Niall Hyland Editor

Dr Niall Hyland is a Lecturer in Pharmacology & Therapeutics and a member of Faculty at the Alimentary Pharamabiotic Centre (APC) at University College Cork (UCC). Prior to returning to Ireland in 2007, his work on lower esophageal sphincter function, at Louisiana State University, had direct clinical implications for gastrointestinal disorders such as reflux disease. He subsequently completed his Ph.D in Pharmacology at Kings College London examining the functional role of neuropeptide Y receptors in the colon. From London, he moved to the University of Calgary in Canada, having obtained an AstraZeneca-supported Fellowship, to study the influence of obesity, inflammation and early-life immune challenge on intestinal physiology. His current research is focused on understanding the role of commensal organisms and putative probiotics on colonic fluid and electrolyte transport and the role of the innate immune system in functional bowel disorders. He has competitively obtained independent research support from the Health Research Board (Ireland), Science Foundation Ireland, through their support of the APC, and from Canadian Association of Gastroenterology-Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Niall has published in leading gastroenterology journals including Gut and Gastroenterology. Prof. Catherine Stanton is Senior Principal Research Officer at Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Ireland, Research Professor at University College Cork, College of Medicine and Health and one of the original PI of APC Microbiome Ireland. Her research program addresses development of innovative dairy foods and probiotics that influence human health and the developing gut microbiota in early life.  She has led numerous national and international grants, including the coordination of a number EU projects on various aspects of probiotics for human and animal applications.