Biography

Dr. Cathal McCarthy is a Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator in Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Cathal is also Vice-Dean in and Chair of the Research and Innovation Committee in the School of Medicine.I graduated with a B.Sc. Microbiology from University College Cork. I undertook my Ph.D studies in Vascular Biology in Dublin Institute of Technology, investigating the pathways modulating placental insufficiency in Pre-eclampsia and IUGR. My postdoctoral studies in the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences in University College Dublin focused on the elucidation of novel atheroprotective networks mediating Conjugated Linoleic acid (CLA) induced regression of pre-established atherosclerosis using in vitro and in vivo models of disease. I joined INFANT in 2013 and the primary focus of my research is establishing the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in perinatal complications. In 2018, I joined the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics as Lecturer on the BSc. In Medical and Health Sciences degree programme. Cathal's research investigates the disruptive pathways causing pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus and the development of novel therapeutics to effectively treat these pregnancy complications.

Research Interests

Suspected Pre-eclampsia is the most frequent clinical presentation to obstetric day-care units in Ireland and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is the most common medical disorder of pregnancy in Irish women. Pre-eclampsia and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus are intrinsically linked to elevated risks of poor maternal and perinatal outcomes with serious long-term sequelae for mother and baby. My group's main research interests are: (a) Developing novel effective therapies for Pre-eclampsia by directly targeting mitochondrial superoxide scavenging using the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model. (b) Investigating the relationship between maternal inflammation in pre-eclampsia and fetal neurodevelopmental outcomes. (c) Exploring the role of visceral adiposity and endogenous adipocyte signalling pathways in the development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and the subsequent impact on fetal adiposity.

Current Team Members: 
Clara Deady: PhD (Supervisor with Dr. Siobhan O'Mahony, Prof. Gerard O'Keeffe, Dr. Fergus McCarthy) The Neurodevelopmental Impact of Inflammation during Pregnancy: Influence of Maternal Microbiome and Gut Health


Past Team Members:
Dr. Aaron Barron: PhD (Supervisor with Prof. Gerard O' Keeffe) Investigating the effects of pre-eclampsia on the developing brain in order to develop new therapeutic approaches to improve brain health and function (2020-2024)
Dr. Samprikta Manna: PhD (Supervisor with Dr. Fergus McCarthy) Thesis topic: Axis of Placental Ageing in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes;Telomeres and Mitochondria (2019-2024)
Dr. Colm McElwain PhD, Thesis topic: Investigating mitochondrial dysfunction and meta-inflammation as a shared pathogenic network in pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus (2019-2023)
Dr. Andrea Musumeci, Postdoctoral Researcher (2020-2023)
Dr. Eszter Tuboly, Postdoctoral Researcher (2019-2020)
Dr. Rachel Williamson PhD, Thesis topic: Characterisation of Mitochondrial Antioxidant Therapies for Pre-eclampsia. (2015-2019)
Paolo Pricoco, Eramus Student (2019)
Marta Giralt, Eramus Student (2020)
Nikoleta Nikou, Eramus Student (2021)
Chloe Ruchon, Erasmus Student (2021)
Diego Alberto Mendez Ceja, MSc. in Human Anatomy (2021)
Bakhit Ebad, Mustafa Abdalla, MSc. in Human Anatomy (2021)
Taima Hallaj, MSc. in Human Anatomy (2022)
Emily Horgan, MSc. in Human Anatomy (2023)
Fiona Curtain, MPharm (2019-2020)
Frederick Ressler MPharm (2020-2021)
Seona Willins MPharm (2022-2023)
Yu-Ching Lin MSc. Bioinformatics & Computational Biology (2023-2024)

Research Grants

  Project Funding
Body 		Start Date End Date Award
Investigating Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Meta-Inflamation as a Shared Network in Pre-Eclampsia & Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Health Research Board 01-JUN-18 31-DEC-23 €789,143.00
Understanding and preventing the impact of pre-eclampsia on the neurodevelopmental outcome in exposed offspring Irish Research Council 01-OCT-19 01-DEC-23 €96,000.00
Sean O' Regan - SS-2023-004 Health Research Board 19-JUN-23 29-SEP-23 €1,800.00
ESR7 Axis of Placental Aging in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Telomeres and Mitochondria Horizon 2020 07-SEP-18 11-SEP-21 €265,674.00
DIVINE Study; Dysfunctional MItochondria directly proVoke INflammation in Pre-Eclampsia Health Research Board 18-JAN-16 01-MAY-19 €329,803.00
SFI Research Infrastructure 2015 (Category D: Opportunistic Funding); Sub-project of R17475; 16/RI/3404 Science Foundation of Ireland 01-OCT-16 30-JUN-19 €36,822.00
Li-Cor Science Undergraduate Research Grant Other: Not Listed 01-AUG-17 01-AUG-18 €19,135.00
UCC Strategic Repair Fund Other: Not Listed 01-APR-14 31-MAR-15 €4,984.99

Peer Reviewed Journals

Year Publication
(2024) 'Exposure to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus increases subclinical inflammation mediated in part by obesity'
Andrea Musumeci, Colm John McElwain, Samprikta Manna, Fergus McCarthy, Cathal McCarthy (2024) 'Exposure to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus increases subclinical inflammation mediated in part by obesity'. Clinical and Experimental Immunology, [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Simulated ischaemia/reperfusion impairs trophoblast function through divergent oxidative stress- and MMP-9-dependent mechanisms'
Barron A;Tuulari J;Karlsson L;Karlsson H;O'Keeffe GW;McCarthy CM; (2024) 'Simulated ischaemia/reperfusion impairs trophoblast function through divergent oxidative stress- and MMP-9-dependent mechanisms'. Bioscience reports, [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'sFlt-1 impairs neurite growth and neuronal differentiation in SH-SY5Y cells and human neurons'
Barron A;Barrett L;Tuulari JJ;Karlsson L;Karlsson H;McCarthy CM;O'Keeffe GW; (2024) 'sFlt-1 impairs neurite growth and neuronal differentiation in SH-SY5Y cells and human neurons'. Bioscience reports, 44 (5) [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'An altered gut microbiome in pre-eclampsia:cause or consequence'
Deady C, McCarthy FP, Barron A, McCarthy CM, O'Keeffe GW, O'Mahony SM (2024) 'An altered gut microbiome in pre-eclampsia:cause or consequence'. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 14 [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'Human a-synuclein overexpression upregulates SKOR1 in a rat model of simulated nigrostriatal ageing'
Morales-Prieto N;Bevans R;O'Mahony A;Barron A;Giles Doran C;McCarthy E;Concannon RM;Goulding SR;McCarthy CM;Collins LM;Sullivan AM;O'Keeffe GW; (2024) 'Human a-synuclein overexpression upregulates SKOR1 in a rat model of simulated nigrostriatal ageing'. Aging Cell, [DOI] [Details]
(2024) 'L-ergothioneine reduces mitochondrial-driven NLRP3 activation in gestational diabetes mellitus'
McElwain CJ;Musumeci A;Manna S;McCarthy FP;McCarthy CM; (2024) 'L-ergothioneine reduces mitochondrial-driven NLRP3 activation in gestational diabetes mellitus'. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 161 [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Defective Visceral Adipose Tissue Adaptation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus'
McElwain CJ;Manna S;Musumeci A;Sylvester I;Rouchon C;O'Callaghan AM;Ebad MAB;McCarthy FP;McCarthy CM; (2023) 'Defective Visceral Adipose Tissue Adaptation in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus'. Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'Heterogenous Differences in Cellular Senescent Phenotypes in Pre-Eclampsia and IUGR following Quantitative Assessment of Multiple Biomarkers of Senescence'
Samprikta Manna, Colm J. McElwain, Gillian M Maher, Marta Gillian Martin, Andrea Musumeci, Fergus P. McCarthy, Cathal McCarthy (2023) 'Heterogenous Differences in Cellular Senescent Phenotypes in Pre-Eclampsia and IUGR following Quantitative Assessment of Multiple Biomarkers of Senescence'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, [Details]
(2023) 'Maternal pre-eclampsia serum increases neurite growth and mitochondrial function through a potential IL-6-dependent mechanism in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells'
Aaron Barron, Samprikta Manna, Colm J. McElwain, Andrea Musumeci, Fergus P. McCarthy, Gerard W. O'Keeffe, Cathal McCarthy (2023) 'Maternal pre-eclampsia serum increases neurite growth and mitochondrial function through a potential IL-6-dependent mechanism in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells'. Frontiers in Physiology, 13 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2023) 'A proteomic profile of the healthy human placenta'
Manna S;Scheel J;Noone A;McElwain CJ;Scaife C;Gupta S;English J;McCarthy C;McCarthy FP; (2023) 'A proteomic profile of the healthy human placenta'. Clinical Proteomics, 20 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Gene Co-expression Analysis of the Human Substantia Nigra Identifies ZNHIT1 as an SNCA Co-expressed Gene that Protects Against a-Synuclein-Induced Impairments in Neurite Growth and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in SH-SY5Y Cells'
McCarthy E;Barron A;Morales-Prieto N;Mazzocchi M;McCarthy CM;Collins LM;Sullivan AM;O'Keeffe GW; (2022) 'Gene Co-expression Analysis of the Human Substantia Nigra Identifies ZNHIT1 as an SNCA Co-expressed Gene that Protects Against a-Synuclein-Induced Impairments in Neurite Growth and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in SH-SY5Y Cells'. Molecular Neurobiology, [DOI] [Details]
(2022) 'Computational Models on Pathological Redox Signalling Driven by Pregnancy: A Review'
Samprikta Manna , Camino S. M. Ruano , Jana-Charlotte Hegenbarth, Daniel Vaiman, Shailendra Gupta, Fergus P. McCarthy , Céline Méhats , Cathal McCarthy, Clara Apicella and Julia Scheel (2022) 'Computational Models on Pathological Redox Signalling Driven by Pregnancy: A Review'. Antioxidants, 11 (585):585-595 [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Maternal Immune Dysregulation: What We Know So Far'
Colm J McElwain, Fergus P. McCarthy, Cathal M. McCarthy (2021) 'Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Maternal Immune Dysregulation: What We Know So Far'. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 22 (8) [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'NME1 Protects Against Neurotoxin-, a-Synuclein- and LRRK2-Induced Neurite Degeneration in Cell Models of Parkinson's Disease'
Anantha J;Goulding SR;Tuboly E;O'Mahony AG;Moloney GM;Lomansey G;McCarthy CM;Collins LM;Sullivan AM;O'Keeffe GW; (2021) 'NME1 Protects Against Neurotoxin-, a-Synuclein- and LRRK2-Induced Neurite Degeneration in Cell Models of Parkinson's Disease'. Molecular Neurobiology, [DOI] [Details]
(2021) 'Preeclampsia and neurodevelopmental outcomes: Potential pathogenic roles for inflammation and oxidative stress?'
Barron, Aaron; McCarthy, Cathal; O'Keeffe, Gerard (2021) 'Preeclampsia and neurodevelopmental outcomes: Potential pathogenic roles for inflammation and oxidative stress?'. Molecular Neurobiology, [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2021) 'A comparative study of two immunoassays of maternal placental growth factor'
Deirdre Hayes-Ryan, Keelin O'Donoghue, Cathal McCarthy, Ainhoa Totorika, Sarah Meaney (2021) 'A comparative study of two immunoassays of maternal placental growth factor'. Scandinavian Journal Of Clinical And Laboratory Investigationscandinavian Journal Of Clinical And Laboratory Investigation, [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'microRNA-155 Is Decreased During Atherosclerosis Regression and Is Increased in Urinary Extracellular Vesicles During Atherosclerosis Progression'
Fitzsimons, S;Oggero, S;Bruen, R;McCarthy, C;Strowitzki, MJ;Mahon, NG;Ryan, N;Brennan, EP;Barry, M;Perretti, M;Belton, O (2020) 'microRNA-155 Is Decreased During Atherosclerosis Regression and Is Increased in Urinary Extracellular Vesicles During Atherosclerosis Progression'. Frontiers In Immunology, 11 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Mechanisms of Endothelial Dysfunction in Pre-eclampsia and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Windows Into Future Cardiometabolic Health?'
Colm J McElwain, Eszter Tuboly, Fergus P. McCarthy, Cathal M. McCarthy (2020) 'Mechanisms of Endothelial Dysfunction in Pre-eclampsia and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Windows Into Future Cardiometabolic Health?'. Frontiers In Endocrinology, 11 (655) [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in gestational diabetes mellitus and elucidating if BMI is a causative mediator'
McElwain, Colm;McCarthy, Cathal M. (2020) 'Investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in gestational diabetes mellitus and elucidating if BMI is a causative mediator'. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 251 :60-65 [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2020) 'L-(+)-Ergothioneine Significantly Improves the Clinical Characteristics of Preeclampsia in the Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure Rat Model'
Rachel D. Williamson, Fergus P. McCarthy, Samprikta Manna, Emer Groarke, Douglas B. Kell, Louise C. Kenny, Cathal M. McCarthy (2020) 'L-(+)-Ergothioneine Significantly Improves the Clinical Characteristics of Preeclampsia in the Reduced Uterine Perfusion Pressure Rat Model'. Hypertension, 75 :561-568 [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'The biology of ergothioneine, an antioxidant nutraceutical'
Borodina I;Kenny LC;McCarthy CM;Paramasivan K;Pretorius E;Roberts TJ;van der Hoek SA;Kell DB; (2020) 'The biology of ergothioneine, an antioxidant nutraceutical'. Nutrition Research Reviews, [DOI] [Details]
(2020) 'Effect of L-Ergothioneine on the metabolic plasma profile of the RUPP rat model of pre-eclampsia'
Morillon AC;Williamson RD;Baker PN;Kell DB;Kenny LC;English JA;McCarthy FP;McCarthy C; (2020) 'Effect of L-Ergothioneine on the metabolic plasma profile of the RUPP rat model of pre-eclampsia'. Plos One, 15 (3) [DOI] [Details]
(2019) '4-Hydroxychalcone Induces Cell Death via Oxidative Stress in MYCN-Amplified Human Neuroblastoma Cells'
Alshangiti AM;Tuboly E;Hegarty SV;McCarthy CM;Sullivan AM;O'Keeffe GW; (2019) '4-Hydroxychalcone Induces Cell Death via Oxidative Stress in MYCN-Amplified Human Neuroblastoma Cells'. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019 [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Activation of a TLR9 mediated innate immune response in preeclampsia'
Williamson RD;McCarthy FP;Kenny LC;McCarthy CM; (2019) 'Activation of a TLR9 mediated innate immune response in preeclampsia'. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2019) 'Placental Ageing in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Telomere Shortening, Cell Senescence, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction'
Manna S;McCarthy C;McCarthy FP; (2019) 'Placental Ageing in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Telomere Shortening, Cell Senescence, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction'. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2019 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'A perspective on pre-eclampsia and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring: does maternal inflammation play a role?'
Maher GM;McCarthy FP;McCarthy CM;Kenny LC;Kearney PM;Khashan AS;O'Keeffe GW; (2018) 'A perspective on pre-eclampsia and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring: does maternal inflammation play a role?'. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Biomarkers of glomerular dysfunction in pre-eclampsia - A systematic review'
Kerley RN;McCarthy C; (2018) 'Biomarkers of glomerular dysfunction in pre-eclampsia - A systematic review'. Pregnancy Hypertension, [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Exploring the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia'
Williamson R, McCarthy FP, Khashan A,Totorika A, Kenny LC, McCarthy CM (2018) 'Exploring the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia'. Pregnancy Hypertension, [Details]
(2017) 'Oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia; have we been looking in the wrong place?'
1. Williamson RD, McCarthy C, McCarthy FP, Kenny LC (2017) 'Oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia; have we been looking in the wrong place?'. Hypertension in pregnancy : official journal of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy, [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'The potential therapeutic effects of ergothioneine in pre-eclampsia'
Kerley RN;McCarthy C;Kell DB;Kenny LC; (2017) 'The potential therapeutic effects of ergothioneine in pre-eclampsia'. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 117 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Magnesium sulphate prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced cell death in an in vitro model of the human placenta'
Williamson, RD;McCarthy, C;Kenny, LC;O'Keeffe, GW (2016) 'Magnesium sulphate prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced cell death in an in vitro model of the human placenta'. Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal Of Women'S Cardiovascular Health, 6 :356-360 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Therapeutically targeting mitochondrial redox signalling alleviates endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia'
McCarthy CM, Kenny LC (2016) 'Therapeutically targeting mitochondrial redox signalling alleviates endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia'. Scientific Reports, 8 (6):32683-32694 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Full Text] [Details]
(2016) 'Immunostimulatory role of mitochondrial DAMPs: alarming for pre-eclampsia?'
McCarthy CM, Kenny LC (2016) 'Immunostimulatory role of mitochondrial DAMPs: alarming for pre-eclampsia?'. American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989), doi: 10.1111/aji.12526. [Epub ahead of print] [Details]
(2016) 'Magnesium sulphate prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced cell death in an in vitro model of the human placenta'
Williamson RD, McCarthy CM, Kenny LC, O'Keeffe G (2016) 'Magnesium sulphate prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced cell death in an in vitro model of the human placenta'. Hypertension in pregnancy : official journal of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy, [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2016) 'Mitochondrial [dys]function; culprit in pre-eclampsia?'
McCarthy CM, Kenny LC (2016) 'Mitochondrial [dys]function; culprit in pre-eclampsia?'. Clinical Science, 130 (14):1179-1184 [Full Text] [Details]
(2015) 'Dysregulated post-transcriptional control of COX-2 gene expression in gestational diabetic endothelial cells'
Di Francesco L, Dovizio M, Trenti A, Marcantoni E, Moore A, O Gaora P, McCarthy C, Tacconelli S, Bruno A, Alberti S, Gizzo S, Nardelli GB, Orso G, Belton O, Trevisi L, Dixon DA, Patrignani P. (2015) 'Dysregulated post-transcriptional control of COX-2 gene expression in gestational diabetic endothelial cells'. British Journal of Pharmacology, 172 (18):4575-4587 [Details]
(2013) 'Macrophage PPAR gamma Co‐activator‐1 alpha participates in repressing foam cell formation and atherosclerosis in response to conjugated linoleic acid'
McCarthy C, Lieggi NT, Barry D, Mooney D, de Gaetano M, James WG, McClelland S, Barry MC, Escoubet-Lozach L, Li AC, Glass CK, Fitzgerald DJ, Belton O. (2013) 'Macrophage PPAR gamma Co‐activator‐1 alpha participates in repressing foam cell formation and atherosclerosis in response to conjugated linoleic acid'. Embo Molecular Medicine, 5 (9):1443-1457 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'IL-10 mediates the immunoregulatory response in conjugated linoleic acid-induced regression of atherosclerosis'
McCarthy, Cathal Duffy, Michelle Mooney, Declan James, William Fitzgerald, Desmond J Griffin, Matthew D Belton, Orina (2013) 'IL-10 mediates the immunoregulatory response in conjugated linoleic acid-induced regression of atherosclerosis'. Faseb Journal, 27 (2):499-510 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Effects of conjugated linoleic acid isomers on monocyte, macrophage and foam cell phenotype in atherosclerosis'
Mooney, Declan McCarthy, Cathal Belton, Orina (2012) 'Effects of conjugated linoleic acid isomers on monocyte, macrophage and foam cell phenotype in atherosclerosis'. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids, 98 (3):56-62 [Details]
(2011) 'Standardization of models and methods used to assess nanoparticles in cardiovascular applications'
Fitzgerald, Kathleen T and Holladay, Carolyn A and McCarthy, Cathal and Power, Karen A and Pandit, Abhay and Gallagher, William M (2011) 'Standardization of models and methods used to assess nanoparticles in cardiovascular applications'. Small, 7 (6):705-717 [Details]
(2011) 'Mesenchymal stem cell inhibition of T‐helper 17 cell‐differentiation is triggered by cell-cell contact and mediated by prostaglandin E2 via the EP4 receptor'
Duffy, Michelle M Pindjakova, Jana Hanley, Shirley A McCarthy, Cathal Weidhofer, Gudrun A Sweeney, Eva M English, Karen Shaw, Georgina Murphy, J Mary Barry, Frank P, Mahon BP, Belton O, Ceredig R, Griffin MD. (2011) 'Mesenchymal stem cell inhibition of T‐helper 17 cell‐differentiation is triggered by cell-cell contact and mediated by prostaglandin E2 via the EP4 receptor'. European Journal of Immunology, 41 (10):2840-2851 [Details]
(2010) 'SorLA modulates atheroprotective properties of CLA by regulating monocyte migration'
McCarthy, Cathal and O'Gaora, Peadar and James, William G and McClelland, Sarah and Fitzgerald, Desmond J and Belton, Orina and de Gaetano, Monica (2010) 'SorLA modulates atheroprotective properties of CLA by regulating monocyte migration'. Atherosclerosis, 213 (2):400-407 [Details]
(2010) 'Conjugated linoleic acid suppresses the migratory and inflammatory phenotype of the monocyte/macrophage cel'
McClelland, Sarah Cox, Clare O'Connor, Roisin de Gaetano, Monica McCarthy, Cathal Cryan, Lorna Fitzgerald, Des Belton, Orina (2010) 'Conjugated linoleic acid suppresses the migratory and inflammatory phenotype of the monocyte/macrophage cel'. Atherosclerosis, 211 (1):96-102 [Details]
(2007) 'Altered gene expression patterns in intrauterine growth restriction: potential role of hypoxia'
McCarthy, Cathal Cotter, Finbarr E McElwaine, Suzanne Twomey, Anne Mooney, Eoghan E Ryan, Fergus Vaughan, Joseph (2007) 'Altered gene expression patterns in intrauterine growth restriction: potential role of hypoxia'. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 196 (1):70. e1-70. e6 [DOI] [Details]
(2004) 'Increased frequency of the MTHFR A1298C mutation in an Irish population'
McCarthy C, Ryan F, Vaughan J (2004) 'Increased frequency of the MTHFR A1298C mutation in an Irish population'. Clinical chemistry, 50 (12):2462-2463 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2017) Blair Bell Research Society: Annual Academic Meeting
Rachel Williamson, Cathal McCarthy, Fergus P McCarthy, Ali Khashan, Louise C. Kenny (2017) Exploring the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the aetiology of pre-eclampsia Blair Bell Research Society: Annual Academic Meeting [Details]
(2017) International Socierty for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy
Rachel Williamson, Cathal McCarthy, Fergus P. McCarthy, Ali Khashan, Louise C Kenny (2017) OP 15 Investigating the role of mitochondrial dysfunction as a biomarker of pre-eclampsia International Socierty for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy Volume 9, , pp.15-15 [Details]
(2016) 20th World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP)
McCarthy CM, Kenny LC (2016) MITOCHONDRIAL SUPEROXIDE SCAVENGERS MEDIATE ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN PRE-ECLAMPSIA 20th World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) Sau Paulo, , 23-OCT-16 - 26-OCT-16 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) Pregnancy Hypertension
McCarthy C, Kenny LC (2015) Elucidation of a role for mitochondrial superoxide in modulating plasma mediator-induced endothelial dysfunction Pregnancy Hypertension [Details]
(2014) REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
McCarthy, Cathal M Delany, Aoife McCarthy, Fergus P Walsh, Sarah K Kenny, Louise C (2014) PGC-1 alpha Is a Negative Regulator of Vascular Oxidative Stress by Co-Ordinating Adaptive Changes in the Mitochondrion during Pre-Eclampsia REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES [Details]
(2012) CIRCULATION RESEARCH
McCarthy, Cathal Mooney, Declan de Gaetano, Monica James, William Fitzgerald, Desmond J Belton, Orina (2012) Activation of the Nuclear Receptor Coactivator PGC-1 alpha Mediates an Atheroprotective Effect CIRCULATION RESEARCH Vol.111 Issue 4, [Details]
(2012) CIRCULATION RESEARCH
McCarthy, Cathal Duffy, Michelle Mooney, Declan James, William Fitzgerald, Desmond J Griffin, Matthew D Belton, Orina (2012) Il-10 Regulates the Immunoregulatory Response in the Regression of Atherosclerosis CIRCULATION RESEARCH [Details]
(2011) BLOOD
Salunkhe, Vishal A and Macaulay, Iain and Nuernberg, Sylvia and McCarthy, Cathal and Ouwehand, Willem Hendrik and Fitzgerald, Desmond J and Maguire, Patricia (2011) The MEIS1 Interactome in Megakaryocytes Reveals a Role in Cell Cycle Regulation BLOOD , pp.1449-1450 [Details]
(2010) ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
McCarthy, Cathal Mooney, Declan Fitzgerald, Desmond Belton, Orina (2010) Identification of a PGC1 alpha Modulated Network Induced by Conjugated Linoleic Acid in the Regression of Atherosclerosis ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY Vol. 30 issue 11, , pp.E206-E206 [Details]
(2009) Atherosclerosis Supplements
McCarthy, C Cox, C Belton, O (2009) P235 CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID REDUCES EXPRESSION OF MIGRATORY REGULATOR SORL1 IN THE VASCULATURE Atherosclerosis Supplements Vol.10 Issue 2, [Details]
(2005) THROMBOSIS RESEARCH
McCarthy, C Ryan, F Murphy, K Vaughan, J (2005) Development of a multiplex ARMS PCR for detection of thrombosis related mutations THROMBOSIS RESEARCH , pp.129-130 [Details]
(2005) THROMBOSIS RESEARCH
McCarthy, C Ryan, F Mooney, E Vaughan, J (2005) Apoptosis and proliferation in IUGR placentae THROMBOSIS RESEARCH Vol 115, , pp.130-130 [Details]

Thesis/Dissertation

  Year Publication
(2005) Biomarkers for placental abnormality.
Cathal McCarthy (2005) Biomarkers for placental abnormality. Thesis/Dissertation [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2019) Placental Ageing in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Telomere Shortening, Cell Senescence, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction.
Manna, S;McCarthy, C;McCarthy, FP (2019) Placental Ageing in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Telomere Shortening, Cell Senescence, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction. LONDON: Reviews [DOI] [Details]
(2017) Oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia; have we been looking in the wrong place?.
Williamson, RD;McCarthy, C;McCarthy, FP;Kenny, LC (2017) Oxidative stress in pre-eclampsia; have we been looking in the wrong place?. OXFORD: Reviews [DOI] [Details]

Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
Association for the Study of Obesity on the island of Ireland Member 26-JUN-24 /
Diabetes UK Diabetes UK Research Steering Group1 - Causes of Diabetes. 01-JAN-23 /
American Society of Reproductive Immunology ASRI Membership Committee 03-JUL-22 /
American Society of Reproductive Immunology Member 01-APR-22 /
European Association for the Study of Diabetes Member 01-NOV-22 /
British Pharmacology Society Member 28-DEC-20 / 28-DEC-22
International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy Member 03-AUG-15 / 03-AUG-22

Employment

Employer Position From / To
University College Cork Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology & Therapeutics 01-AUG-23 /
University College Cork Lecturer in Pharmacology and Therapeutics 01-AUG-18 / 31-JUL-23
University College Cork HRB Principal Investigator 01-AUG-17 / 31-DEC-23
INFANT Centre, University College Cork Research Fellow 01-FEB-16 / 31-JUL-17
INFANT Centre, University College Cork Senior Postdoctoral Scientist 01-OCT-13 / 31-JAN-16
University College Cork Research Associate 01-SEP-12 / 31-AUG-13
School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences, University College Dublin Research Manager 01-SEP-11 / 31-AUG-12
School of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, UCD Senior Postdoctoral Scientist 01-SEP-09 / 31-AUG-11
School of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, UCD Postdoctoral Scientist 01-SEP-06 / 31-AUG-09
School of Biological Sciences, DIT, Kevin St. Dublin Research Scientist 01-MAR-06 / 31-MAY-06

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2016) Society of Reproductive Investigation,
McCarthy CM, Kenny LC (2016) Mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants mediate endothelial dysfunction in pre-eclampsia. [Poster Presentation], Society of Reproductive Investigation, Montreal . [Details]
(2016) World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP),
Cathal McCarthy, Louise Kenny (2016) MITOCHONDRIAL SUPEROXIDE SCAVENGERS MEDIATE ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN PRE-ECLAMPSIA. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP), Sau Paulo, Brazil , 23-OCT-16 - 26-OCT-16. [Details]
(2015) RCOG annual academic meeting 2015,
Williamson R, McCarthy C, O'Keeffe GW, Kenny LC. (2015) To assess the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulated by magnesium sulphate in regulating placental function using in vitro models of the human placenta. [Poster Presentation], RCOG annual academic meeting 2015, London, UK . [Details]
(2015) ISSHP 2014,
McCarthy C, Kenny LC (2015) International Society for the study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. [Oral Presentation], ISSHP 2014, New Orleans , 05-JAN-15. [Details]
(2015) Society for Reproductive investigation 2015,
Williamson R, McCarthy C, Kenny LC, O'Keeffe GW. (2015) Assessing the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulated by Magnesium Sulphate in an in vitro model of the human placenta. [Poster Presentation], Society for Reproductive investigation 2015, San Francisco, USA . [Details]
(2014) Young Life Scientists Conference,
Williamson R, McCarthy C, O'Keeffe GW, Kenny LC (2014) Molecular and cellular mechanisms of magnesium sulphate in regulating placental function studied using in vitro models of the human placenta. [Poster Presentation], Young Life Scientists Conference, TCD, Dublin , 01-MAR-14 - 01-MAR-14. [Details]

Committees

Committee Function From / To
School of Medicine Athena Swan Self Assessment Team Member 2022 /
Dept of Pharmacology & Therapeutics Graduate Studies Committee Member 2022 /
BSc. In Medical and Health Sciences Curriculum Committee Member 2018 /
BSc. In Medical and Health Sciences Board of Studies Member 2018 /
UCC AEEC Member 2019 / 2021
Research Quality Review Panel- Obs/Gyn Member 2014 / 2015
INFANT Research Seminar Series Organiser 2014 / 2018
Member UCD Laboratory Organising Committee, Conway Institute Member 2009 / 2012

Honours and Awards

Year Title Awarding Body
2023 UCC President's Award for Excellence in Teaching Teaching and Learning UCC
2014 ISSHP Travel Award International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy
2014 Medical Research Supplement Award UCC Medicine
2011 Outstanding Abstracts Presented at American Heart Association's Specialty Conferences American Heart Association
2009 Young Investigator Award Finalist International Symposium on Atherosclerosis

Education

Year Institution Qualification Subject
2006 Dublin Institute of Technology PhD Molecular Biology
2001 UCC BSC - MICROBIOLOGY - UCC Microbiology

Languages

  Language Reading Writing Speaking
English

Journal Activities

  Journal Role To / From
Journal Of Nutritional Biochemistry Referee 01-FEB-10 - 10-SEP-10
Antioxidants Guest Editor 01-JAN-22 -
Frontiers In Endocrinology Series Editor 01-MAR-22 -
Molecular And Cellular Endocrinology Referee 01-JUN-16 -
Clinical Science Referee 02-FEB-16 -
Hypertension Referee 01-DEC-15 -
Plos One Referee 02-MAR-11 - 01-OCT-11
Cell And Tissue Research Referee 14-JAN-15 -

Other Activities

  Description

Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 2017/2018

Current Leaders Level 1 Leadership Development Programme (IMI) 2024

Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 2016/2017

IMI Aspiring Leaders Programme 2019

Completed Professional Skills for Research Leaders online programme in 2015. Received Certificate Institute of Leadership and Management

Teaching Interests

 I am Year 4 Coordinator for the  BSc. programme in Medical and Health Sciences CK707 (https://www.ucc.ie/en/ck707/). 

I primarily contribute teaching to the Pharmacology and Translational Medicine modules on the  BSc. Medical and Health Sciences and MPharm.
Undergraduate Teaching:
PT1020  Introduction to Pharmacology (5 Credits)- Module Coordinator
MH1050 Introduction to Translational Medicine (5 Credits)
PT2020 Introduction to Toxicology (5 Credits)
PT2021 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (5 Credits)
PT2448 Cellular and Molecular Basis of Drug Action and Toxicity (10 Credits)
MH2020 Research Methods in Medical Science (5 Credits)
GM2001 Fundamentals of Medicine IV (10 Credits)
PT3020 Pharmacology of Disease (10 Credits) - Module Coordinator
MH3010 Structured Literature in Medical and Health Sciences (10 Credits)
MH3050 Advances in Translational Medicine (5 Credits)
PT4021 Immunopharmacology & Chemotherapy (10 Credits) - Module Coordinator
PT4023 Endocrine, Metabolic and Reproductive Pharmacology (5 Credits)
PT4024 Current Topics in Pharmacology (5 Credits) - Module Coordinator 
MH4010 Research Project in Medical and Health Sciences (20 Credits)
PF4016   Pharmacy Research Project (10 Credits)

Postgraduate Teaching:
PL6421 Research Dissertation in Pharmacy (25 Credits)

Previously I have taught at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level in Dublin Institute of Technology and in University College Dublin. I have contributed to undergraduate teaching to medical students (third year pharmacology), nursing students (second year pharmacology) and science students (final year pharmacology) where I have delivered teaching modules ranging from vascular biology, renal pharmacology and immunopharmacology. I have contributed to the M.Sc. in Clinical Laboratory Science (DIT). In addition, I have been involved in designing and supervising laboratory research projects for final year Pharmacology students (UCD) and Biomedical Science students (DIT) since 2002.



Recent Postgraduates

Graduation Year Student Name Institution Degree Type Thesis Title
2023 Aaron Barron University College Cork PHD Investigating the effects of pre-eclampsia on the developing brain in order to develop new therapeutic approaches to improve brain health and function
2024 Clara Deady University College Cork PHD The Neurodevelopmental Impact of Inflammation during Pregnancy: Influence of Maternal Microbiome and Gut Health
2023 Samprikta Manna University College Cork PHD Axis of Placental Aging in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Telomeres and Mitochondria
2023 Colm McElwain University College Cork PHD Characterisation of the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and meta-inflammation as a shared pathogenic network in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
2019 Rachel Williamson University College Cork PHD Pre-clinical characterisation of mitochondrial antioxidants as novel therapeutics for Pre-eclampsia
2013 Monica deGaetano University College Dublin PhD
2012 Declan Mooney University College Dublin PhD

Internal Collaborators

Name Institute Country
Dr. Fergus McCarthy Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UCC IRELAND
Professor Gerard O'Keeffe Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC IRELAND
Dr. Siobhan O' Mahony University College Cork IRELAND
Dr. Louise Collins University College Cork IRELAND
Dr. Ali Khashan University College Cork IRELAND

External Collaborators

Name Organisation / Institute Country
Prof Louise Kenny University of Liverpool UNITED KINGDOM
Dr. Colin Murdoch University of Dundee SCOTLAND
Professor Douglas B Kell Research Chair in Systems Biology, University of Liverpool UNITED KINGDOM
Dr. Linnea Karlsson University of Turku FINLAND
Professor Joey Granger Professor of Physiology and Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center U.S.A.
Dr. Fionnuala Ni Ainle University College Dublin IRELAND
Professor Matt Griffin National University of Ireland, Galway IRELAND