The many talents of Professor Luke O’Neill Chair of Biochemistry at the Trinity School of Biochemistry and Immunology P rofessor Luke O’Neill has become a household name since the pandemic struck. We get up close and personal with the world- renowned immunologist At what age did you become interested in science? Can’t really remember! I remember at 12 being very interested in geology when I heard that the Wicklow Mountains had been carved out by glaciers 10,000 years ago. I became interested in immunology during my PhD on rheumatoid arthritis when I learnt that it’s a disease caused by the immune system going out of control. I thought now that’s interesting. If I can understand more about that I might help in the effort to develop treatments. Can you describe the feeling in the lab when you / your team make a scientific discovery? It’s a strange business because when you see a new result that looks interesting, you can’t be fully sure until its repeated. It’s not like scoring a goal. However, it will stay in your mind and give you a warm feeling as you think about how to develop it further. The big satisfaction is to have your work accepted for publication because it has then been peer reviewed, and the world will now be able to read it – that means another lab might extend your findings further. As an eternal optimist, what are the benefits to a glass half-full outlook? Trying to stay positive is good for your immune system. Chronic stress can dampen our immune response and put us at risk of infection. So always try look on the bright side of life… difficult though that can be at times. Can you tell us about fronting your band, The Metabollix? There’s always a feeling of oh, right, I’ve got to stand up now in front of a bunch of people and do something. Not unlike giving a lecture. Something about The Metabollix is that we were due to do some gigs in Rhode Island for St Patrick’s Day (in pre-pandemic days) but were turned back by immigration at Dublin airport. Our guitarist Chris Cole was detained and questioned. And we were just a bunch of musicians going to the US to celebrate Paddy’s Day. Where did the inspiration come for your book title: Never Mind the B#ll*cks, Here’s the Science? I was trying to think of a good title – working title was ‘Science is Great’ which is pretty boring. And then it came to me over Christmas for some reason – it, of course, refers to an album that was very important in my teenage years by the Sex Pistols – ‘ Never Mind the B*ll*cks, Here’s the Sex Pistols ’. It somehow captured the essence of what science is all about!
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