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Biography

Dr Laurence Fitzhenry is Head of the Faculty of Science & Computing (Waterford) at South East Technological University (SETU) and Principal Investigator of the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group (OTRG) at the PMBRC. His research focuses on ocular drug delivery, polymer science, and nanomedicine, with a strong emphasis on patient involvement and engagement.

He received a BSc (Hons) in Applied Chemistry with Quality Management (first-class honours) in 2007 and a PhD in polymer and analytical chemistry in 2011, both from WIT (now SETU). His IRCSET-funded doctoral work developed molecularly imprinted polymers for controlled release and selective sensing of pharmaceutical actives. Following postdoctoral research at the PMBRC, he served as an Enterprise Ireland-funded Technology Leader, collaborating with industry partners while expanding his academic research programme.

Dr Fitzhenry has secured over €10 million in research funding across national and European schemes. He currently coordinates the MSCA-COFUND, INNOVISION, which will recruit 12 postdoctoral researchers, having previously coordinated the MSCA-ITN, ORBITAL, which trained 15 PhD researchers. His group publishes original research articles annually, has filed multiple invention disclosures, and holds granted patents with active licence deals. His commercialisation activity includes founding spin-outs OcuDel (companion-animal ocular therapeutics) and the Enterprise Ireland-funded OcuHealth (human ocular therapeutics).

He has graduated five PhD students, supervised >ten postdoctoral researchers, currently supervises five PhD candidates, and mentors four postdocs. His group’s work spans advanced nanoformulations (PLGA, NLCs, liposomes, polymer–lipid hybrids), AI-assisted design, and translational models for anterior and posterior segment diseases, underpinning SETU’s growing ecosystem of research, innovation, and industry collaboration

Department of Science, WIT (2009-2020)

MSc in Analytical Science with Quality Management

Development and delivery of the following modules and subjects:

Advanced Chromatographic Techniques – GC columns and detectors
Advanced Spectroscopic Techniques – Infrared Spectroscopy
Advance Materials Characterisation – Particle size analysis and solid state NMR

BSc in Applied Chemistry/Biology/Pharmaceutical Science

Spectroscopic Techniques

Advanced Photochemistry

Inorganic Chemistry
Chromatographic Method Development and Validation
Laboratory Data Analysis
Supervision of 16 final year undergraduate projects

ICT for scientists
Chromatographic Techniques
Introductory Chemistry (practical)

Student Life and Learning, WIT (additional tuition) (2007-2011)

Additional tuition delivered:

Chemistry for Land Scientists
Organic Chemistry
Physics

Interests

  • Ocular drug delivery; polymer–lipid hybrid nanoformulations (PLGA, NLCs, liposomes)
  • Contact lens mediated drug delivery and diagnostics
  • Metal-free nanozymes and antioxidant/catalytic systems for ocular disease
  • Biocompatible/functional materials, molecularly imprinted polymers, smart/biodegradable polymers
  • Translation to patient-centred therapies and medical devices; IP and commercialisation

Roles & Networks

  • Principal Investigator, Ocular Therapeutics Research Group (OTRG), within the PMBRC. OTRG develops novel nano-/micro-formulations and delivery platforms for anterior and posterior segment diseases.
  • PMBRC contributor; centre recognised nationally by industry awards for pharma research excellence.
  • Coordinator/lead on EU and national collaborations including ORBITAL (MSCA-ITN), INNOVISION CO-FUND and allied SETU research programmes featured on the university research portal.

Current Focus

  • Next-generation nanoformulations for patient-centred ocular therapies (anterior/posterior segment)
  • PPIE-informed translational pipelines in vision research at SETU.
  • AI-driven development of nanomaterials and delivery systems; preclinical validation and scale-up

Supervision & Output

  • Graduated 5 PhD students; currently supervising 5 PhD candidates and mentoring 4 postdocs
  • Publishes 2–5 papers per year; multiple invention disclosures; granted patents with active licences

Funding & Commercialisation

  • €10 million secured from national and international funding programmes
  • Founder of OcuDel (companion-animal ocular therapeutics) and OcuHealth (human ocular therapeutics), advancing SETU’s innovation and industry engagement