Biotechnology

Dr Phil Cummins

Name:Dr Phil Cummins
Phone Number5584
Room:X220
E-Mail Address:
Work Area:Academic Staff

Dr Phil Cummins

Dr Phil Cummins

Biographical Details:

BSc in Biotechnology Programme Chair (2011-date); School of Biotechnology Research Convenor (2008-2011); Lecturer in Cell Biology (2008-date, Biotechnology, DCU); UDRC Research Convenor (2002-2008, DCU); Senior Scientist (2000-2007, Biotechnology, DCU); Lecturer in Biology (1999-2000, Applied Sciences, IT Tallaght); Postdoctoral Research Fellow (1996-1999, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY, USA); PhD in Biochemistry (1991-1995, Biotechnology, DCU); BSc in Biotechnology (1987-1991, Biotechnology, DCU).

Research Interests:

According to the Irish Heart Foundation, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is Ireland¿s No. 1 killer with ~10,000 deaths annually (or 36% of all deaths), statistics also mirrored within the EU and US. With the goal of achieving a better understanding of cardiovascular health and diseases, and ultimately harnessing this knowledge for target identification and therapeutic benefit, my research group employ in vitro physiological cell modeling to investigate endothelial cell mechanisms at multiple levels: gene expression, post-translational modifications, signal transduction (e.g. mechano-transduction), and cell fate (e.g. proliferation, migration, barrier function). Endothelial cells form a continuous monolayer (the `endothelium¿) that lines the inner lumen of all blood vessels, this monolayer serving to continuously regulate vessel barrier function, health, and architecture (remodeling). It follows therefore that endothelial dysfunction, a multi-factorial inflammatory condition arising from various sources (e.g. blood flow hemodynamics, genetics, bacterial infection, hypoxia, ageing, lifestyle etc.), is considered to be a pivotal underlying condition in the adverse vessel remodeling and tissue damage associated with most forms of CVD. Our investigations focus on both macro- and micro-vascular human endothelial cell models. Specific research objectives with direct relevance to CVDs such as stroke [1], encephalopathies [2], graft rejection [3], atherosclerosis [4,5], and metabolic syndrome [6] are listed below. These objectives are all consistent with DCU FSH strategic research priorities listed under the themes of Drug Discovery (Priority 1), Therapeutics (Priority 1), and Preventive Medicine (Priority 3): [1] To characterize the effects of circulatory variables (shear stress, cytokines) on the blood-brain barrier. [2] To develop an in vitro model of S.aureus-induced blood-brain barrier disruption. [3] To characterize the impact of cyclic strain on endothelial thrombomodulin expression and release. [4] To develop an in vitro co-culture model of osteoprotegrin-mediated vascular calcification. [5] To investigate the potential of zinc metallopeptidases as therapeutic targets in CVD. [6] To develop a translational research programme exploring lifestyle interactions for CVD treatment.

Selected Peer Reviewed Journals

Selected Chapters

  • Davenport C, Martin FA, Rochfort KD, Murphy RP, Smith D, Cummins PM, The effects of inflammation, hyperglycemia and cyclic strain on OPG production in human aortic smooth muscle cells, 13th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology , 17-APR-12 - 20-APR-12, Chicago IL, USA.
  • Rochfort KD, Martin FA, Murphy RP, Cummins PM, Characterization of inflammatory cytokine effects on the blood-brain barrier using an in vitro human brain microvascular endothelial cell model, 13th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 17-APR-12 - 20-APR-12, Chicago IL, USA.
  • Martin FA, Rochfort KD, Davenport C, Guinan AF, Murphy RP, Cummins PM, Cyclic strain-induced release of thrombomodulin from human aortic endothelial cells., 13th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 17-APR-12 - 20-APR-12, Chicago IL, USA.
  • McGinn C, Fitzpatrick P, Shan C, Murphy A, McDonnell B, Dowling P, Cummins PM, Murphy RP, Palladin, a shear-responsive cytoskeletal adaptor protein, is present in endothelial-derived microparticles, North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Workshop: Biology of Signaling in the Cardiovascular System, 16-OCT-11 - 20-OCT-11, Hyannis MA, USA.
  • Shan C, Murphy A, McDonnell B, Dowling P, McGinn C, Cummins PM, Murphy RP, The role of merlin in haemodynamic regulation of cytoskeleton organization and cell adhesion in endothelial cells, North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Workshop: Biology of Signaling in the Cardiovascular System, 16-OCT-11 - 20-OCT-11, Hyannis MA, USA.
  • McDonnell B, McGinn C, Shan C, Fitzpatrick, Barron N, Cummins PM, Murphy A, Degryse B, Meade G, Murphy RP, The impact of cyclic strain on focal adhesion signaling and miRNA expression in vascular smooth muscle cells, North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Workshop: Biology of Signaling in the Cardiovascular System, 16-OCT-11 - 20-OCT-11, Hyannis MA, USA.
  • Walsh TG, Murphy RP, Fitzpatrick P, Rochfort KD, Guinan AF, Murphy A, Cummins PM, Stabilization of brain microvascular endothelial barrier function by shear stress involves a signaling pathway adherens and tight junctions, 13th International Symposium of the Blood Brain Barrier, 02-SEP-10 - 04-SEP-10, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Walsh TG, Fitzpatrick P, Murphy RP, Cummins PM, Blood brain barrier regulation by laminar shear stress: role of VE-Cadherin and Rac1 in tight junction assembly and barrier function, 12th International Symposium of the Blood Brain & Blood Retinal Barriers, 09-SEP-09 - 11-SEP-09, University College London, UK.
  • Murphy A, Britto M, Fitzpatrick P, Barron N, O'Gorman D, Cummins P, Murphy R, Biomechanical regulation of microRNA expression and endothelial phenotype in vitro, XXII Congress of The International Society of Thrombosis & Haemostasis, 11-JUL-09 - 16-JUL-09, Boston MA, USA.
  • Cummins PM, Mechanoregulation of endothelial barrier function, Physiology 2009: Symposium - Signalling in the Vascular Wall, 08-JUL-09 - 10-JUL-09, University College Dublin, Ireland.
  • Walsh TG, Fitzpatrick P, Murphy RP, Cummins PM, Regulation of blood brain barrier function by shear stress: role of Rho-GTPases in tight junction assembly and function, North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Workshop: Biology of Signaling in the Cardiovascular System, 11-SEP-08 - 14-SEP-08, Hyannis MA, USA.
  • Britto M, Fitzpatrick P, Meade G, O'Gorman D, Moyna N, Barron N, Cummins PM, Murphy RP, The role of hemodynamic stimuli on endothelial cell microRNA expression signature: potential new regulators of actin binding proteins, North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Workshop: Biology of Signaling in the Cardiovascular System, 11-SEP-08 - 14-SEP-08, Hyannis MA, USA.
  • Guinan AF, Fitzpatrick PA, Walsh TG, Murphy RP, Cummins PM, Shear Stress Regulates Neprilysin Expression in Vascular Endothelial Cells via an NADPH Oxidase-Dependent Signaling Mechanism, North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Workshop: Biology of Signaling in the Cardiovascular System, 11-SEP-08 - 14-SEP-08, Hyannis MA, USA.
  • Fitzpatrick P, Britto M, Walsh TG, Meade G, Cummins PM, Murphy RP, Cytoskeletal re-organistation by mechano-transduced LASP-1 regulates cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion through activation of Rac1, North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO) Workshop: Biology of Signaling in the Cardiovascular System, 11-SEP-08 - 14-SEP-08, Hyannis MA, USA.
  • Britto M, Fitzpatrick P, Meade G, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Murphy RP, Molecular and cellular dynamics of moesin in vascular cells via mechano-transduction, 21st International Society of Thrombosis & Hemostasis, 06-JUL-07 - 12-JUL-07, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Fitzpatrick P, Britto M, Meade G, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Murphy RP, The mechanoregulation of LASP-1 in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, 21st International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis Congress, 06-JUL-07 - 12-JUL-07, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Killeen MT, Murphy RP, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Cyclic strain of vascular endothelial cells reduces smooth muscle cell proliferation, possibly via an MMP-2 dependent mechanism, 8th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 19-APR-07 - 21-APR-07, Chicago IL, USA.
  • Tobin N, Cummins PM, Henehan G, Cahill PA, Helicobacter pylori outer membrane protein affects vascular endothelial cell fate decisions in vitro, 7th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 27-APR-06 - 29-APR-06, Denver CO, USA.
  • Fitzpatrick PA, Killeen MT, Birney YA, Glucksman MJ, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Shear stress regulation of NEP is mediated via reactive oxygen species in endothelial cells, 7th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 27-APR-06 - 29-APR-06, Denver CO, USA.
  • Colgan OC, Collins NT, Birney YA, Ferguson G, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Shear stress regulates microvascular endothelial occludin and ZO-1 and increases tight junction formation, 7th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 27-APR-06 - 29-APR-06, Denver CO, USA.
  • Colgan OC, Cummins PM, Collins NT, Birney YA, Ferguson G, Cahill PA, Co-culture of bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (BBMvEC) and C6 glioma decreases endothelial permeability and increases tight junction formation, 7th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 27-APR-06 - 29-APR-06, Denver CO, USA.
  • Birney YA, Sweeney CH, Morrow D, Guha A, Cummins PM, Walls D, Redmond EM, Cahill PA, Vascular smooth muscle cell migration and notch signaling, American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 13-NOV-05 - 16-NOV-05, Dallas TX, USA.
  • Collins NT, Cummins PM, Colgan OC, Birney YA, Ferguson-Welsby G, Murphy RP, Cahill PA, Cyclic strain regulates occludin and ZO-1 expression, phosphorylation and localization in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 13-NOV-05 - 16-NOV-05, Dallas TX, USA.
  • Morrow D, Sweeney C, Birney YA, Cummins PM, Guha S, Murphy R, Walls D, Redmond EM, Cahill PA, Sonic hedgehog regulates vascular smooth muscle cell fate in vitro through VEGF activation of notch signaling, American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 13-NOV-05 - 16-NOV-05, Dallas TX, USA.
  • Fitzpatrick PA, Cotter EJ, Birney YA, Glucksman MJ, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Expression of thermolysin-like zinc metalloendopeptidases in vascular endothelial cells is regulated by shear stress and reactive oxygen species, 6th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 28-APR-05 - 30-APR-05, Washington DC, USA.
  • Morrow D, Guha ST, Birney YA, Sweeney YA, Cummins PM, Walls D, Redmond EM, Cahill PA, Hedgehog regulation of notch signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro, 6th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 28-APR-05 - 30-APR-05, Washington DC, USA.
  • Cotter EJ, Fitzpatrick PA, Birney YA, Wu TJ, Glucksman MJ, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Cyclic strain induces changes in EP24.15 subcellular localization and peptide cleavage: possible implications for endothelial cell fate decisions, 6th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 28-APR-05 - 29-APR-05, Washington DC, USA.
  • Collins NT, Colgan OC, Cummins PM, Ferguson-Welsby G, Murphy RP, Cahill PA, Cyclic strain regulates occludin and Z0-1 expression, phosphorylation and localisation in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC), American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 07-NOV-04 - 10-NOV-04, New Orleans LA, USA.
  • Morrow D, Sweeney CH, Birney YA, Cummins PM, Walls D, Redmond EM, Cahill PA, The role of notch target genes, HRT-1, HRT-2 and HRT¿3 in determining vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and apoptosis, American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 07-NOV-04 - 10-NOV-04, New Orleans LA, USA.
  • Scheller A, Morrow DJ, Sweeney CH, Walls D, Cummins PM, Redmond EM, Cahill PA, Notch signaling and vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation, 4th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 21-APR-03 - 24-APR-03, Washington DC, USA.
  • Morrow D, Sweeney C, Scheller A, Walls D, Cummins PM, Cahill PA, Notch receptor ligand signaling role in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, Experimental Biology - Translating the Genome, 11-APR-03 - 15-APR-03, San Diego CA, USA.
  • Cotter EJ, Cahill PA, Cummins PM, Chronic cyclic strain modulates activity of endopeptidases EC3.4.24.15 and EC3.4.24.16 in vascular endothelial cells, Experimental Biology - Translating the Genome, 11-APR-03 - 15-APR-03, San Diego CA, USA.
  • Coen PM, Cummins PM, Devery R, Cahill PA, The effects of conjugated linoleic acid on nitric oxide synthase expression and activity in vascular endothelial cells, Experimental Biology - Translating the Genome, 11-APR-03 - 15-APR-03, San Diego CA, USA.
  • von Offenberg Sweeney N, Cummins PM, Cahill PA, Role of SHC/MAP kinase pathway and Gialpha proteins in cyclic strain-induced increases in Pro-MMP2 secretion, American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 17-NOV-02 - 20-NOV-02, Chicago IL, USA.
  • von Offenberg Sweeney N, Birney Y, Cummins PM, Cahill PA, Cyclic strain induces pro-MMP2 release from bovine aortic endothelial cells via a Gialpha protein-independent, MAP kinase-dependent pathway, Experimental Biology - Translating the Genome, 20-APR-02 - 24-APR-02, New Orleans LA, USA.
  • Cummins PM, Coen PM, Cahill PA, Regulation of endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.15 expression in vascular endothelial cells by mechanical forces, American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 11-NOV-01 - 14-NOV-01, Anaheim Ca, USA.
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