Prof Patricia Maguire

Director, UCD Institute of Discovery

University College Dublin

Biography

Professor Patricia Maguire is a leading interdisciplinary scientist known for merging Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Biomedical Science. She is a Professor of Biochemistry at University College Dublin (UCD) and serves as Director of the UCD Institute for Discovery, an interdisciplinary research institute focused on addressing global challenges.

Her pioneering work on the “platelet releasate,” introduced in a landmark 2004 Blood paper, has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of platelet biology. Her research integrates machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, especially for inflammatory diseases such as preeclampsia, multiple sclerosis, and venous thromboembolism. She has combined omics with AI to create groundbreaking diagnostics like the multi-award-winning AI_PREMie, recognised in the UNESCO Global Top 100 AI Projects for its application in preeclampsia risk stratification.

Professor Maguire’s research has earned her numerous awards, such as the 2021 Science Foundation Ireland Mentorship Award, the 2022 AI Ireland Award for Best Academic Project, and the 2023 AI and Analytics Award for Societal Good. She has collaborated with major companies including SAS, Bayer, Sanofi, and Intel, and has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals like Nature Communications, PNAS and Blood.

Beyond her research, she is a vocal advocate for women in STEM and diversity, recognised for her outstanding mentorship and award-winning commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.