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4. Cathal McCarthy

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Biography

Dr. Cathal McCarthy a Lecturer in Pharmacology and Therapeutics and is the Principal Investigator of both the HRB-funded COMRADES Study: MitoChondrial DysfunctiOn and Metainflammation in PRe-eclampsiA and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and also the HRB-funded DIVINE study; “Dysfunctional mItochondria proVokes Inflammation iN prEeclampsia” 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. 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. Pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes (GDM) are two common complications of pregnancy and affect 15% of first time mothers. Both conditions share common pathophysiological features including oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin resistance and widespread vascular endothelial dysfunction. Mitochondria provide us with energy released from our food and are abundant in the placenta to cope with the increased energy demands during pregnancy. Emerging data has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction acts as a pathogenic mediator of oxidative stress and provokes inflammation. Cathal’s research is interested in the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in utero, in particular the redox and inflammatory signalling cascades. Cathal is also interested in exploring therapeutic strategies of directly targeting mitochondria and determining their capacity to mediate the sophisticated signalling networks of the adipose-placenta axis in pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus.‍

Research Interests

Suspected pre-eclampsia (PE) 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. In fact gestational diabetes mellitus is a recognised independent risk factor for Pre-eclampsia. There is increasing evidence suggesting a common pathogenic link between pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus. It has been proposed that this association may at least be in part due to insulin resistance. Pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus also share additional pathomechanisms including oxidative stress and inflammation. Emerging data has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction acts as a pathogenic mediator of oxidative stress in perinatal complications. While my group’s work has established that exaggerated mitochondrial-ROS provoke inflammation and cause endothelial dysfunction in pre-eclampsia, there is additional evidence of elevated mitochondrial-ROS in gestational diabetes mellitus. Exciting new data has established a role for mitochondrial damage motifs in provoking inflammation. Furthermore, dysfunctional mitochondria and metabolic products have been shown to activate the NRLP3 inflammasome, a key regulatory nexus regulating obesity-associated insulin resistance. My group’s main research interests are: (a) Investigate the diagnostic significance of biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction in Pre-eclampsia. (b) Develop a novel effective therapy for Pre-eclampsia by directly targeting mitochondrial superoxide scavenging using the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model. (c) Define the metabolic, oxidative and inflammatory processes which mediate the immunopathology of Pre-eclampsia and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (d) Investigate the therapeutic potential of mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants in ameliorating insulin resistance and metainflammation in Pre-eclampsia and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Current Team Members: Ms. Rachel Williamson: PhD (Supervisor with Prof. Louise Kenny & Dr. Fergus McCarthy) Thesis topic: Characterisation of Mitochondrial Antioxidant Therapies for Pre-eclampsia.
Ms Samprikta Manna: PhD (Supervisor with Dr. Fergus McCarthy) Thesis topic: Axis of Placental Ageing in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes;Telomeres and Mitochondria.
Colm McElwain: PhD (Supervisor with Dr. Fergus McCarthy) Thesis topic: Investigating mitochondrial dysfunction and meta-inflammation as a shared pathogenic network in pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus
Aaron Barron: PhD (Supervisor with Dr. 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 
Dr. Eszter Tuboly, Postdoctoral Researcher on the HRB COMRADES Study

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-MAY-22	€793,072.00
	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

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Publications

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Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2020)	'Investigating mitochondrial dysfunction in gestational diabetes mellitus and elucidating if BMI is a causative mediator' McElwain C.;McCarthy C.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] [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]
	(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]
	(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   [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,   [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'. The Embo Journal, 5 (9):1443-1457 [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'. The Faseb Journal, 27 (2):499-510 [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 [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]

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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]

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Thesis/Dissertation

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

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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]

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Professional Activities

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Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy	Member	03-AUG-15 /

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Employment

	Employer	Position	From / To
	University College Cork	Lecturer in Pharmacology and Therapeutics	01-AUG-18 /
	INFANT Centre, University College Cork	HRB Principal Investigator	01-AUG-17 / 30-JUN-22
	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

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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]

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Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	INFANT Research Seminar Series	Organiser	2014 / 2018
	Member UCD Laboratory Organising Committee, Conway Institute	Member	2009 / 2012

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Honours and Awards

	Year	Title	Awarding Body
	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

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Education

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

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Languages

	Language	Reading	Writing	Speaking
	English

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Journal Activities

	Journal	Role	To / From
	Journal Of Nutritional Biochemistry	Referee	01-FEB-10 - 10-SEP-10
	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 -

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Other Activities

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

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Teaching Activities

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Teaching Interests

Currently, I am Year 2 Coordinator for the new BSc. programme in Medical and Health Sciences CK707 (https://www.ucc.ie/en/ck707/). 

I am module coordinator and contribute teaching on the Pharmacology modules on the the new BSc. Medical and Health Sciences
PT1020  Introduction to Pharmacology
PT2020 Introduction to Toxicology
PT2021 Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology
I also contribute teaching to the MH1050 Introduction to Translational Medicine module in CK707.

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.



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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
	2022	Colm McElwain	University College Cork	PHD
	2021	Samprikta Manna	University College Cork	PHD
	2019	Rachel Williamson	University College Cork	PHD
	2013	Monica deGaetano	University College Dublin	PhD
	2012	Declan Mooney	University College Dublin	PhD

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Modules Taught

	Term (ID))	Title	Link	Subject
	2021	Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology	PT2021	Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology

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Research Information

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Internal Collaborators

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

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External Collaborators

	Name	Organisation / Institute	Country
	Dr. Orina Belton	University College Dublin	IRELAND
	Prof Louise Kenny	University of Liverpool	UNITED KINGDOM
	Professor Douglas B Kell	Research Chair in Bioanalytical Science, School of Chemistry, and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, .	UNITED KINGDOM
	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
	Prof. Paola Patrignani	University of Chieti	ITALY