Postgraduate Research Student
- 2000-date: Postgraduate Research Student, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University.
- 2000: Research Assistant, Trinity Biotech, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
- 1995-1999: B.Sc. in Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, University College Dublin.
- 1998: Research Assistant, Proctor and Gamble, Frankfurt, Germany.
Ongoing Research
- Role
of Notch signaling in pressure-induced vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis
The Notch signaling system is a highly conserved method of cell to cell communication involved in cell fate decisions. Changes in intra-vascular forces (pressure and flow) that occur in specific disease states, such as hypertension, are associated with vascular remodeling. It has previously been shown that pulse pressure induces proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. As cell number is the net result of cellular proliferation and cell death, it follows that pulse pressure may also effect vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis. The Notch pathway has been identified as a 'general arbiter' of cell fate decisions in many cell types. Therefore, using a novel perfused transcapillary co-culture system for culturing vascular cells under hemodynamic conditions, we aim to (i) examine the effect of changes in intra-vascular forces on vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis and (ii) determine the effect of Notch signaling mechanism(s) in mediating mechanical force-induced apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells.
