Maynooth University Research and Innovation Report 2021

Dr Lorna Lopez, Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research

Dr Lorna Lopez, a Lecturer and Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology and the Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research at Maynooth University, was awarded the SFI Early Career Researcher Award 2020.

The Science Foundation Ireland national awards recognise key leaders in the Irish research community. Dr Lopez received the award for her work in leading human health research on discovering the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr Lopez’s research at Maynooth University uses genomic technologies to focus on understanding the genetic basis of mental illness and other brain and medical-related traits. She is also a recent recipient of a prestigious European Research Council Starting Investigator Award in 2020. The project will focus on disrupted circadian rhythms and its relationship with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in families.