MBRR Introduction
The Mitochondrial Biology and Radiation Research (MBRR) Group was developed in early 2009, following the awarding of an SFI Stokes Lectureship to the head of MBRR, Dr James Murphy.
The research team is in the School of Science in IT Sligo and it has research offices and 6Om2 research space in the Innovation Centre on campus. The group’s custom-built lab space includes state-of-the-art proteomics and molecular biology equipment, a cell culture facility as well as a sunlight simulator and a high-energy VHF radiowave generator.
At present, the Radiation Research in the group employs non-ionising radiation, including sunlight radiation (using a solar simulator to model the UV radiation contained within natural sunlight) and Radio Frequency (RF) Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation. The group aims to shortly acquire an X-Ray Irradiator and expand ongoing research to include modelling the bio-effects of ionising radiation.
MBRR has a strong track record in mitochondrial biology and ongoing research in this area includes determining subtle changes in mitochondrial dynamics, as well as mitochondrial function and mitochondrial DNA in skin cells following low-level, sub-lethal simulated sunlight exposure.
The group is also evaluating and developing the potential of RF as both a stand-alone cancer therapy and also as an adjunct therapy. MBRR is currently funded by Science Foundation Ireland, IT Sligo seed funding, Invest NI and by the Radiowave Therapy Research Institute in Western Australia.