Prof. Martin Clynes, Emeritus Professor in Biotechnology at Dublin City University is Co-Principal Investigator and theme lead of SSPC’s Molecules III theme has been awarded SSPC Mentor of the Year 2022.
This award recognises Martin, who has excelled at mentoring others in achieving their career objectives through intellectual support and who serves as an exemplary role model.
Martin has supervised and trained young scientists from U.K., France, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Pakistan, Czech Republic, Syria, Australia, China, India, Argentina, Malaysia, Greece and Sudan. These student/staff supervisory activities comprise 72 PhD students, 7 M.Sc. research students; 49 Postdoctoral Researchers and 32 Research Assistants. Martin was awarded the Nature Senior Scientific Award for mentoring young scientists.
He initiated a major research program in collaboration with the biopharmaceutical industry on CHO cell biology which has resulted in Dublin now being established as one of the major centres of activity in this area. He is inventor or co-inventor of 8 patents in cancer and bioprocessing areas.
Martin co-ordinated successful research funding applications including funding of NCTCC (€15m); NICB under Higher Education Authority’s PRTLI Cycle III funding for NICB (€35m); funding from various industry sources (over €15m); partner in 3 full EU research programmes and 2 concerted actions; and funding from various national agencies and charities including SFI, the Health Research Board, Enterprise Ireland, Irish Research Council, Irish Cancer Society, and Irish Blood Transfusion Board (total approx. €20m).
He has made a major contribution to the International research effort on mechanisms of resistance to anticancer drugs (edited 2 multi-author books on cancer (Multiple Drug Resistance in Cancer (1994: http://www.springer.com/us/book/9789401043557) & Multiple Drug Resistance in Cancer 2: Molecular, Cellular and Clinical Aspects (1998: http://www.springer.com/gp/book/9780792352723) and have organised 2 international conferences on the topic)