1. Home
  2. Explore
  3. Faculties and Schools
  4. Faculty of Sciences and Health
  5. Food Science & Environmental Health, Grangegorman
  6. People
  7. Executive Team

Food Science & Environmental Health

Grangegorman

Food Science & Environmental Health

Grangegorman



Dr Gemma Kinsella

Image for Dr Gemma Kinsella

Head of Food Science and Industrial Biotechnology

Email: Gemma.Kinsella@TUDublin.ie

Tel: (01) 220 5663

Arrow Open Access    ORCID    ResearchGate

Background

Dr Gemma Kinsella received a first class honours B.A. Mod in ‘Computational Chemistry’ as well as her PhD from the Department of Chemistry in TCD and  subsequently was a postdoctoral fellow in the Molecular Design Group (MDG) in the Department of Biochemistry, TCD.

She worked with the Irish Centre for High End Computing (ICHEC) and IBM before completing an IRCSET‌ and a HRB postdoctoral fellowship in the Membrane Protein Lab, of the Department of Biology, NUIM. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, in Maynooth University in 2014. She has lectured in the School of Food Science and Environmental Health in TU Dublin since 2015 and became Assistant Head of School in 2022.

Research Interests

Research interests include on
  • Protein structure prediction (GPCRs and other targets) and the early stages of drug development for diseases encompassing Type II Diabetes and cancer.
  • Green chemistry bioacatalysis is another focus area - utilisation of computational protein engineering to design thermo and solvent tolerant enzymes with industrial applications.
Research projects include:
  • Brewers’ Spent Grain Hydrolysates for upcycled functional Pet Food (HyFunFood) Duah Osei Emmanuel (PhD candidate), Dr Azza Silotry Naik (TU Dublin)
  • Biocatalysis Lipases in Green Chemistry, Amin Heydari Espoui (PhD candidate), Dr. Barry Ryan, Prof Gary Henehan,
  • Extracellular Lipases in Degradation of plastic wastes.Muhammad Aitzaz Akram (PhD candidate), Dr. Barry Ryan, Prof Gary Henehan,
  • Enhancing Pyrazolopyrimidinone Cytotoxicity against Glioblastoma using Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Ciara McEvoy (PhD candidate), Prof John Stephens (MU) Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).
  • Evaluation of Pyrazolopyrimidinones as Anticancer Prodrugs Activated by Cold Atmospheric Plasma, Natalia Bednarz (PhD candidate), Prof Paula Bourke (UCD;  Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).
  • Exploration Potential Indane Scaffold Antagonists for Prostate Cancer Treatment Shengxin Zhang (PhD candidate), Dr Tao Zhang, Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).
  • Design, Development and Pharmacological Evaluation of a Novel Bioactive Benzocycloalkanone Scaffold Michail Saragatsis (PhD candidate), Dr Tao Zhang, Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).
  • "Studies on the stability phosphoserine-containing peptides, closely linked to clinically important neurodegenerative diseases" Ms Martina Tuberti (PhD candidate), Dr Fintan Kelleher (TU Dublin).
  • "The Synthesis and Biological Assessment of Novel Ursolic Acid Derivatives as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents for Cancer" Dr Julie Mondala (PhD completed 2022), Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).
  • “Development of novel anticancer agents targeting glioblastoma multiforme” Dr Kate Byrne (PhD candidate), Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).
  • “Development of novel anticancer therapeutics targeting GPR120”. Dr Ajay Pal (PhD completed 2022), Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).
  • Production and application of a novel β-glucosidase for sustainable biomass conversion to renewable energy sources.  Dr Albert Uhoraningoga (PhD completed 2020), Prof. Gary Henehan, Dr. Barry Ryan.
  • High Quality Biofuel From Waste Water Grown Microalgae Using Novel Recombinant Lipase
    Dr Priyanka Suhag (PhD completed 2020), Prof. Gary Henehan, Dr. Barry Ryan.
  • New lipase enzymes for applications in the production of novel materials.
    Dr Yeqi Tan (PhD completed 2020), Dr. Gemma Kinsella, Prof. Gary Henehan, Dr. Barry Ryan

External/International Collaborations

  • “Rational design of novel Adrenergic receptor ligands” – collaboration with Prof John Wallis, Nottingham Trent University.
  • “GPR21/GPR105-novel Diabetes targets” - collaboration with Dr Benetti (Turin), Prof Stephens (MU) and Prof Findlay Leeds University.
  • “Adhesion receptors understanding structure and function” – collaboration with Prof Findlay Leeds University.
  • “Design of a novel lead molecule with potential to treat sepsis”-collaboration with Prof Moynagh Maynooth University.

Publications (since 2018)

  1. Bordano, V., Kinsella,G.K. Cannito, S., Dianzani, C., Gigliotti,C.L., Stephens, J.C., Monge, C., Bocca, C., Rosa, A.C., Miglio, G., Dianzani, U., Findlay, J.B.C., Benetti, E., G protein–coupled receptor 21 in macrophages: An in vitro study, European Journal of Pharmacology, 926, (2022), 175018.
  2. Tan, Y., Henehan, G.T., Kinsella, G.K. et al. Extracellular secretion of a cutinase with polyester-degrading potential by  coli using a novel signal peptide from Amycolatopsis mediterranei. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 38, 60 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-022-03246-z
  3. Ajay Pal, James F. Curtin, Gemma K. Kinsella, Structure based prediction of a novel GPR120 antagonist based on pharmacophore screening and molecular dynamics simulations, Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 19, 2021, 6050-6063,
  4. Byrne KF, Pal A, Curtin JF, Stephens JC, Kinsella GK. G-protein-coupled receptors as therapeutic targets for glioblastoma. Drug Discov Today. 2021 Dec;26(12):2858-2870. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.07.008. Epub 2021 Jul 14. PMID: 34271165.
  5. ZhongleiHe, Clara Charleton, Robert Devine, Mark Kelada, John M. D. Walsh, Gillian E. Conway, Sebnem Gunes, Julie Rose Mae Mondala, Furong Tian, Brijesh Tiwari, GemmaK. Kinsella, Renee Malone, Denis O’Shea, Michael Devereux, Wenxin Wang, Patrick J Cullen, John C. Stephens, James F Curtin Enhanced pyrazolopyrimidinones cytotoxicity against glioblastoma cells activated by ROS-Generating cold atmospheric plasma, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 224, (2021), 113736,
  6. Ahmed, W.H.; Boulet, N.; Briot, A.; Ryan, B.J.; Kinsella, G.K.; O’Sullivan, J.; Les, F.; Mercader-Barceló, J.; Henehan, G.T.M.; Carpéné, C. Novel Facet of an Old Dietary Molecule? Direct Influence of Caffeine on Glucose and Biogenic Amine Handling by Human Adipocytes. Molecules2021, 26, 3831. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26133831
  7. Kinsella, G.K.; Cannito, S.; Bordano, V.; Stephens, J.C.; Rosa, A.C.; Miglio, G.; Guaschino, V.; Iannaccone, V.; Findlay, J.B.C.; Benetti, E. GPR21 Inhibition Increases Glucose-Uptake in HepG2 Cells.  J. Mol. Sci.2021, 22, 10784. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910784
  8. Barry Ryan, C., Dunne, J., Fleming, A, Gorman, C. Kinsella, G., MacMahon, C.H., Moran, F., O’Neill, G., Thompson, S., Walsh, L., G. 2021. 'Transcending the Tribes in Higher Education: The Case for Sustainability as a Catalyst for Forging a New Education Model for Technological Universities based on Transdisciplinary Innovation' Polytechnic Summit, June 2021 
  9. Dunne, J., McMahon,C.H., Barry-Ryan, C., O’Neill, G., Moran, F., Walsh, L., Fleming, A., Kinsella, G., Gorman, C., Thompson, S., Kennedy, A. (2021) A Caste-study Analysis: Sustainable Curriculum Co-Create. Royal Irish Academy.   
  10. Y Tan, GT Henehan, GK Kinsella, BJ Ryan, (2021) An extracellular lipase from Amycolatopsis mediterannei is a cutinase with plastic degrading activity, Computational and Structural Biotechnology, 19, 869-879.
  11. A Pal, JF Curtin, GK Kinsella, (2021) In silicoand in vitro screening for potential anticancer candidates targeting GPR120 Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 31, 127672
  12. M Alongi, JMF Celayeta, R Vriz, GK Kinsella, A Rulikowska, M Anese, In vitrodigestion nullified the differences triggered by roasting in phenolic composition and α-glucosidase inhibitory capacity of coffee (2021) Food Chemistry, 342, 128289
  13. Priyanka P., Kinsella G.K., Henehan G.T., Ryan B.J. (2020). Isolation, purification and characterization of a novel solvent stable lipase from Pseudomonas reinekei. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology,101806.
  14. P Priyanka, GK Kinsella, GT Henehan, B Ryan, (2020) Nile Red assay development for the estimation of neutral lipids in Chlorella emersonii and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata The Euro Biotech Journal 4 (4), 216-222
  15. P Priyanka, GK Kinsella, GT Henehan, BJ Ryan, 2020, Enzymatic in-situ transesterification of neutral lipids from simulated wastewater cultured Chlorella emersonii and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to sustainably produce fatty acid methyl esters Bioresource Technology Reports 11, 100489
  16. Al-Sabi, A.; Daly, D.; Rooney, M.; Hughes, C.; Kinsella, G.K.; Kaza, S.K.; Nolan, K., Dolly, J.O., Development of a Selective Inhibitor for Kv1.1 Channels Prevalent in Demyelinated Nerves, Bioorganic Chemistry, 2020. 100. 103918
  17. Devine, M. Kelada, S. Leonard, D. S. D. Martin, J. M. D. Walsh, C. J. Breen, R. B. Driver, G. K. Kinsella, J. B. C. Findlay, J. C. Stephens (2020) 'Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of aryl piperazines with potential as antidiabetic agents via the stimulation of glucose uptake and inhibition of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase'. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 202:112416.
  18. Finol-Urdaneta, R.K.; Belovanovis, A.; Micic-Vicovac, M.; Kinsella, G.K.; McArthur, J.R.; Al-Sabi, A., Mar Drugs. 2020 Mar 20;18(3). pii: E173. 
  19. Haj Ahmed, W.; Peiro, C.; Fontaine, J.; Ryan, B.J.; Kinsella, G.K.; O’Sullivan, J.; Grolleau, J.-L.; Henehan, G.T.; Carpéné, C. Methylxanthines Inhibit Primary Amine Oxidase and Monoamine Oxidase Activities of Human Adipose Tissue. Medicines2020, 7, 18.
  20. Devine, R., Martin, D.S.D., Kinsella, G.K., Findlay, J.B.C., Stephens, J.C., (2020) Characterization of an aryl piperazine/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin association, a complex with antidiabetic potential, Results in Chemistry , 2, 100026.
  21. Priyanka, P., Kinsella, G. Henehan, G. and Ryan, B., (2019) The Effect of Calcium Alginate Entrapment on the Stability of Novel Lipases from P. Reinekei and P. brenneri, Trends in Protein and Peptide Science, Volume 4, e6.
  22. Uhoraningoga, A., Kinsella, G.K., Frias, J.M., Henehan, G.T., Ryan, B.J., The statistical optimisation of recombinant β-glucosidase production through a two-stage, multi-model, Design of Experiments approach, (2019), Bioengineering, 18;6(3)..
  23. Priyanka, P., Kinsella, G.K., Henehan, G.T., Ryan, B.J., Isolation, purification and characterization of a novel solvent lipase from Pseudomonas reinekei, Protein expression and purification, 2019 Jan;153:121-130. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2018.08.007.
  24. Priyanka, P., Tan Y., Kinsella, G.K., Henehan, G.T., Ryan, B.J., Solvent stable microbial lipases: current understanding and biotechnological applications. Biotechnol Lett. 2018 Dec 7. doi: 10.1007/s10529-018-02633-7.
  25. Uhoraningoga, A., Kinsella, G.K., Henehan, G., & Ryan, B. (2018). The Goldilocks Approach: A Review of Employing Design of Experiments in Prokaryotic Recombinant Protein Production. Bioengineering, 5(4), 89-116. DOI : 10.3390/bioengineering5040089
  26. Shanahan, P. O'Sullivan J., Tipton, K.F., Kinsella, G.K., Ryan, B.J. and Henehan, G.T. (2018). Theobromine and related methylxanthines as inhibitors of Primary Amine Oxidase. Food Biochemistry, Accepted, DOI: 1111/jfbc.12697
Image for Dr Gemma Kinsella