Staff Directory

holds a PhD in Medicine from the National University of Ireland, Galway and a
BSc (Hon) in Analytical Science from Dublin City University , in addition to
a BSc (Hon) in Applied Biopharmaceutical and Healthcare Sciences from
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, and a PGDip in Learning, Teaching and
Assessment from Athlone Institute of Technology.

On completion of her PhD (molecular & physiological aspects of pre-term
labour) at the National Diagnostics Centre, NUIG / Clinical Science
Institute, UCHG, she was employed at the National Centre for Biomedical
Engineering Science where she investigated maternal, placental & fetal
vascular regulation.

Dr Friel joined the staff of Harvard University (Harvard Medical School)
and Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, USA (2005) where her research work
resulted in the initial identification and characterization of cancer stem
cells in reproductive cancers. In 2009 she joined Molecular Therapeutics for
Cancer Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, as part of a multidisciplinary team
of scientists, clinicians and international biopharm/pharmaceutical
industrial partners identifying and characterizing putative biomarkers in
breast and prostate cancers. Following TCD, Dr Friel worked as a Staff
Scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA (2010),
developing cancer specific in vivo mouse models for the identification and
characterization of stem cells and cancer stem cells in gynaecological
cancers.

Dr Friel joined the lecturing staff of AIT in 2011, lecturing on a number
of programmes including: Biotechnology, Toxicology, Higher Certificate in
Science, Pharmaceutical Science and Health Science with Nutrition.

To date she has published 29 peer reviewed manuscripts, >60 peer
reviewed conference proceedings, 1 book and 1 book chapter. Her research
interests include: translational medicine, therapeutic oncology, novel
biologic testing, tumour development and cancer stem cells.