Professor, Department of Surgery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Professor Leonie Young leads the Endocrine Oncology Research Group based at York House in the Royal college of Surgeons in Ireland. Prof. Young graduated from Trinity College Dublin and completed her PhD training at University College Dublin in 1997 and her research is focused on uncovering networks involved in SRC-mediated resistance in breast cancer to both tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. In doing so, these investigations will identify markers that predict these outcomes and importantly develop new therapeutic targets. The research focuses on SRC-1 and takes a high-level view to harness data from high throughput experimental methods, molecular studies, functional models and translational studies. Leonie's group capitalises on established strengths in translational research, in particular making use of primary breast cell cultures derived from patient tumours and large clinical datasets. By modelling the mechanism(s) of resistance associated with SRC-1, this research has defined new predictive markers and therapeutic targets suitable for commercial development and clinical trial interventions that could improve patient outcomes.