Executive Team

Dr Gemma Kinsella

Head of Food Science and Industrial Biotechnology

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 the early stages of drug design development for diseases encompassing several cancers using computational approaches.

Activatable pro-drug platform - innovative use of cold atmospheric plasma

Delivery systems e.g. liposomes, hydrogels

Green chemistry biocatalysis - utilisation of computational protein engineering to design thermo and solvent tolerant enzymes with industrial applications.

Current Research projects include:

Cathy Morelli (MPhil candidate), Research Ireland Enterprise Partnership Scheme 2025 PI: Dr Azza Silotry Naik (TU Dublin)

Yonas Gebeyehu (PhD Candidate), Walsh Scholar with Dr Shay Hannon (Teagasc), Prof Brijesh Tiwari (Teagasc)

Brewers’ Spent Grain Hydrolysates for upcycled functional Pet Food (HyFunFood) Duah Osei Emmanuel (PhD candidate), PI: 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,

Glucosidase for novel glycoside synthesis, Adithya Vinod (PhD candidate), Dr. Barry Ryan, Prof Gary Henehan, Prof Kieran Nolan (DCU)

PlasmaPLUS research, Dr. Janith Wanigasekara (Post-Doctoral Researcher).

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).

Previous Projects:

Flow Chemistry in Green Chemistry Biocatalysis, Dr. Savitha Rangasamy (Post-Doctoral Researcher)

"Studies on the stability phosphoserine-containing peptides, closely linked to clinically important neurodegenerative diseases" Ms Martina Tuberti, 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), Dr Denis O’Shea, Prof Devereux, Prof Curtin (TU Dublin).

“Development of novel anticancer agents targeting glioblastoma multiforme” Dr Kate Byrne (PhD completed 2022), Prof Curtin (TU Dublin). Prof John Stephens (MU).

“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

Other 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.

Prize

TU Dublin Faculty of Sciences and Health, Multidisciplinary Team Award (2025) for PlasmaPLUS.

Recent publications

S. Zhang, J. Wanigasekara, D. Boehm, et al., “ Cold Atmospheric Plasma for Prostate Cancer Therapy - Potential for Clinical Translation,” Plasma Processes and Polymers 23 (2026): e129. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.70129.
Rangasamy Savitha, Ebin K. Baby, Gemma K. Kinsella, Barry J. Ryan, Kieran Nolan, Gary T.M. Henehan, Non-interfacial activation of CALB by soluble alkyl-onium ions: Structure activity relationships, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 456, 2026,129601,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2026.129601.
Osei, E. D., Naik, A. S., Kinsella, G., Delaney, T., & Stuart, K. (2025). Potential of Brewer’s Spent Grain Bioactive Fractions as Functional Ingredients for Companion and Farm Animal Foods – A Reviews. Applied Food Research, 101138–101138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afres.2025.101138
Ebin K. Baby, Rangasamy Savitha, Gemma K. Kinsella, Barry J. Ryan, Kieran Nolan, Gary T.M. Henehan, “Structural and mechanistic insights into activators of alcohol dehydrogenase,” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 330, 3, 2025, 148040, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.148040
Chu J, Tsonou E, Machin P et al P-Rex1 limits glucose clearance and suppresses hepatocyte glucose uptake and mitochondrial metabolism independently of its Rac-GEF activity, Cell Reports, 2025; 44.