Prof. Siobhain M. O'Mahony has established an internationally recognised academic and research career in neuroscience, microbiome science and women's health (H-index 54). She graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Neuroscience from University College Cork before completing a Master's degree in Neuropharmacology at the University of Galway. She subsequently undertook Marie Curie-funded research in the Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, before completing her PhD in Psychiatry at University College Cork. Following postdoctoral research at APC Microbiome Ireland investigating early-life stress, gut microbiota and pain, and a research position with GlaxoSmithKline validating novel therapeutics for visceral pain, she was appointed Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at UCC in 2008 and is now Professor of Neurobiology.

Professor O'Mahony has made significant contributions to education, having established Ireland's first MSc in Human Anatomy in 2017 and serving as Programme Director until 2020, followed by three years as Director of the BSc in Neuroscience. She currently coordinates the Graduate Entry to Medicine module GM1001 and teaches anatomy and neuroscience across multiple undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Her research focuses on the microbiome–gut–brain axis and the role of the microbiome in health and disease across the lifespan. She has pioneered research investigating how early-life events, maternal nutrition and disruption of the gut microbiome influence brain development, pain, behaviour and long-term health. More recently, her programme has expanded to women's health, where she leads internationally recognised research exploring the role of the microbiome in pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause, endometriosis and female brain health. Her work integrates microbiome, immune, endocrine and behavioural mechanisms to develop precision nutrition and microbiome-based interventions that improve women's health outcomes.

Professor O'Mahony is also committed to translating research into real-world impact. She is Founder and CEO of FemmeBiome, a University College Cork spin-out company developing clinically validated microbiome-based solutions for women's health. Through FemmeBiome, she is translating world-leading research into innovative products designed to support women throughout key reproductive life transitions, exemplifying her commitment to bridging scientific discovery, healthcare innovation and commercialisation.

I have published consistently in high-impact international peer-reviewed journals since 2005 and have an H-index of 54 (Google Scholar), with more than 14,000 citations. My work has been published in leading journals including Nature Neuroscience, Gastroenterology, Biological Psychiatry, eLife, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity and Nature Communications. My research focuses on the microbiome–gut–brain axis and how interactions between the gut microbiome, immune system, endocrine system and brain influence health and disease across the lifespan. I have made significant contributions to understanding how disruption of the gut microbiome during critical developmental windows, including preconception, pregnancy, infancy and early life, influences brain development, behaviour, pain and long-term health outcomes. My research integrates mechanistic studies with human clinical research to identify novel microbiome-based approaches for disease prevention and treatment.

More recently, my programme has expanded to women's health, where I lead multidisciplinary research investigating the role of the microbiome in pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause, endometriosis, chronic pain and female brain health. My work seeks to understand how hormonal transitions interact with the gut microbiome to influence immune function, metabolism and brain health, with the aim of developing precision nutrition and microbiome-targeted interventions that improve women's health outcomes. Alongside my academic research, I am committed to translating scientific discoveries into clinical impact through innovation and commercialisation. I am Founder and CEO of FemmeBiome, a University College Cork spin-out company developing clinically validated microbiome-based solutions for women's health, bridging world-leading research with real-world healthcare innovation.

Since joining University College Cork in 2008, I have delivered high-quality teaching in anatomy and neuroscience across 12 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. My teaching philosophy centres on evidence-based, student-focused education, with a strong emphasis on curriculum innovation, active learning and enhancing the student experience. I have held several major educational leadership roles, including Third-Year Coordinator for the BSc Neuroscience programme (2011–2020), Founder and Programme Director of Ireland's first MSc in Human Anatomy (2017–2020), and Director of the BSc Neuroscience programme (2020–2024). Through strategic curriculum development and programme leadership, I established the MSc in Human Anatomy as a highly successful and distinctive postgraduate programme. I currently coordinate GM1001, the flagship 20-credit multidisciplinary module for Graduate Entry to Medicine, leading curriculum design, assessment and module delivery.

I teach, examine and contribute to curriculum development across Medicine, Neuroscience, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Science, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy. My teaching responsibilities encompass curriculum design, assessment development, quality enhancement and interdisciplinary education. I coordinate AN1005 (Principles of Human Structure for Dentistry), AN1075 (Principles of Human Structure for Pharmacy), AN2003 (Principles of Human Structure), and GM1001 (Graduate Entry to Medicine), while contributing to the Graduate Entry to Medicine curriculum through GM1002, GM1003 and GM2001.