Cian O'Donnell

I am a DPhil student at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Professors Hugh Watkins and Christopher Toepfer. My research focuses on designing genetic therapies for cardiomyopathies caused by haploinsufficiency. 

Before joining Oxford, I worked at the University of Chicago, where I worked on developing gene therapy approaches for atrial fibrillation. I previously worked at AveXis (now Novartis Gene Therapies) and hold a degree in Biochemistry from University College Cork and a Master’s in Entrepreneurship in Science from the University of Notre Dame, USA.

I am part of the CureHeart programme, and my doctoral training is further supported by Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) Ireland.

Publications:
 

1.  Gene Therapies in Atrial Fibrillation | Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research.  O’Donnell, C et al (2025) Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research