Dr Declan McKenna is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biomedical Sciences at Ulster University, Coleraine.


Translational research in Dr McKenna’s laboratory is focused on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in disease. His main disease focus is prostate cancer and he is investigating how miRNAs can be used to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and potential therapeutic intervention of this disease, with particular emphasis on developing serum profiling as a valuable clinical tool.
He is also interested in hypoxia-related mechanisms of prostate cancer progression and is currently investigating how hypoxia impacts upon miRNA expression and other molecular pathways in tumour cells. Dr McKenna’s research includes collaboration with colleagues in academia, industry and clinical institutions through funded research projects.

He is also a registered member of the STEM Ambassador programme in Northern Ireland which aims to inspire and engage young people about the value of STEM subjects in daily life. He has a long-standing collaboration with the W5 Science Discovery Centre, Belfast to deliver STEM activities for schools and the general public. He has made several well-received contributions to the annual NI Science Festival, RTE Brainstorm and other initiatives promoting Public Engagement in Science.