Skip to main contentAll people

DrMarie McIlroy

Senior Lecturer

Department of Surgery

Orcid identifier0000-0002-0827-8096 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Senior Lecturer
    Department of Surgery
  • 01 402 2286 (Work)
  • RCSI, Surgery, York House - York Street, Dublin 2

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

My research programme centres on the role of androgens in cancer and metabolic disease, an underexplored area with significant implications for patient outcomes. As Scientific Co-Lead of the RCSI Research Working Group on Androgens in Health and Disease, I have established a distinctive, translational research portfolio spanning mechanistic biology, clinical relevance, and industry collaboration.
 
I have secured competitive funding across national, international, and industry sources and produced a sustained body of high-quality outputs, including publications in leading journals such as Clinical Cancer Research and npj Breast Cancer. My work has advanced understanding of endocrine resistance in cancer and informed new therapeutic strategies, including the development and licensing of novel cell models and contributions to patent activity.
 
My research is highly collaborative and internationally recognised, reflected in invited presentations at major conferences and leadership roles within professional societies. Importantly, I embed mentorship within my research programme, supporting postgraduate researchers to achieve timely completion, publication success, and competitive awards.

GRANTS

  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Decoding the Role of Aging-Associated Androgens in Metabolic Dysregulation and Breast Cancer Risk and Progression
    Health Research Board / HRB1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2030
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Spatial and Immunophenotypic Characterisation of EGCG Induced Tumour Modulation in Breast Cancer: A Paired Pre and Post Treatment Pilot Study
    Breast Cancer Ireland1 Apr 2026 - 1 Jun 2027
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Exploring the role of androgen excess on lipid droplet dynamics in skeletal muscle in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
    Irish Endocrine Society30 Nov 2024 - 31 Mar 2027
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Ex vivo 3D models of cancer related cachexia
    Beaumont Hospital Cancer Research Trust20 Nov 2024 - 31 Mar 2026
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Stipend increase for non state-funded PhD scholars
    RCSI1 Jan 2024 - 30 Sep 2029
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Evaluation of androgen driven cancer cell entosis as a potential mechanism of endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer.
    Irish Endocrine Society1 Dec 2023 - 30 Nov 2025
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    StAR International PhD Programme 2023
    RCSI1 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2027
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Ximbio Research Funds
    Industry1 Dec 2022 - 30 Nov 2023
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Investigation of the fate of the prohormone androstenedione (A4) in breast cancer.
    Society for Endocrinology11 Jul 2022 - 5 Oct 2022
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Collaborate Initiative – IPO
    RCSI1 Sep 2021 - 31 Dec 2024
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Collaborate Initiative – IPO
    Industry1 Sep 2021 - 31 Dec 2024
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    SSC Research Programme 2019
    RCSI1 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2021
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Targeted treatment resistance in metastatic breast cancer
    Breast Cancer Ireland1 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2025
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Androgen-mediated intracellular lipid accumulation in AI-resistant breast cancer.
    Beaumont Hospital Cancer Research Trust1 Feb 2017 - 31 Dec 2025
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Response of Aromatase inhibitor resistant breast Cancer to Enzalutamide.
    Industry1 Apr 2015 - 30 Nov 2021
  • GRANT
    RACE – Response of Aromatase inhibitor resistant breast Cancer to Enzalutamide
    Astellas Pharma US2 Mar 2015
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    PROJECT TITLE: INVESTIGATION INTO THE ANDROGEN RECEPTOR AND THE CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF CIRCULATING ANDROGENS
    Beaumont Hospital Cancer Research Trust1 Oct 2014 - 30 Jun 2024
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    An investigation into the utility of prosaposin as a marker of PI3K inhibitor responsiveness in aromatase inhibitor resistant breast cancer.
    Health Research Board / HRB1 Dec 2013 - 6 Feb 2017
  • GRANT
    S100beta a marker of poor outcome in breast cancer
    Health Research Board (Ireland)1 Jan 2013 - 1 Jan 2016
  • GRANT
    Mechanisms of aromatase inhibitor resistance
    Science Foundation Ireland1 Oct 2009 - 1 Oct 2012
  • FUNDED PROJECT
    Transcription factor HOXC11, a novel SRC-1 binding partner; new pathways in endocrine resistance.
    Breast Cancer Research1 Jul 2009 - 30 Jun 2013