may contribute to the development of sepsis
Funding Agency
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
Programme
PhD scholarship
Project Type
Biomedical
Person Months
36
Project Title
 The role and treatment potential of natural killer T cells in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer
From
2015
To
2018
Summary
Investigating the role of type 1 and type 2 NKT cells in oesophageal and gastric cancer
Funding Agency
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT)
Programme
PhD Scholarship
Project Type
Biomedical
Person Months
36
Project Title
 Delivery of Gene Editing Tools to Primary T cells using Profector Technology
From
2016
To
2018
Summary
Developing novel methods for expressing transgenes in human T cells for cellular therapies
Funding Agency
Profector Life Sciences
Programme
Contract
Project Type
Biomedical
Person Months
0

Page 1 of 9
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
English Fluent Fluent Fluent
Details Date From Date To
Secretary, Irish Society for Immunology 2000 2004
Committee member, Irish Society for Immunology 2000 2018
Saira Tabassum, Sarah Grün, Ben Molloy, Eppie Jones, Patrick G. Buckley, Rebecca Amet, Anthony M. McElligott, Derek G. Doherty, Stephan Ehl, Timothy Ronan Leahy, A Novel Description of Immunodeficiency and Immune Dysregulation in a 14-Year-Old Girl with Noonan Syndrome 13, Journal of Clinical Immunology, 45, (1), 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Fiona O"Connell, Eimear Mylod, Noel E. Donlon, Maria Davern, Christine Butler, Niamh O"Connor, Meghana Menon, Claire L. Donohoe, Narayanasamy Ravi, Derek G. Doherty, Margaret R. Dunne, John V. Reynolds, Helen M. Roche, Jacintha O"Sullivan, Adipose tissue from oesophageal adenocarcinoma patients is differentially affected by chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy regimens altering immune cell phenotype and cancer cell metabolism, Translational Oncology, 53, 2025, p102302 - 102302, p102302-102302 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Taher, Nawal A. B., Isaza-Correa, Johana M., Melo, Ashanty M., Kelly, Lynne A., Al-Harbi, Alhanouf I., O"Dea, Mary I., Zareen, Zunera, Ryan, Emer, Omer, Murwan, Townsend, Liam, Molloy, Eleanor J., Doherty, Derek G., Dynamics of Peripheral Lymphocyte Subsets from Birth until Old Age, Immuno, 4, (4), 2024, p358-373 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Khoja, Omar and Silva-Passadouro, Bárbara and Cristescu, Elena and McEwan, Katie and Doherty, Derek and O†connell, Fiona and Ponchel, Frederique and Mulvey, Matthew and Astill, Sarah and Tan, Ai Lyn and Sivan, Manoj, Clinical Characterization of New-Onset Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study, Journal of Pain Research, 17, 2024, p2531 â€" 2550 , Notes: [Cited by: 2; All Open Access, Gold Open Access, Green Open Access], Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Hawerkamp HC, Dyer AH, Patil ND, McElheron M, O'Dowd N, O'Doherty L, Mhaonaigh AU, George AM, O'Halloran AM, Reddy C, Kenny RA, Little MA, Martin-Loeches I, Bergin C, Kennelly SP, Donnelly SC, Bourke NM, Long A, Sui J, Doherty DG, Conlon N, Cheallaigh CN, Fallon PG., Characterisation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine signature in severe COVID-19., Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 2023, p1170012-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Alharbi B, Qanash H, Binsaleh NK, Alharthi S, Elasbali AM, Gharekhan CH, Mahmoud M, Lioudakis E, O'Leary JJ, Doherty DG, Mohamed BM, Gray SG., Proof of concept nanotechnological approach to in vitro targeting of malignant melanoma for enhanced immune checkpoint inhibition, Scientific Reports, 13, 2023, p7462-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Singh K, Cogan S, Elekes S, Murphy DM, Cummins S, Curran R, Najda Z, Dunne MR, Jameson G, Gargan S, Martin S, Long A, Doherty DG., SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins fail to activate human dendritic cells or "" T cells., PloS one, 17, (7), 2022, pe0271463 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Huggard D, Kelly L, Worrall A, Gallagher G, Fallah L, Yoo LL, McGrane F, Lagan N, .Roche E, Balfe J, Doherty DG, Molloy EJ, Melatonin as an immunomodulator in children with Down syndrome, Pediatric Research, 2022, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Can the immune system be targeted to treat COVID-19? in, editor(s)Aurelie Fabre, John R. Hurst and Sheila Ramjug , ERS Monograph - COVID-19, European Respiratory Society, 442 Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2PX, UK, European Respiratory Society, 2021, pp69 - 85, [Sarah Abdelhafeez and Derek Doherty], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED  URL
Deslyper,G., Murphy, D.M., Sowemimo, O.A., Holland, C.V. and Doherty, D.G., Distinct hepatic myeloid and lymphoid cell repertoires are associated with susceptibility and resistance to Ascaris infection, Parasitology, 148, (5), 2021, p539 - 549, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text
  

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Ssekamatte P, Nakibuule M, Nabatanzi R, Egesa M, Musubika C, Bbuye M, Hepworth MR, Doherty DG, Cose S, Biraro IA., Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Latent Tuberculosis Infection Moderately Influence Innate Lymphoid Cell Immune Responses in Uganda, Frontiers in Immunology, 12, 2021, p716819-, Journal Article, PUBLISHED
Core concepts in immunology. in, editor(s)Gershwin ME, Vierling JM, Manns MP , Liver Immunology: Principles and Practice, New York, Springer Science and Business Media, 2014, pp11 - 26, [O'Farrelly C, Doherty DG], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Innate immune mechanisms in the liver. in, editor(s)Gershwin ME, Vierling JM, Manns MP , Liver Immunology: Principles and Practices, New Jersey, Humana Press, 2007, pp41-48 , [O'Farrelly C, Doherty DG. ], Notes: [2nd edition], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
A short primer on fundamental immunology in, editor(s)Gershwin ME, Vierling JM, Manns MP , Liver Immunology: Principles and Practices, New Jersey, Humana Press, 2007, pp15-24 , [O'Farrelly C, Doherty DG. ], Notes: [2nd edition], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Lymphocyte repertoires in healthy liver. in, editor(s)Gershwin ME, Vierling JM, Manns MP , Liver Immunology, Philadelphia, Hanley & Belfus, 2003, pp31-46 , [Doherty DG, O'Farrelly C.], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
Basic immunological terms and concepts: a short primer of fundamental immunology in, editor(s)Gershwin ME, Vierling JM, Manns MP , Liver Immunology, Philadelphia, Hanley & Belfus, 2003, pp1 - 13, [O'Farrelly C, Doherty DG], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED
The human major histocompatibility complex and disease susceptibility. in, Rimoin DL, Connor JM, Pyeritz RE , Emery and Rimoin's Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1997, pp497-504 , [Doherty DG, Nepom GT. ], Notes: [third edition], Book Chapter, PUBLISHED

  


Award Date
Elected to Fellowship of Trinity College Dublin 2012
Our research is aimed at finding out how the immune system protects against or causes disease in humans and how it can be manipulated for the development of novel therapies. We are particularly interested in populations of 'innate lymphocytes' (natural killer cells, natural killer T cells, gamma/delta T cells and mucosal-associated invariant T cells), which appear to be master regulators of the immune system. Innate lymphocytes can be trained to prevent and treat infectious and immune-mediated diseases and cancers in animal models. Various innate lymphocyte populations are being targeted in clinical trials for cancer in humans, and although the results are promising, no such cellular therapy has yet received approval. In order to improve the efficacy of innate lymphocyte therapies that are currently being tested and to develop new treatments, we are investigating the molecular and cellular interactions that take place between innate lymphocytes, pathogens and other cells. We have shown that innate lymphocytes are heterogeneous with diverse effector functions including tumour cell killing, the release of cytokines that activate or suppress the actions of T cells, and contact-dependent stimulatory and regulatory interactions with monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells. In collaboration with clinical colleagues, we have found that innate lymphocyte populations are numerically and/or functionally impaired in patients with hepatitis B and C, HIV, candidiasis, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, oesophageal, stomach, colorectal, liver and lung cancer, post-operative infection and sepsis, coeliac disease, autoimmune vasculitis, antibody deficiencies and neonatal encephalopathy. Our results show that various innate lymphocyte populations can be manipulated to promote the generation of desirable immune responses for the treatment of multiple diseases and this has led to funded collaborations with three biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies, in which we are pooling our efforts to develop robust therapies for cancer, infectious and autoimmune disease.