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ProfDeirdre Fitzgerald Hughes

Associate Professor

Clinical Microbiology

Orcid identifier0000-0002-4843-3839 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Associate Professor
    Clinical Microbiology
  • 01 8093711 (Work)
  • RCSI, Clinical Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

Healthcare-associated infections involving antibiotic-resistant organisms (e.g. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriales (CPE), Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE))

The significance of host immune response and bacterial virulence in clinical outcome.

Development of alternatives to antibiotics for clinical applications (eg Novel peptide-based treatment for diabetic foot infections)

The detection, transmission and epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the clinical environment adjacent to patients.

GRANTS

  • FUNDED PROJECT
    ICAT-2 Funding - Saied Ali
    Health Research Board / HRB14 Jul 2025 - 13 Jul 2028
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    ICAT-2 Funding - Saied Ali
    National University of Ireland, Galway /NUIG14 Jul 2025 - 13 Jul 2028
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    RISC-HCAI: Re-investigating infection control strategies through cleaning to prevent healthcare-associated infection
    Infection Prevention Society31 Mar 2025 - 30 Jun 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    • Martin KUOWL
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Research Ireland (formerly SFI) 2025 Supplementary Stipend
    Research Ireland1 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    National Challenge Fund -Healthy Environment for All Challenge - Grow Phase
    Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)1 Dec 2024 - 31 Oct 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    • Mary P
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    One Health Report on Antimicrobial Use & Antimicrobial Resistance 2019 – 2023
    Department of Health23 Jul 2024 - 11 Nov 2027
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    SFI PhD 2024 Additional Stipend Allowance
    Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    New OneHealth OneWater AMR Solutions (NoHoW AMR)
    Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)1 Jun 2023 - 28 Feb 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    • Mary P
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Progressing the Clinical Applications of Novel Antimicrobial Polypeptides Polypeptides for Recalcitrant Infections.
    British Infection Association5 Jul 2021 - 31 Dec 2022
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriales (CPE): Identifying the drivers of transmission to patients in the healthcare-environment.
    Irish Research Council2 Nov 2020 - 31 Oct 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    • Fitzgerald Hughes D
  • GRANT
    Exploiting Singlet Fission: An Innovative Design Strategy For Antimicrobial Materials
    Science Foundation Ireland5 Oct 2020 - 30 Sep 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    • Fitzgerald Hughes D,
    • Pryce M
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Exploiting Singlet Fission: An Innovative Design Strategy For Antimicrobial Materials
    Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)5 Oct 2020 - 4 Oct 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    • Mary P
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriales (CPE): Identifying the drivers of transmission to patients in the healthcare-environment.
    RCSI1 Oct 2020 - 31 Oct 2023
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriales (CPE): Identifying the drivers of transmission to patients in the healthcare-environment.
    Irish Research Council IRC1 Oct 2020 - 31 Mar 2024
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    SSC Research Programme 2020
    RCSI1 Jan 2020 - 31 Mar 2021
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    RCSI Research Summer School 2019
    RCSI12 Apr 2019 - 31 Jan 2022
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Towards novel anti-infectives with enhanced wound-healing for diabetic foot infections; CO-releasing star-shaped microbicidal polymers
    Health Research Board / HRB22 Nov 2018 - 31 Jul 2021
    People funded by this grant:
    • Mary P
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Evidence for a role for coagulase-negative staphylococci and their biofilms in the historic and future evolution of Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA.
    CAPES Brazil25 Mar 2014 - 30 Mar 2018
    People funded by this grant:
    • Anna S,
    • David C
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Evidence for a role for coagulase-negative staphylococci and their biofilms in the historic and future evolution of Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA.
    CAPES Brazil1 Mar 2014 - 31 Mar 2018
    People funded by this grant:
    • Shore A,
    • Coleman D,
    • Humphreys H
  • GRANT
    Peptide pro-drugs as targeted anti-infective biopharmaceuticals
    Higher Education Authority of Ireland1 Jan 2012 - 1 Jan 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Devocelle M,
    • Greene C
  • GRANT
    The Local Epidemiology of Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Gram-negative Bacteria in Beaumont Hospital and an investigation of an ESBL-activated novel therapeutic peptide.
    Health Research Board (Ireland)1 Jan 2010 - 1 Jan 2013
    People funded by this grant:
    • Humphreys H,
    • Devocelle M