Gerardene Meade-Murphy

Dr. Gerardene Meade-Murphy graduated with her PhD at the Biochemistry Department, University College Cork (1999). In 2000, she took up a postdoctoral post with the platelet research group at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI, Dublin) and was awarded a Health Research Board grant in 2001 to study platelet adhesion in thrombosis. From 2005-2012, Gerardene worked on the development of clinical diagnostic assays of platelet function in cardiovascular disease, funded through two SFI-CSET programmes SFI-CSET at the Department of Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics (RCSI), and in affiliation with the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute (BDI, DCU). In 2012, she moved to the Centre for Preventative Medicine, School of Health & Human Performance, DCU, where she worked with the Vascular Research Group. From 2014-2015, Gerardene worked with the Translational Oncology Research Group, at the All Ireland Cooperative Oncology Research Group (ICORG, now Cancer Trials Ireland) before taking a short career break. In February 2017, Gerardene took up her post as lecturer (part-time) at the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University College Cork, with primary focus on teaching into the BSc. (Hons) programme in Paramedic studies.

Dr. Meade-Murphy’s research area of interest is in the role and function of platelets in the pathogenesis of disease states, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancers. Her research has extended from investigating novel therapeutic targets of platelet function, development of cell biorheology research, to the development of novel biomedical microfluidic platforms for clinical assessment of platelet function or dysfunction in cardiovascular or other disease states.

Multiple collaborations have contributed to a diversity of research areas, including clinical research on platelet function and hyperactivity in patients with multiple myeloma; haemodynamic studies of platelet function, haemodynamic and epigenetic regulation in the vasculature; signalling processes in thrombopoiesis; and thrombogenesis in infective endocarditis.

Meade-Murphy’s current research interest extends to the role of lifestyle strategies and medicine in reducing CVD risk and disease burden. For instance, adaptive lifestyle, medicine and pharmacological treatment of CVD may modulate the heterogenous profile and function of circulating platelets (through megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis) and levels of thrombotic risk.

Teaching & learning: Dr. Meade-Murphy’s commitment to research on innovative forms of teaching and learning, together with a colleague developed an innovative online interactive learning package in Pharmacology to support student learning in the BSc Programme in Paramedic studies. This commitment to advancement of student learning was recognised by way of a President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (Team award in the Teaching Artifact Category) in 2022-2023.