Annie Curtis

I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences which is located in Dublin, Ireland. I conducted my PhD at the University of Pennsylvania where I was first introduced to the world of circadian rhythms and its impact on cardiovascular disease. I then held positions in the pharmaceutical industry and public sector before returning to academic research.

My lab is interested in the role of the molecular clock (also known as the body clock) on our immune system. This body clock exists in all cells of the immune system and controls the inflammatory response, the course of infections and even the efficacy of vaccines. Symptoms of many immune related conditions such as arthritis, asthma and cardiovascular disease peak at distinct times of day. My lab tries to uncover exactly how the body clock is having such a profound impact on immune function, and whether we can harness this body clock to improve the efficacy and safety of medicines. Our 24/7 lifestyle and erratic eating and sleeping patterns is disrupting our body clock and we are interested in figuring out is that leaving us more susceptible to chronic inflammatory disease and infection.