Overview
Background
Dr Eoin O’Sullivan is a consultant nephrologist and clinician scientist whose research focuses on understanding kidney disease through the integration of diverse biological, clinical and population-level data.
His work spans molecular biology and multi-omics, large-scale clinical datasets, geospatial epidemiology and environmental health. A central theme is connecting information across different biological and population scales to better understand disease mechanisms, identify unmet need and develop more targeted approaches to healthcare.
His research interests include kidney ageing and senescence, autoimmune kidney disease, dialysis outcomes, and the influence of geography and environmental exposures on kidney health. An emerging focus is cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) health, exploring how linked clinical, pathology, genomic and population datasets can identify overlapping disease burden, improve risk stratification and inform precision screening.
Through this work, he aims to translate insights from diverse datasets into practical, equitable and data-driven models of care that bridge hospital, primary care and community settings.
Alongside his research, he practises clinical nephrology at Metro North Health, with clinical leadership roles in haemodialysis and autoimmune kidney disease.
In addition to his research, Dr. O'Sullivan is actively involved in medical education and mentorship, involved with ANZSN Educational an scientific comittees, with national level educational experiences both in Australia and in UK.
Current Research Focus
Theme 1: Kidney Ageing and Cellular Senescence
Investigating the molecular mechanisms of kidney ageing and cellular senescence using single-cell RNA sequencing and multi-omics approaches, with a focus on identifying novel therapeutic targets and translating biological discoveries into clinical interventions.
Theme 2: Translational Data Science and Precision Medicine
Integrating diverse molecular, genomic, pathology and clinical datasets to better understand kidney disease. Applying advanced statistical methods, machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve disease classification, prognostication, biomarker discovery and clinical decision support.
Theme 3: Population Health and Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic Disease
Using large-scale linked health datasets, geospatial epidemiology and environmental exposure data to investigate patterns of kidney and cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) disease. Developing data-driven approaches to identify unmet need, inform precision screening and improve equitable access to healthcare through integrated models of care.
Availability
- Dr Eoin O'Sullivan is:
- Available for supervision
Research interests
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Senescence
Understanding cellular senescence as a biomarkers and therapeutic target for chronic disease outcomes, in particular renal fibrosis/CKD
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single cell RNA-Seq
novel translational approaches to using single cell RNA-Seq, in particular to uncover targets and biomarkers in CKD
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Machine learning and AI
analysis of large volumes of public data ( ECG, clinical parameters, text ) with international collaborations - looking for translational pathways for novel algorithms - in particular focused on Renal and cardiological outcomes,
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Renal Vasculitis
translational focus on clinical data, access to patient data, samples, network of collaborators
Research impacts
Complete list of published works: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7709-6595
My research programme has contributed new knowledge to the understanding of kidney fibrosis, cellular senescence and the molecular mechanisms underpinning chronic kidney disease. Through a series of basic and translational studies, this work has helped characterise the role of cellular ageing in kidney injury and identified potential therapeutic opportunities targeting senescence-associated pathways.
The programme has achieved substantial international reach, with findings cited by researchers across six continents and contributing to research spanning cellular and molecular biology, computational biology, clinical medicine and pharmacology. This cross-disciplinary uptake reflects the relevance of kidney senescence research beyond nephrology, particularly to broader questions of ageing, fibrosis and chronic disease.
My broader research increasingly builds upon this mechanistic foundation, integrating multi-omics, clinical and population-level datasets to connect biological discovery with disease prediction, precision medicine and improvements in healthcare delivery.
Works
Search Professor Eoin O'Sullivan’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Journal Article
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder presenting as cloudy peritoneal dialysate
Kolb, A., Gibson, P. and O’Sullivan, E. D. (2017). Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder presenting as cloudy peritoneal dialysate. Peritoneal Dialysis International, 37 (5), 585-586. doi: 10.3747/pdi.2017.00027
2017
Journal Article
Allosensitization Following Bone Graft
O'Sullivan, E. D., Battle, R. K., Zahra, S., Keating, J. F., Marson, L. P. and Turner, D. M. (2017). Allosensitization Following Bone Graft. American Journal of Transplantation, 17 (8), 2207-2211. doi: 10.1111/ajt.14231
2017
Journal Article
The clinical utility of kinetic glomerular filtration rate
O'Sullivan, Eoin D. and Doyle, Arthur (2017). The clinical utility of kinetic glomerular filtration rate. Clinical Kidney Journal, 10 (2), 202-208. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfw108
2017
Journal Article
Renal aging: causes and consequences
O'Sullivan, Eoin D., Hughes, Jeremy and Ferenbach, David A. (2017). Renal aging: causes and consequences. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 28 (2), 407-420. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2015121308
2016
Journal Article
ISN Forefronts Symposium 2015: the diverse function of macrophages in renal disease
Duthie, Fiona, O'Sullivan, Eoin D. and Hughes, Jeremy (2016). ISN Forefronts Symposium 2015: the diverse function of macrophages in renal disease. Kidney International Reports, 1 (3), 204-209. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2016.08.004
2016
Journal Article
Quiz Page August 2016: Skin Lesions in a Dialysis Patient
O Sullivan, Eoin D. and Wardrope, Katrina (2016). Quiz Page August 2016: Skin Lesions in a Dialysis Patient. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 68 (2), A18-A21. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2016.03.432
2016
Journal Article
Acute respiratory distress syndrome and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following rituximab therapy
Wardrope, Katrina E., Manson, Lynn, Metcalfe, Wendy and O'Sullivan, Eoin D. (2016). Acute respiratory distress syndrome and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome following rituximab therapy. Case Reports in Nephrology and Dialysis, 6 (1), 32-39. doi: 10.1159/000444250
2014
Journal Article
A rare complication of transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis: parathyroid hormone-related peptide-induced hypercalcaemia
O Sullivan, Eoin and Plant, William (2014). A rare complication of transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis: parathyroid hormone-related peptide-induced hypercalcaemia. BMJ Case Reports, 2014 bcr2013202796, 1-2. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-202796
2014
Journal Article
Transsternal gastric hernia
O'Sullivan, Eoin Daniel and Moran, Sarah Margaret (2014). Transsternal gastric hernia. New England Journal of Medicine, 370 (15), 1440-1440. doi: 10.1056/NEJMicm1309719
2012
Journal Article
A re-audit of prevention of venous thromboembolic disease in medical and surgical hospital patients in a single university teaching hospital
O'Connor, M. B., O'Sullivan, E., Laoire, A. Ni, Buckley, C., Bastaki, H., Walsh, M., Jaffar, N. A.M. and Shuilleabhain, M. Ni (2012). A re-audit of prevention of venous thromboembolic disease in medical and surgical hospital patients in a single university teaching hospital. Irish Journal of Medical Science, 181 (1), 159-160. doi: 10.1007/s11845-011-0720-6
2011
Journal Article
An international comparison of professional attitudes among medical students in Ireland
O'Sullivan, E. and Ryan, C. A. (2011). An international comparison of professional attitudes among medical students in Ireland. Medical Teacher, 33 (5), 424-425. doi: 10.3109/0142159X.2011.583178
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Eoin O'Sullivan is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of Chlorhexidine caps for central line associated bloodstream infection prevention in people needing haemodialysis: A pilot randomised controlled trial
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Jessica Schults, Professor Claire Rickard
Media
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