Research in John’s laboratory centres on characterising calcium signalling pathways in eukaryotic cells and on the involvement of these systems in normal physiology and in disease. Key approaches are investigation of calcium signalling proteins using Western blotting, immunoprecipitation and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, and examination of function of these in live cells using fluorescent videomicroscopy. This activity has generated over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and reviews to date. At present, seven PhD, one MD and three MSc students have graduated following successful research projects in this laboratory. In terms of research ethos, John embraces teamwork as a way of making the whole more than the sum of its parts: he is actively involved in several local and international collaborations. John’s wider researcher contributions include refereeing for several peer reviewed journals, in particular the role of Editorial Advisor for the Biochemical Journal; and research grant application review for several national and international funding bodies, including the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK), the Medical Research Council (UK) and Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. John is a member of the European Network on Oxysterols Research and the European Calcium Society; and was the Departmental Representative for the Physiological Society of UK and Ireland from 2007 to 2016. There is considerable overlap between John’s teaching and research responsibilities; and he was Postgraduate Programme Co-ordinator and Chair of the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee for the Department of Physiology between 2007 and 2018. In 2019, John was arded Fellowship of the Physiological Society.

Calcium ions are a second messenger that regulates almost every facet of the life of multicellular organisms, from fertilisation, to muscle contraction, to death. Understanding the mechanisms involved in altering levels of this second messenger and in the detection of these changes is crucial for comprehension of the roles of calcium signalling in health and disease. I have been researching in this area for over two decades. During my time at University College Cork, I have made several contributions to this field: 1) publication of a highly cited review article on modulation of calcium release channels by protein-protein interactions; 2) authorship on a major research publication delineating modulation of ryanodine receptor calcium channels by selenoprotein N; 3) investigation of alterations in calcium signalling caused by oxysterols, or cholesterol oxidation products- molecules found in the diet and generated in vivo, which may have adverse effects on health; 4) training of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and posydoctoral researchers, in advanced techniques for examining calcium channel proteins; 5) contributions to enhancement of quality of the research carried in this field, in the role of referee for manuscripts and for grant applications; and 6) collaborations with local and international research groups, that have been mutually beneficial for the generation of research outputs.

I endeavour to employ ‘learner-centred’ teaching approaches whenever possible. I interact with a broad range of students, from first year medical undergraduates to PhD students. I am the module co-ordinator of 'PL3009: Bioenergetics and Endocrinology', 'PL4005: Molecular Physiology of Channels', 'PL4012: Physiology of Calcium Signalling', 'FM2102: Bone Metabolism, Renal Mechanisms of Homeostasis and Associated Anatomy’, and of 'PL6003: Peer Review and Scientific Communication’. I also contribute to modules 'FM1040 ‘Foundations of Medicine - Gastrointestinal, Nutritional and Metabolic Biology’,'PL3006: Library Project’ and 'PL4020: Research Project’. I have a strong interest in integrating teaching and research, particularly at the postgraduate level. For example, I am the Erasmus Programme Co-ordinator for Life Sciences for exchanges between UCC and the University of Burgundy, a role which resulted from a research collaboration with Prof. Lizard, from this French institution. I taught on an MSc Programme at the University of Burgundy in April 2014. I routinely employ detailed information from scientific papers within my teaching materials. I am currently exploring novel media to communicate processes in biology that display complex spatiotemporal behaviours, particularly by the use of animation. Between 2007 and 2018, I was also Departmental Postgraduate Programme Co-ordinator and Chair of the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee for Physiology. These roles included development and rolling out of discipline-specific postgraduate modules, and co-ordination of assessment of the progress of postgraduate students within our Department.