Oliver Blacque

Background

About Oliver Blacque

Experienced Associate Professor with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Cell biology & Genetics research, Lecturing, and Advanced Microscopy. Heads a human disease research group at the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, focused on the cilium, a hair-like cellular extension that serves key roles in cell motility, sensation and developmental signaling. Uses the nematode C. elegans as a genetic model to elucidate the mechanisms of cilia disease, and the transport pathways that build and maintain cilia. Particular interest in understanding how the cilium establishes and maintains its composition via membrane trafficking, intraflagellar transport and diffusion barriers at the cilium base. Lab employs a wide range of genetics and cell biology tools, including transmission electron microscopy and advanced in vivo (live) fluorescence microscopy (FRAP, protein transport kymography, super-resolution approaches). Research findings have been published in 50 peer-reviewed articles, which include senior author publications in Nature, Nature Cell Biology, Journal of Cell Biology, Embo Journal, Genome Biology and Current Biology. Work has been funded by various agencies, including Science Foundation Ireland (2006 President of Ireland Young Researcher Award, 2011 principal investigator award, 2016 SFI/BBSRC project award) and the European Framework 7 program (SysCilia).