About SiriusXT

Physicists from University College Dublin developed the ground-breaking SXT-100 microscope to make high-resolution cellular imaging accessible to research labs.

Pioneering a New Era in Laboratory-Based Microscopy

SiriusXT was formed in 2015 as a spin-out from the Spectroscopy Group in the School of Physics, University College Dublin. From an initial team of three co-founders, SiriusXT has grown a team of highly-skilled physicists, engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs to develop the SXT-100 – the world’s first commercial, laboratory-based, soft x-ray microscope.

Through past and ongoing collaboration with the UCD School of Physics, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, the synchrotron-based soft x-ray microscopy community, as well as our many international early adopter partners, the SiriusXT team has commercialised a disruptive and innovative solution for whole cell imaging that will help to accelerate progress in the fields of disease research and drug discovery.

Driving Innovation in Whole-Cell Imaging

SiriusXT is transforming cell and tissue imaging with the world’s first commercially available lab-based, soft x-ray microscope offering high-resolution, label-free 3D insights quickly and cost-effectively.

Transforming Research Across Life Sciences

Our technology is accelerating breakthroughs by making cutting-edge imaging accessible, affordable, and efficient.

Improving Disease Research

The SXT-100 microscope offers unprecedented capabilities for disease research across the entire pathology timeline. From detecting the earliest cellular changes that signal disease onset to monitoring progression and treatment responses, this technology provides detailed insights with minimal sample preparation.

Researchers can visualise subtle alterations in critical cellular components—nucleus, mitochondria, cytoskeleton—while preserving delicate pathological features in their near-natural state.

The system supports investigations across multiple scales, enabling research into:

Virus-host interactions
Chromatin rearrangements
Cell motility changes, and
Immune function alterations.

Advancing Drug Research

SXT technology visualises subcellular components—including nuclei, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum—without staining or labelling. This preserves biological structures in their near-natural state: critical when studying interactions between drugs and cellular environments.

Researchers use SXT to:

Assess cellular impact of drug candidates
Identify changes in cell morphology and organelle behaviour
Monitor overall cell health during treatment
Evaluate drug uptake and distribution at cellular level
Track nanoparticle interactions with cells and tissues

The SXT-100 provides detailed insights into drug delivery mechanisms, revealing how therapeutic compounds distribute within cells and their effects on internal architecture. This makes the technology particularly valuable for pharmaceutical research targeting cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.

Filling a Critical Gap

Laboratory-based SXT transforms therapeutic research by revealing authentic cellular responses to treatments. When combined with other microscopy techniques, it enables powerful multi-scale analysis workflows.

The SXT-100’s higher throughput capabilities enable more comprehensive testing across diverse disease models and drug delivery interactions, helping accelerate the pathway from discovery to clinical application.

Empowering Scientists,
Transforming Research

Vision

SiriusXT envisions a healthier world driven by innovation. We strive to contribute to global health efforts by making soft x-ray microscopy accessible, accelerating the understanding, detection and prevention of diseases.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to empower scientific discovery by providing the world’s first lab-based, soft x-ray microscope that reveals the full structure of intact biological cells. By equipping researchers and scientists with compact, accessible, and versatile technology, we aim to advance scientific insights, accelerate progress in nanomedicine and biological research, and shape a healthier, more informed future.

Innovators

Our Team

Meet the passionate minds behind our groundbreaking research.

Tony McEnroe CEO Tony is the CEO and co-founder of SiriusXT and has led four high-tech, venture-funded start-ups. He brings deep expertise in business development and sales, and has held management roles in FTSE, Nasdaq, and NYSE-listed companies. Tony was a finalist in the 2005 EY International Entrepreneur of the Year and was named Enterprise Ireland’s inaugural HPSU Founder of the Year in 2017. He holds a B.E. and M.Eng.Sc. in Electronic Engineering and an MBA in International Business.

Dr. Paul Sheridan CTO Dr. Paul Sheridan is the CTO and co-founder of SiriusXT. Paul’s background is in experimental physics where the majority of his research was in exotic light source development for the semi conductor manufacturing and metrology industry, focused around 13.5 nm or extreme ultra-voilet (EUV). This expertise transferred directly into developing the soft x-ray sources that are currently used by SiriusXT’s soft x-ray microscope.

Dr. Kenneth Fahy VP Product Management Dr. Kenneth Fahy, co-founder and Product Manager of SiriusXT, holds a PhD in Experimental Physics from UCD Dublin. He helped develop the company’s core technology and now leads product vision and strategy. He also drives national and international collaborations to advance the SXT-100 in diverse bio-imaging applications.

Dr. Sergey Kapishnikov Director of Imaging Applications Dr. Sergey Kapishnikov, Director of Imaging Applications at SiriusXT, is spearheading table-top soft X-ray cryo-tomography for high-resolution 3D imaging of unstained cells and tissue. With multidisciplinary expertise, he brings a systems-level perspective, driving innovation in soft X-ray and correlative imaging to address complex biomedical and environmental research challenges.

William Fyans Mechanical Engineering Manager William Fyans is a Mechanical Engineer who has been successfully developing novel technology for over 20 years. He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and has pioneered new technology in the fields of renewable energy, offshore equipment and cryogenic systems. William’s work was recognised by the Institute of Engineers Ireland with the Chartered Engineer of Year award.

Dr. Fergal O’Reilly CSO Dr. Fergal O’Reilly is Chief Scientist at SiriusXT and a researcher at (school of physics) University College Dublin. He leads cutting-edge developments in soft X-ray imaging, combining academic insight with industry innovation. Passionate about advancing biomedical applications, Fergal’s work bridges science and technology to unlock new possibilities in cellular and molecular research.

Gerry Molloy Finance Director Gerry Molloy, Finance Director, is a Chartered Accountant trained with Ernst & Young and prior to joining SiriusXT, had served as head of finance in multiple sectors including print & publishing, retail, software, cloud technology and the circular economy. Gerry has extensive experience of startups with all the attendant challenges together with M&A, securing finance (both grant and equity) and R&D tax credits.