DrDamir Vareslija

I am a Principal Investigator and Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences. My research focuses on the biology of breast cancer metastasis, with particular emphasis on brain metastatic disease, transcriptional dysregulation, and treatment resistance.

My work examines how conserved transcriptional and epigenetic programmes enable tumour cells to adapt to the brain microenvironment and evade therapy. I combine transcriptomics, epigenomics, functional genomics, spatial profiling, and advanced preclinical models, including patient-derived xenografts, organoids, and organotypic brain cultures, to identify actionable vulnerabilities and clinically deployable biomarkers.

A central objective of my programme is translation. I work closely with clinical teams to integrate molecular discovery with patient material, imaging, and clinical trials. I lead and contribute to national and international collaborations spanning academic, clinical, and industry partners, including Beaumont Hospital, UCD, University of Pittsburgh, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Cambridge CRUK Cancer Centre, Imperial College London, and multiple European centres. To support early-career researchers, I co-founded IMPACT-Europe (EndoXcel), an inclusive European network focused on nuclear receptor and hormone-related disease research. As co-director of PRISM, a Research Ireland–funded national strategic partnership, I coordinate harmonised genomic profiling across major Irish cancer centres and mentor early-career investigators.

I have published extensively in leading journals, including Clinical Cancer Research, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, JAMA Oncology, Nature Communications, and Oncogene, and my work has been presented at AACR and Gordon Research Conferences. My research has supported commercialisation and licensing activities with Champions Oncology, Carrick Therapeutics, and LOXO Oncology, and underpins the spin-out company Probmet Therapeutics.

Selected Awards/Distinctions

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

• 2024 Chair, Breast Cancer Now Biobank Access Committee.
• 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award, Pharmacy Years 1 to 3.
• 2024 Senior Council Member, Irish Association for Cancer Research.
• 2023 Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland Biomedical Research Award.
• 2022 Vice Chancellor Innovation Award for Commercialisation.
• 2022 CEO Innovation Award for Invention Disclosure Form, RCSI.
• 2021 Scientific Lead, Breast Cancer Research Stream, RCSI Beaumont Cancer Centre.
• 2021 Science Foundation Ireland Frontiers for the Future Emerging Investigator Award.
• 2020 Irish Association for Cancer Research Senior Research Award.
• 2019 Walk the Walk Fellowship, Breast Cancer Now. First Irish-based awardee.
• 2017 European Association for Cancer Research Young Scientist Award