Dr Mihaela Ola

Dr Mihaela Ola is a key member of the hereditary breast cancer research programme, working to understand why some people develop breast cancer despite having no detectable BRCA gene mutation.

Following completion of her PhD at the UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Mihaela has continued to investigate some of the less understood changes that may cause a cancer to behave as though a BRCA mutation is present, even when standard genetic testing does not identify one.

Her research looks at changes that can affect how our genes behave without changing the underlying DNA itself. By uncovering these hidden mechanisms, Mihaela hopes to improve how we predict breast cancer risk, strengthen future genetic testing and enable more personalised approaches to prevention, monitoring and treatment.

Why This Research Matters

Not every inherited breast cancer risk can currently be explained by BRCA1 or BRCA2. By uncovering other factors that may increase risk, Mihaela’s research could provide answers for more families and help us move towards earlier intervention and more personalised care.

The more we understand about breast cancer risk, the greater our opportunity to change its future. Research like this is helping us Rewrite the Future.