Dr O’ Reilly studied immunology at the University of Glasgow and completed her PhD in the Department of Immunology at University College London. Following post-doctoral training at the University of Cambridge, England, she joined the Walter and Eliza Institute of Medical Research as a Wellcome Trust Fellow with Prof. Andreas Strasser in the Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division. During this time, she established the role of membrane and soluble FasL in apoptotic cell death and inflammation. Currently Dr O’Reilly is based within the Inflammation Division at WEHI.  

Dr O’Reilly’s current research program is focused on inflammation-associated cancers, in particular understanding the relationship between cytokines and the JAK/STAT and NF-kB signalling pathways in upper gastrointestinal cancer (oral, oesophageal, gastric) onset and progression. Her recent research showed that NF-kB1 and the cytokine TNF are critical regulators of gastric homeostasis and tumourigenesis. Loss of the NF-kB1 transcription factor resulted in aberrant STAT1 activation, cytokine elevation and an altered inflammatory environment associated with aberrant immune checkpoint expression. Ongoing work provides insight into the causes and investigates strategies to combat irAEs (Immune Related Adverse Events), which complicate immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.