The Fitzgerald Lab

15/04/2026

The Fitzgerald lab is now part of the new Northern Ireland MS Research Hub which has its own (much more active!) page. Please follow here: https://www.facebook.com/share/18Pk8ZwWvF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We're driving cutting-edge MS research in Northern Ireland, uniting scientists, doctors, and the MS community.
Our goal: a world-class MS Centre of Excellence - to improve lives locally and globally.

11/04/2025

Are you living with, or caring for someone who has MS?

We are delighted to invite you to our annual MS patient information evening, which will be held on Monday 28th April.

Dr. Maria Gaughan, a consultant neurologist based in Dublin, will be talking about autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as a treatment for MS: Who is eligible, when, and where can this therapy be accessed? At the end, like every year, we will be holding a Q&A session with a team of healthcare professionals who specialise in MS.

This year is particularly special for us, as we will be also announcing the launch of The Northern Ireland MS Research Hub, an exciting collaborative initiative between local researchers and clinicians to expedite our mission to monitor, slow, stop and reverse disease progression in people with MS.

Click on the link below to see the agenda for the day, and register for FREE!

Join us for the exciting launch of the Northern Ireland Multiple Sclerosis Research Hub – bringing MS researchers and clinicians together

21/03/2024

Reminder: Northern Ireland MS Research Public Information Evening!

Open to all affected by MS, along with their families, friends, and caregivers. This will be an informative and engaging evening about the latest advancements in MS research.

- Hear from leading experts, including Dr. Will Brown - a renowned neurologist involved in MS clinical trials.
-Discover groundbreaking MS research projects happening right here in Northern Ireland at Queen's University Belfast.
-Learn about ongoing clinical trials within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
-Connect with others in the MS community and contribute to the fight against MS.

📆 Monday, April 8th, 2024
➡ Time: 5:15 PM - 7:30 PM
✅L ocation: Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, QUB

This FREE event is not to be missed!Secure your spot now: https://bit.ly/3wnKJSH

Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine , QUB

05/04/2023

Our mega-trial Octopus has made it on the news! 📺📣

If you missed it, tune into BBC iPlayer and hear from our Octopus trial lead Professor Jeremy Chataway and Ailsa, one of the first trial participants.

Watch it here (starts at 18:10): https://mssoc.uk/3m66uBF

22/02/2023

The Northern Ireland Multiple Sclerosis Research Network (NIMSRN) would like to invite you to our FREE Public Information Evening which is being held on Tuesday 28th March, 5:30pm – 7:30pm in the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen’s University Belfast.

This year our guest speaker is Professor Jeremy Chataway who is a neurologist based in London. Professor Chataway is also the lead investigator for the OCTOPUS clinical trial in progressive MS and Belfast will be one of the sites for this trial. We will also have talks from local neurologists, MS research nurse and scientists involved in MS research in Northern Ireland.

This event is free to attend. You can register via this link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northern-ireland-ms-research-network-public-information-evening-tickets-557658711217 or email [email protected]

Please find attached further information on our programme, directions and car parking.

27/09/2022

Research Technician post available in Fitzgerald lab - come join us to figure out how to repair the brain!

Closing date 3rd Oct 2022.

More details here: https://hrwebapp.qub.ac.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETRE...

09/09/2022

Following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen’s University has decided to postpone the MS Masterclass Public Information Evening on Monday 12th September, as a mark of respect. The event will be rescheduled, and a further update will be provided in due course. We hope that all the attendees will understand this decision.

07/09/2022

Update 9th Sep 2022: Following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen’s University has decided to postpone the MS Masterclass Public Information Evening on Monday 12th September, as a mark of respect. The event will be rescheduled, and a further update will be provided in due course. We hope that all the attendees will understand this decision.

Our Annual Multiple Sclerosis Research Public Information Evening for the general public will be on Monday 12th September from 5.45 - 7.30pm at Queen's University Belfast's Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine. The event will cover the latest updates and clinical trial developments in Multiple Sclerosis research with panel discussion from Dr Don Mahad, Dr Orla Gray, Dr Gavin McDonnell and Ms Fiona Magee. Please click here for FREE registration for the event and please note, you can join the event online if you prefer:
https://app.medall.org/event-listings/nimsrn-aims-rn-joint-symposium

14/04/2022

Another treatment approved for Repalsing-Remitting MS

Today the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved diroximel fumarate (Vumerity) as a new treatment for relapsing MS in adults with active disease.

10/01/2022

Fantastic news today...
The Fitzgerald group have been involved in winning 2 of the Vice-Chancellor's Research Prizes.
The NIMSRN have won the Research Culture prize and Alerie Guzman de la Fuente has won the Postdoctoral Researcher prize.
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved 🥂🍾👏 https://youtu.be/Ai7_S7i3jMk
https://youtu.be/APU4ocLfNdg

Winner - Research Culture