Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr. Aileen Houston is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Medicine, University College Cork (UCC) and a Faculty Member of the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) Research Institute. Dr. Houston has a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biomedical Science from UCC and a Ph.D. in Medicine from UCC. She was awarded a Career Development Fellowship by the Health Research Board (HRB) Ireland in 2005, and was subsequently appointed as a Research Scientist in the Department of Medicine, UCC. She has received numerous awards including the St. Luke’s Young Investigator Award.
Her research interests focus on inflammation and cancer, in particular on tumour-derived and stromal-derived factors and their role in inflammation, tumour development and the anti-tumour response, as well as bacterial-derived factors and their role in gastrointestinal homeostasis. These investigations combine in vitro cell and molecular biology based approaches, functional genomics approaches, human biopsy tissue and in vivo pre-clinical models of cancer. Studies are aimed at identifying potential targets for the development of anti-inflammatory reagents and anti-cancer therapies.
She has published numerous articles in journals such as Cancer Research, Oncogene, the Journal of Immunology and the British Journal of Cancer. (H-index - 26; Google Scholar).
Research Interests
- Inflammatory cytokines in colorectal cancer and therapeutic targeting.
- Non-apoptotic functions of death receptor family in tumour microenvironment.
- Gut microbiota and its role in CRC development and immune modulation.
Teaching Activities
Thesis Examination and Supervision:
Dr Houston has supervised multiple postgraduate research candidates (8 PhD and 1MD) to completion, guiding their research in areas such as inflammation and cell death in tumorigenesis. She is currently supervising one PhD student.
Additional Teaching Contributions:
As Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC), Dr Houston oversees the academic progress of postgraduate students, including 18 PhD and 11 MD candidates.
Recent PhD Students
| Student | Degree Type | Role | Start | End |
| Kevin Baker | PhD | Co-Supervisor | 2018 | 2022 |
| Maura Bendix | PhD | Co-Supervisor | 2018 | 2022 |
| Jonathan Keane | PhD | Co-Supervisor | 2015 | 2019 |
| Philana Fernandes | PhD | Lead | 2010 | 2015 |
| Caitríona Lyons | PhD | Co-Supervisor | 2010 | 2015 |
| Amr Mahmoud | MD | Co-Supervisor | 2013 | 2015 |
| Charlotte O'Donnell | PhD | Lead | 2011 | 2016 |
| Grace O'Callaghan | PhD | Lead | 2008 | 2012 |
| Aideen Ryan | PhD | Lead | 2001 | 2005 |
Current PhD Students
| Student | Degree Type | Role | Start | End |
| Méabh Finucane | PhD | Co-Supervisor | 2022 |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
UCC Futures (primary)
- Cancer Research @ UCC
Other research affiliations
- UCC Futures - Food, Microbiome and Health
- UCC Futures - Future Medicines
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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The complex roles of IL-36 and IL-38 in cancer: friends or foes?
Finucane, M., Brint, E. & Houston, A., 14 Apr 2025, In: Oncogene. 44, 13, p. 851-861 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Interplay between microbial-derived GABA and host GABA receptor signaling collectively influence the tumorigenic function of GABA in colon cancer
Keane, J. M., Fernandes, P., Kratz, F., O'Callaghan, G., Gahan, C. G. M., Joyce, S. A., Stanton, C., Hyland, N. P. & Houston, A., Aug 2024, In: Pharmacology Research and Perspectives. 12, 4, e1226.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Dietary-Induced Bacterial Metabolites Reduce Inflammation and Inflammation-Associated Cancer via Vitamin D Pathway
O’Mahony, C., Clooney, A., Clarke, S. F., Aguilera, M., Gavin, A., Simnica, D., Ahern, M., Fanning, A., Stanley, M., Rubio, R. C., Patterson, E., Marques, T., Wall, R., Houston, A., Mahmoud, A., Bennett, M. W., Stanton, C., Claesson, M. J., Cotter, P. D. & Shanahan, F. & 2 others, , Feb 2023, In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 24, 3, 1864.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
IL-36 expression is increased in NSCLC with IL-36 stimulation of lung cancer cells promoting a pro-tumorigenic phenotype
Baker, K. J., Buskiewicz, E., Finucane, M., Chelliah, A., Burke, L., Houston, A. & Brint, E., May 2023, In: Cytokine. 165, 156170.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Investigation of the gut microbiome, bile acid composition and host immunoinflammatory response in a model of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer at discrete timepoints
Keane, J. M., Walsh, C. J., Cronin, P., Baker, K., Melgar, S., Cotter, P. D., Joyce, S. A., Gahan, C. G. M., Houston, A. & Hyland, N. P., 16 Feb 2023, In: British Journal of Cancer. 128, 4, p. 528-536 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Press/Media
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New Electrochemotherapy Study Results Reported from University College Cork (Electrochemotherapy and Immune Interactions; a Boost To the System?)
21/06/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media
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University College Cork Researchers Have Published New Study Findings on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Dietary-Induced Bacterial Metabolites Reduce Inflammation and Inflammation-Associated Cancer via Vitamin D Pathway)
Melgar, S., Claesson, M., Houston, A., Joyce, S. & Shanahan, F.
28/02/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media