Perinatal Pharmacology: Therapeutic interventions for the treatment of pregnancy complications and assessing their impact on fetal neurodevelopmental outcomes

Dr Cathal McCarthy 

My research investigates the disruptive pathways causing pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus and develops novel therapeutics to effectively treat these pregnancy complications. In particular we are investigating the potential therapeutic role of L-ergothioneine, which aligns with objectives of Future Medicines in creating targeted treatments to improve quality-of-life for patients. We are also interested in understanding how placental dysfunction impacts the neurodevelopmental outcomes of babies born to mothers who suffer with these two obstetric complications during pregnancy. This work harmonises with the aims of Future Ageing and Brain Science which is dedicated to advancing the understanding of brain disorders.

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 (adipogenesis, thermogenesis) in the development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and the subsequent impact on fetal adiposity.

Publications:

1. Effect of L-Ergothioneine on the metabolic plasma profile of the RUPP rat model of pre-eclampsia. Williamson RD, McCarthy FP, Manna S, Groarke E, Kell DB, Kenny LC, McCarthy CM. Hypertension, 2020;75(2): 561-568. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230977
2. 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. Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2024; 109(5):1275-1284. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad699
3. Exposure to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus increases subclinical inflammation mediated in part by obesity. Musumeci A, McElwain CJ, Manna S, McCarthy FP, McCarthy CM.  Clinical and Experimental Immunology, 2024; 216(3): 280-292. doi: 10.1093/cei/uxae010
4. Maternal pre-eclampsia serum increases neurite growth and mitochondrial function through a potential IL-6-dependent mechanism in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Barron A, Manna S, McElwain CJ, Musumeci A, McCarthy FP, O'Keeffe GW, McCarthy CM.  Frontiers in Physiology, 2023; 13:1043481. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1043481
5. 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. Nutrition Research Reviews, 2020; 33(2):190-217. doi: 10.1017/S0954422419000301

Ph.D/Postgrad projects:

• 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.

I welcome enquires from students interested in discussing MSc or PhD opportunities and post-doctoral researchers wishing to join the research group. If you have ideas for collaborations on existing work or would like to discuss your own research interests then there are a number of PhD studentships, Postdoctoral fellowships and other funding schemes available which I am more than happy to discuss this with you in the first instance by email  cmccarthy@ucc.ie