Biography
During my PhD, I developed a wide variety of techniques to mechanically, structurally, and biologically characterise diseased cardiovascular tissue. These methodologies have led to the publication of 9-articles and 4-reviews in first quartile journals in areas such as urology, gastrointestinal tissues and aortic aneurysms. It was clear from the conclusion of my PhD work that I needed experience on the effect of mechanics on cell function, behaviour and morphology. Accordingly, I was successful in my application for a Marie-Curie co-fund fellowship based in Prof. Ethier's lab in the Georgia Institute of Technology. During this time, I gained experience in cell culture, biochemistry and immunostaining techniques. My particular focus was on the effect of mechanical deformations on astrocytes, a key cell line in optic, spinal and cortical function, resulting in 4-articles [14-17] collaborating with researchers in Cardiff University and Imperial College London.
It is from this work that, at this stage in my career, I want to investigate the role of astrocytes in concussion and blood brain barrier (BBB) function, an area of societal and scientific importance. My current scientific activities are based on two strands; concussion and astrocytoma. The link between the two is the role of astrocytes in the alteration of the BBB and what protein markers are secreted into the bloodstream post-injury or disease. With this in mind, my aim is to build a platform to study these conditions using cells isolated from porcine tissue in either healthy or injured' conditions. I want to integrate expertise in mechanics from my PhD research to develop an injury model for concussion and examine the effects this has on the mechanical, biological and structural characterisation of the tissue. From my postdoctoral research experience, I want to examine the effects that this injury has on the role astrocytes play in the maintenance and subsequent disruption of the BBB function. More importantly, I want to identify and measure the proteins that cross the BBB when the brain is injured in order to elucidate these key protein markers for post-concussion identification. By examining these cell-cell interactions I can better understand the effect that introducing injured/diseased cells into this model can have on the BBB integrity and the proteins which traverse into the blood stream. With a grant like the Science Foundation Ireland Career Development Award I will be able to build a platform of research to collaborate with sport organisations to aid our understanding of concussion.
Research Interests
Professional Activities
Award
- 2014 - ELEVATE Marie-Curie Fellowship
- 2012 - New Foundations Grant
- 2009 - Innovative Student Engineer Award
- 2009 - Irish Research Council EMBARK PhD Scholarship
Education
- 2013 University of Limerick - PhD
Committee
- Science and Engineering Ethics Committee ,
- School of Engineering Teaching and Learning Team,
- School of Engineering Athena Swan Committee,
Publications
Book Chapters
Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine in Urology
Davis, NF and Cunnane, EM and Quinlan, MR and Mulvihill, JJ and Lawrentschuk, N and Bolton, DM and Walsh, MT
(2018)
Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine in Urology
In Advances in experimental medicine and biology;
USA :
Springer Link
DOI: 10.1007/5584_2017_139
Peer Reviewed Journals
Comparing nanoparticles for drug delivery: The effect of physiological dispersion media on nanoparticle properties
Ross A.M.;Kennedy T.;McNulty D.;Leahy C.I.;Walsh D.R.;Murray P.;Grabrucker A.M.;Mulvihill J.J.E.
(2020)
Comparing nanoparticles for drug delivery: The effect of physiological dispersion media on nanoparticle properties
In Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials For Biological Applications;
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.110985
[ULIR]
Drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier: recent advances in the use of nanocarriers
Mulvihill J.;Cunnane E.;Ross A.;Duskey J.;Tosi G.;Grabrucker A.
(2020)
Drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier: recent advances in the use of nanocarriers
In Nanomedicine (London, England);
DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2019-0367
[ULIR]
Standardization of research methods employed in assessing the interaction between metallic-based nanoparticles and the blood-brain barrier: Present and future perspectives.
Ross AM;Mc Nulty D;O'Dwyer C;Grabrucker AM;Cronin P;Mulvihill JJE;
(2019)
Standardization of research methods employed in assessing the interaction between metallic-based nanoparticles and the blood-brain barrier: Present and future perspectives.
In Journal Of Controlled Release;
DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.01.022
[ULIR]
Simulation of biopsy bevel-tipped needle insertion into soft-gel
Jushiddi M.;Mulvihill J.;Chovan D.;Mani A.;Shanahan C.;Silien C.;Md Tofail S.;Tiernan P.
(2019)
Simulation of biopsy bevel-tipped needle insertion into soft-gel
In Computers In Biology And Medicine;
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2019.103337
[ULIR]
The Role of Stem Cells for Reconstructing the Lower Urinary Tracts.
Davis NF;Cunnane EM;Mulvihill JJ;Quinlan MR;Bolton DM;Walsh MT;Jack GS;
(2018)
The Role of Stem Cells for Reconstructing the Lower Urinary Tracts.
In Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy;
DOI: 10.2174/1574888X13666180426113907
Development of a Platform for Studying 3D Astrocyte Mechanobiology: Compression of Astrocytes in Collagen Gels
Mulvihill, John J. E.,Raykin, Julia,Snider, Eric J.,Schildmeyer, Lisa A.,Zaman, Irsham,Platt, Manu O.,Kelly, Daniel J.,Ethier, C. Ross
(2018)
Development of a Platform for Studying 3D Astrocyte Mechanobiology: Compression of Astrocytes in Collagen Gels
In Annals of Biomedical Engineering;
[ULIR]
Digital and Mechanical Characterization of Ureteral Stent Luminal Reduction in Response to Extrinsic Compression Forces
Davis, NF;Mulvihill, JJE;Lynch, JJ;Browne, E;Bolton, DM;Jack, GS;Walsh, MT
(2018)
Digital and Mechanical Characterization of Ureteral Stent Luminal Reduction in Response to Extrinsic Compression Forces
In Journal Of Endourology;
NEW ROCHELLE :
MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC
DOI: 10.1089/end.2018.0573
Tissue engineered extracellular matrices (ECMs) in urology: Evolution and future directions
Davis, N.F.,Cunnane, E.M.,O'Brien, F.J.,Mulvihill, J.J.,Walsh, M.T.
(2018)
Tissue engineered extracellular matrices (ECMs) in urology: Evolution and future directions
In The Surgeon;
Elsevier
Regional mechanical and biochemical properties of the porcine cortical meninges.
Walsh DR;Ross AM;Malijauskaite S;Flanagan BD;Newport DT;*McGourty KD;*Mulvihill JJE; * = Corresponding Author
(2018)
Regional mechanical and biochemical properties of the porcine cortical meninges.
In Acta Biomaterialia;
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.09.004
[ULIR]
Urinary Bladder vs Gastrointestinal Tissue: A Comparative Study of Their Biomechanical Properties for Urinary Tract Reconstruction
Davis, NF,Mulvihill, JJE,Mulay, S,Cunnane, EM,Bolton, DM,Walsh, MT
(2018)
Urinary Bladder vs Gastrointestinal Tissue: A Comparative Study of Their Biomechanical Properties for Urinary Tract Reconstruction
In Urology;
DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2017.11.028
[ULIR]
Deformation of the Lamina Cribrosa and Optic Nerve Due to Changes in Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure
Feola, Andrew J.,Coudrillier, Baptiste,Mulvihill, John,Geraldes, Diogo M.,Vo, Nghia T.,Albon, Julie,Abel, Richard L.,Samuels, Brian C.,Ethier, C. Ross
(2017)
Deformation of the Lamina Cribrosa and Optic Nerve Due to Changes in Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure
In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science;
Zinc Binding to S100B Affords Regulation of Trace Metal Homeostasis and Excitotoxicity in the Brain
Hagmeyer, Simone and Cristóvão, Joana S. and Mulvihill, John J. E. and Boeckers, Tobias M. and Gomes, Cláudio M. and Grabrucker, Andreas M.
(2017)
Zinc Binding to S100B Affords Regulation of Trace Metal Homeostasis and Excitotoxicity in the Brain
In Frontiers In Molecular Neuroscience;
DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00456
[ULIR]
A modified gelatin zymography technique incorporating total protein normalization
Raykin, Julia,Snider, Eric,Bheri, Sruti,Mulvihill, John,Ethier, C. Ross
(2017)
A modified gelatin zymography technique incorporating total protein normalization
In Analytical Biochemistry;
Reduced plaque size and inflammation in the APP23 mouse model for Alzheimerâs disease after chronic application of polymeric nanoparticles for CNS targeted zinc delivery
Vilella, Antonietta,Belletti, Daniela,Sauer, Ann Katrin,Hagmeyer, Simone,Sarowar, Tasnuva,Masoni, Martina,Stasiak, Natalia,Mulvihill, John J.E.,Ruozi, Barbara,Forni, Flavio,Vandelli, Maria Angela,Tosi, Giovanni,Zoli, Michele,Grabrucker, Andreas M.
(2017)
Reduced plaque size and inflammation in the APP23 mouse model for Alzheimerâs disease after chronic application of polymeric nanoparticles for CNS targeted zinc delivery
In Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology;
[ULIR]
Mechanical properties and composition of carotid and femoral atherosclerotic plaques: A comparative study
Cunnane, Eoghan M.,Mulvihill, John J.E.,Barrett, Hilary E.,Hennessy, Mairead M.,Kavanagh, Eamon G.,Walsh, Michael T.
(2016)
Mechanical properties and composition of carotid and femoral atherosclerotic plaques: A comparative study
In Journal of biomechanics;
Development of a platform for studying astrocyte mechanobiology in 3D culture
Mulvihill, John Joseph Eugene,Schildmeyer, Lisa A,Raykin, Julia,Snider, Eric,Chinoy, Kavita,Kelly, Daniel J,Ethier, C Ross
(2016)
Development of a platform for studying astrocyte mechanobiology in 3D culture
In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science;
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Effects of Peripapillary Scleral Stiffening on the Deformation of the Lamina Cribrosa
Coudrillier, Baptiste,Campbell, Ian C.,Read, A. Thomas,Geraldes, Diogo M.,Vo, Nghia T.,Feola, Andrew,Mulvihill, John,Albon, Julie,Abel, Richard L.,Ethier, C. Ross
(2016)
Effects of Peripapillary Scleral Stiffening on the Deformation of the Lamina Cribrosa
In Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science;
[ULIR]
Mechanical, biological and structural characterization of human atherosclerotic femoral plaque tissue
Cunnane, E.M.,Mulvihill, J.J.E.,Barrett, H.E.,Healy, D.A.,Kavanagh, E.G.,Walsh, S.R.,Walsh, M.T.
(2015)
Mechanical, biological and structural characterization of human atherosclerotic femoral plaque tissue
In Acta Biomaterialia;
Determining the influence of calcification on the failure properties of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissue
OâLeary, Siobhan A.,Mulvihill, John J.,Barrett, Hilary E.,Kavanagh, Eamon G.,Walsh, Michael T.,McGloughlin, Tim M.,Doyle, Barry J.
(2015)
Determining the influence of calcification on the failure properties of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissue
In Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials;
Simulation of human atherosclerotic femoral plaque tissue: the influence of plaque material model on numerical results
Cunnane, Eoghan M.,Mulvihill, John JE,Barrett, Hilary E.,Walsh, Michael T.
(2015)
Simulation of human atherosclerotic femoral plaque tissue: the influence of plaque material model on numerical results
In BioMedical Engineering OnLine;
[ULIR]
Characterising human atherosclerotic carotid plaque tissue composition and morphology using combined spectroscopic and imaging modalities
Barrett, Hilary E.,Mulvihill, John J.,Cunnane, Eoghan M.,Walsh, Michael T.
(2015)
Characterising human atherosclerotic carotid plaque tissue composition and morphology using combined spectroscopic and imaging modalities
In BioMedical Engineering OnLine;
Computational approaches for analyzing the mechanics of atherosclerotic plaques: A review
Holzapfel, Gerhard A.,Mulvihill, John J.,Cunnane, Eoghan M.,Walsh, Michael T.
(2014)
Computational approaches for analyzing the mechanics of atherosclerotic plaques: A review
In Journal of biomechanics;
Uniaxial tensile testing approaches for characterisation of atherosclerotic plaques
Walsh, M.T.,Cunnane, E.M.,Mulvihill, J.J.,Akyildiz, A.C.,Gijsen, F.J.H.,Holzapfel, G.A.
(2014)
Uniaxial tensile testing approaches for characterisation of atherosclerotic plaques
In Journal of biomechanics;
Mechanical, biological and structural characterization of in vitro ruptured human carotid plaque tissue
Mulvihill, J.J.,Cunnane, E.M.,McHugh, S.M.,Kavanagh, E.G.,Walsh, S.R.,Walsh, M.T.
(2013)
Mechanical, biological and structural characterization of in vitro ruptured human carotid plaque tissue
In Acta Biomaterialia;
On the mechanical behaviour of carotid artery plaques: the influence of curve-fitting experimental data on numerical model results
Mulvihill, John J.,Walsh, Michael T.
(2013)
On the mechanical behaviour of carotid artery plaques: the influence of curve-fitting experimental data on numerical model results
In Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology;
[ULIR]
Development of an experimental model of the carotid bifurcation using electrically conductive silicone: an introduction to the incorporation of baroreceptor function within a mimetic model of the carotid artery
Mulvihill, John J.,Cunnane, Eoghan M.,OâConnell, Barry M.,Walsh, Michael T.
(2012)
Development of an experimental model of the carotid bifurcation using electrically conductive silicone: an introduction to the incorporation of baroreceptor function within a mimetic model of the carotid artery
In International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials;
Inderscience Publishers
Conference Publications
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Mulvihill, J.J.E., Schildmeyer, L.A., Raykin, J., Snider, E., Chinoy, K., Kelly, D.J. and Ethier, C.R.,
(2016)
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
ASME. Summer Bioengineering Conference
Mulvihill JJ, Cunnane EM, Kavanagh EE, Walsh MT.
(2013)
ASME. Summer Bioengineering Conference
DOI: 10.1115/SBC2013-14693.
Carotid Plaque Composition and Mechanism of Behaviour
McHugh, S,Mulvihill, J,Cunnane, E,Kavanagh, E,Walsh, S,Walsh, M
(2013)
Carotid Plaque Composition and Mechanism of Behaviour
ASME 2011 Summer Bioengineering Conference
Mulvihill JJ, O'Donnell MR, O'Connell BM, Walsh MT.
(2011)
ASME 2011 Summer Bioengineering Conference
ASME 2011 Summer Bioengineering Conference, Parts A and B ():7-8(Ed.)
Nemacolin, PA
DOI: 10.1115/SBC2011-53440.