1. My ERC Experience: Past, Present and Future
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
Royal Irish Academy - Excellent Research: Ireland and the ERC
Dr. David Hoey
Dept. Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Biomedical Engineering
Centre for Applied Biomedical Engineering Research (CABER),
Materials and Surface Science Institute (MSSI).
University of Limerick

2. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
My Application
European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant 2013: “Primary Cilium-Mediated Mesenchymal Stem Cell Mechanobiology in Bone”
Evaluation Panel
Physical Sciences and Engineering
PE8: Products and Processes Engineering
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
Osteocytes
MSCs
Osteoblasts

3. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
The Past
Why did I apply to the ERC?
Intimidating
New PI
Competitiveness (IE)
Financial
€1.5 Million over 5 years
SFI Support Programme
Excellent for young researchers (new PIs)
The suitability
Broad scope
Basic science (blue sky)
Prestige
Research excellence
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14

4. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
The Present
Credibility
Institutional
Internationally
Facilities
Laboratory
Research Team
Teaching
Research
More focus
Ambitious / High risk
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14

5. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
The Present
Multi-scale analysis of cilia-mediated bone formation
Development of innovative techniques
Animal
Cell Culture
Single Cell
Primary Cilium
Biomaterials
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
Osteocytes
MSCs
Osteoblasts
Hoey, D.A., Tormey, S., et al; Stem Cells. 2012

6. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
The Present
Multi-scale analysis of cilia-mediated bone formation
Development of innovative techniques
Animal
Cell Culture
Single Cell
Primary Cilium
Biomaterials
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
Osteocytes
MSCs
Osteoblasts

7. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
The Present
Multi-scale analysis of cilia-mediated bone formation
Development of innovative techniques
Animal
Cell Culture
Single Cell
Primary Cilium
Biomaterials
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
Prof. Chris Jacobs (Columbia)
Prof. Peter Wang (Stanford)
Prof. Kristen Verhey (Michigan)
Osteocytes
Collaborators
Prof. Chris Jacobs (Columbia, US)
Prof. Peter Wang (Stanford, US)
Prof. Kristen Verhey (Michigan. US)
Prof. Masamichi Ohkura (Saitama University, Japan)
MSCs
Osteoblasts

8. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
The Present
Multi-scale analysis of cilia-mediated bone formation
Development of innovative techniques
Animal
Cell Culture
Single Cell
Primary Cilium
Biomaterials
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
Prof. Chris Jacobs (Columbia)
Prof. Peter Wang (Stanford)
Prof. Kristen Verhey (Michigan)
Osteocytes
MSCs
Osteoblasts

9. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
The Future
Create foundations for my career
Develop my niche area
Obtain research independence
Grant applications
Domino effect on other grants
International Collaborators
Preliminary data
Excellent science
Research awards
High impact publications
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14

10. Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14
Thank You
Acknowledgements:
Research Team
Dr. Marie-Noelle Labour
Niall Kelly
Robert Thomas Brady
Elena Stavenschi
Michele Corrigan
Kian Eichholz
Gillian Johnson
Anushree Dwivedi
Siobhan Coyle
Supported by:
European Research Council Starting Grant (No )
Science Foundation Ireland (No. SFI/13/ERC/L2864)
IRCSET-Marie Curie International Mobility Fellowship in Science, Engineering and Technology
Acknowledgements:
Collaborators
Prof. Christopher Jacobs
Prof. Soren Christensen
Prof. Fergal O’Brien
Prof. Daniel Kelly
Dr. Julia Chen
Dr. Kristen Lee
Excellent Science: Ireland and the ERC, Dublin 17/11/14