Platelet function in health and disease states

Dr Gerardene Meade - Murphy 

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.

Dr. Meade-Murphy’s commitment to research on innovative forms of teaching and learning, together with her Colleague Dr. Frank van Pelt, 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.

Publications:

• Platelet hyperactivation and hyporesponsiveness at diagnosis in multiple myeloma persists during treatment initiation.  O'Sullivan LR, Meade-Murphy G, Gilligan OM, Mykytiv V, Cahill MR, Young PW. Thrombosis Research, 203 (8), p186-189, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2021.05.004.
• Platelet hyperactivation in multiple myeloma is also evident in patients with premalignant monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. O'Sullivan LR, Meade-Murphy G, Gilligan OM, Mykytiv V, Young PW, Cahill MR. British Journal of Haematology, 192 (2), p 322-332, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.16774
• A dry immersion model of microgravity modulates platelet phenotype, miRNA signature, and circulating plasma protein biomarker profile. Twomey, L., Navasiolava, N., Robin, A., Bareille, M-P., Gauquelin-Koch, G., Beck, A., Larcher, F., Meade-Murphy, G., Sheridan, S., Maguire, P.B., Harrison, M., Degryse, B., Moyna, N.M., Gharib, C., Custaud, M-A., Murphy. R.P. Scientific Reports, 11 (1), pp1-17, 2021. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01335-x
• Microfluidic device for assessing object/test material interactions . Inventors: Nigel Kent, Bryan Lincoln, Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, Antonio Ricco, Dermot Kenny, Gerardene Meade, Brian Corcoran. Publication date: 2016/6/28; Patent office: US, Patent number 9378557
• Canonical Wnt signaling in Megakaryocytes regulates Proplatelet formation. Macaulay IC, Thon JN, Tijssen MR, Steele BM, MacDonald BT, Meade G, Burns P, Rendon A, Salunkhe V, Murphy RP, Bennett C, Watkins NA, He X, Fitzgerald DJ, Italiano JE, and Maguire PB. Blood, 121 (1), p188-96, 2012. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-03-416875

Dr. Meade-Murphy welcome enquires from students interested in discussing MSc or PhD opportunities and post-doctoral researchers wishing to join the research group. If you would like to discuss such possibilities and your research interests, please contact me on Gerardene.meademurphy@ucc.ie