Dr Margaret Rose Cunningham

Senior Lecturer

Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Personal statement

I am currently the Associate Dean (Learning Enhancement) for the Science Faculty at the University of Strathclyde. I am also a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and the Director of Biomolecular Science (BMS) Programmes in the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS). I lead the design and development of Strathclyde’s BMS curriculum and successfully led the re-accreditations for the BMS programmes with the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) in 2023 and the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) in 2024.

I am working on establishing alternative models for teaching practical pharmacology, collaborating with UK-based pharmacology educators to move away from the use of rodent models. One of my key interests is promoting inclusive education in STEM to make pharmacology accessible to diverse learners.

I was elected as a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) in 2021 and as an Honorary BPS Fellow in 2023. In the same year, I was honored to receive the British Pharmacological Society Rang Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching. I serve as a Reviewing Editor for the BPS Journal, Pharmacological Research & Perspectives (PR&P) and I am a member of the BPS engagement and Awards Committees (since 2020).

Since 2021, I have been part of the Core Concepts of Pharmacology research team, and I currently serve as the Secretary of the IUPHAR-Education Section.

I have led on the Career Progression Working Group on the SIPBS Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team (SIPBS-WIDE) since 2015. I was part of the SAT team leading the Athena SWAN Bronze (in 2017) and Silver (in 2021) awards.

Previous leadership roles Include:

Editor-in-Chief of the BPS Pharmacology Matters magazine (2017-2022)
Elected member and co-Chair of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland (RSE-YAS, 2018 cohort)
RSE-YAS Theme Lead for Health (2019-2021).
SIPBS Public Engagement and Outreach Coordinator (BMS) with Dr Zahra Rattray (Pharmacy) from 2017-2023.
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellow (2017)

Expertise

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Prize And Awards

2024 AWERB 3Rs Prize: Recipient; 10/2024
Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Award 2024 for Faculty of Science Breaking Barries: Recipient; 8/2024
Strathclyde Women+ in Leadership Network's #CelebrateHER Awards (Nominee): Recipient; 13/2/2024
University of Strathclyde Medal for Faculty of Science Breaking Barriers 2024: Recipient; 2024
British Pharmacological Society Honorary Fellowship: Recipient; 5/12/2023
International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) Education Section - Secretary (Elected 2023-2026): Recipient; 12/2023

More prizes and awards

Publications

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Publications

Evaluating student understanding of pharmacodynamics core concepts: Kelly-Laubscher Roisin, Koenig Jennifer, Cunningham Margaret, Aljofan Mohamad, Babey Anna-Marie, Hawes Martin, Hinton Tina, Karpa Kelly, Karunaratne Nilushi, Liang Willmann, Mraiche Fatima, Restini Carolina, Santiago Marina, Volbrecht Kieran, Guilding Clare, White Paul J; European Journal of Pharmacology Vol 990 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177257
Evaluating student understanding of core pharmacokinetic concepts: Babey Anna-Marie, Koenig Jennifer, Cunningham Margaret, Shield Alison, Restini Carolina, Djouma Elvan, Mraiche Fatima, Mifsud Janet, Kelly John P, Nicolazzo Joseph, Karpa Kelly J, Volbrecht Kieran, Santiago Marina Junqueira, Hawes Martin, Aljofan Mohamad, Kelly-Laubscher Roisin, Karunaratne Nilushi, Tucker Steven J, Hinton Tina, Liang Willmann, Guilding Clare, White Paul J; European Journal of Pharmacology Vol 990 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177256
Recounting the untold stories of breast cancer patient experiences : lessons learned from a patient-public involvement and engagement (PPIE) storytelling event: Cunningham Margaret R, Rattray Nicholas JW, McFadden Yvonne, Berardi Domenica, Daramy Karim, Kelly Patricia E, Galbraith Allison, Lochiel Isobel, Mills Lorraine, Scott Yvonne, Chalmers Susan, Lannigan Alison, Rattray Zahra; International Journal of Pharmacy Practice Vol 32, pp. 515-523 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpp/riae052
Optimisation of specimen handling & mitochondrial analysis in patient skeletal muscle biopsies: Wahid Maheen, MacKenzie Graeme, Rooney Liam, Combet Emilie, Gray Stuart, Murray James, Gould Gwyn, Cunningham Margaret Rose; Pharmacology 2024 - British Pharmacological Society (2024)
From freeze to function : optimised cryopreservation and mitochondrial analysis workflow for skeletal muscle biopsies: Wahid Maheen, Mackenzie Graeme, Rooney Liam M, Greig Justin C, McConnell Gail, Combet Emilie, Gray Stuart, Murray James T, Currie Susan, Gould Gwyn W, Cunningham Margaret R; BMC Methods Vol 1 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1186/s44330-024-00017-0
Bad to the bone : an RNA-sequencing study identifying a role for IKK-alpha in osteosarcoma cell division and progression: Tinto Kirsty, Bonfanti Marco, Cunningham Margaret Rose, Plevin Robin; The 6th European NFκB meeting (2024)

More publications

Teaching

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Teaching

I am the Biomolecular Sciences (BMS) Programme Director (2023–2027) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), with a Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice. In this role, I lead the strategic development and delivery of the BMS programmes, ensuring they remain innovative, inclusive, and aligned with current scientific and educational advancements.

I am an active member of the International Union of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) Core Concepts in Pharmacology Research Team, where I contribute to global efforts to enhance pharmacology education and promote best practices in teaching and research. I currently serve as the external examiner for the Applied Medical Sciences (AMS) degree programme at Swansea University and for the BSc Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Compounds programme (Bioscience areas) at University College Cork, ensuring the maintenance of high academic standards across these programmes.

In my teaching, I coordinate BM434 and BM941 Clinical Pharmacology and lead the design of the BM214 and BM327 Pharmacology laboratories, where I integrate my research interests in alternative models that align with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement). This includes incorporating innovative approaches, such as the use of 3D printing technology to develop human-body-on-a-chip systems and advancing sustainable alternatives to traditional rodent models. I also deliver teaching across a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, emphasising inclusive and research-led approaches to support diverse learners in pharmacology.

Research

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Research Interests

My field of expertise is G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-dependent regulation of cardiovascular function, with a particular focus on the proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) and purinergic P2Y receptor families. My research investigates the molecular mechanisms of GPCR, gap junction, and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) signaling in processes that underpin platelet function, cardiovascular inflammation, anti-cancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicity, and skeletal muscle function in ageing, particularly its impact on cardiovascular health. I am especially interested in the interplay between muscle and cardiovascular systems in the context of inflammation and vascular dysfunction. I co-led the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (CMVD) research group with Dr Susan Currie from 2017 to 2023.

I have a strong interest in research-led teaching, particularly in developing alternative models that align with the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), which can be applied across both research and teaching settings. My work includes exploring the use of 3D printing technology to develop human-body-on-a-chip systems and advancing more sustainable models as alternatives to rodent models in research. These efforts aim to provide innovative, ethical, and environmentally friendly approaches to pharmacological and biomedical science research and education.

Professional Activities

20th World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 2026 (WCP2026): Organiser; 12/7/2026
The Vale of Leven Academy (VOLA) 2025 Career Session: Contributor; 23/1/2025
Open Day Presentations for BMS Programmes: Speaker; 1/2025
British Pharmacological Society Annual Meeting 2024 (Harrogate, UK): Speaker; 11/12/2024
British Pharmacological Society (BPS) - Workshop Applying the Core Concepts of Pharmacology to a range of professions: Organiser; 11/12/2024
Bad to the Bone: A Transcriptomics Project: Contributor; 21/11/2024

More professional activities

Projects

Therapeutic targeting of IKK alpha in osteosarcoma using first-in-class selective IKK inhibitors: Plevin, Robin (Principal Investigator) Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2026
Revolutionising Pharmacology Education - Designing a Low-Cost Human Body-on-a-Chip Laboratory for Multi-Level Learning: Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Principal Investigator) Rooney, Liam (Principal Investigator) Monachan, Nikki (CoPI) Coubrough, Katie (CoPI) Wahid, Maheen (CoPI) Tinto, Kirsty (CoPI) Glendinning, Nicola (Co-investigator) Keegan, Joe (Co-investigator) Panelli, Fiona (Co-investigator) Palin, Fiona (Co-investigator) Thompson, Crystal (Co-investigator) Essex, Jane (Co-investigator) Hendry, Pauline (Co-investigator); This education research project is funded by British Pharmacological Society to establish links with Vale of Leven Academy & Lennox Primary (West Dunbartonshire) and Queen Margaret Academy Supported Learning Centre (Ayr) to support student-led STEM Learning on the topic of Pharmacology.

This project involves staff and students across all levels of learning from primary school, secondary school, undergraduate to postgraduate higher education.

The project will use a combination of approaches such as 3D printing technology to address biomedical questions related to 'Space Medicine'. Twenty-two students (S4-S6) from Vale of Leven Academy (VOLA) will support the space-themed STEM activity design as they will go to NASA (Houston) as part of school-organised education trip in June 2025.; 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2025
Impact of dietary fat on muscle ageing: Exploring sex-based differences using the African Turquoise Killifish Model: Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Academic) Wahid, Maheen (Principal Investigator) Tinto, Kirsty (Research Co-investigator) Murray, James (Research Co-investigator); Scottish Alliance for Food (SCAF) 2024 Pump Priming Awards

The University of Glasgow was the lead applicant in a successful proposal to the Scottish Funding Council to fund a project entitled “The Scottish Alliance for Food” from 2023-2027. As part of the Project, University of Glasgow administers a pot of money to fund small pump priming research projects.

This project was awarded £4935 towards the cost of the 2024 Pump Priming Award titled 'Impact of dietary fat on muscle ageing: Exploring sex-based differences using the African Turquoise Killifish Model'; 01-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2025
GLAS-CYTO: AN INTEGRATED FACILITY FOR THE BIOPHYSICAL ANALYSIS OF CELLULAR INTERACTIONS: Burley, Glenn (Principal Investigator) Chamberlain, Luke (Co-investigator) Chow, Shiao (Co-investigator) Corrigan, Damion (Co-investigator) Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Co-investigator) Faulds, Karen (Co-investigator) Jamieson, Craig (Co-investigator) Rattray, Zahra (Co-investigator) Tomkinson, Nick (Co-investigator) Taladriz Sender, Andrea (Research Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2025
3D-printed transmissive adaptive optics for microscopy (BBSRC 23TRT): Bauer, Ralf (Principal Investigator) Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Co-investigator) McConnell, Gail (Co-investigator); 01-Jan-2024 - 31-Jan-2025
Recovering gap-junction localisation in the heart as a cardioprotective strategy to limit anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity.: Cunningham, Margaret Rose (Principal Investigator) Wahid, Maheen (CoPI) Whiteford, Keira (Research Co-investigator); British Pharmacological Society Summer Studentship.; 01-Jan-2024 - 18-Jan-2024