Dr Robert Drummond

Teaching Fellow

Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences

Contact

Publications

Back to staff profile

Publications

Characterisation of P2Y receptor subtypes mediating vasodilation and vasoconstriction of rat pulmonary artery using selective antagonists: Dales Markie O, Mitchell Callum, Gurney Alison M, Drummond Robert M, Kennedy Charles; Purinergic Signalling Vol 18, pp. 515-528 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11302-022-09895-x
Characterisation of P2Y₂ receptors in human vascular endothelial cells using AR-C118925XX, a competitive and selective P2Y₂ antagonist: Muoboghare Markie O, Drummond Robert M, Kennedy Charles; British Journal of Pharmacology Vol 176, pp. 2894-2904 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.14715
Hibiscus acid from hibiscus sabdariffa (malvaceae) has a vasorelaxant effect on the rat aorta: Zheoat Ahmed M, Gray Alexander I, Igoli John O, Ferro Valerie A, Drummond Robert M; Fitoterapia Vol 134, pp. 5-13 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2019.01.012
Spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in rat pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes are increased in frequency and become more synchronous following electrical stimulation: Henry Alasdair D, MacQuaide N, Burton FL, Rankin AC, Rowan EG, Drummond RM; Cell Calcium Vol 76, pp. 36-47 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceca.2018.09.001
The inhibitory effect of Haloxylon salicornicum on contraction of the mouse uterus: Saleem Nabila H, Ferro Valerie A, Simpson Ann M, Igoli John, Gray Alexander I, Drummond Robert M; Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Vol 2013 (2013); https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/714075
Spontaneous and electrically evoked Ca2+ transients in cardiomyocytes of the rat pulmonary vein: Logantha Sunil Jit RJ, Cruickshank Stuart F, Rowan Edward G, Drummond RM; Cell Calcium Vol 48, pp. 150-160 (2010); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceca.2010.08.002

More publications

Research

Back to staff profile

Research Interests

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia that is encountered clinically and it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A significant breakthrough in the understanding of atrial fibrallation occurred in the late 1990s when it was known that ectopic electrical activity that originates within the pulmonary veins is an important trigger for this type of arrhythmia. The pulmonary veins in most species are surrounded by an external sleeve of cardiomyocytes that extends from the left atrium towards the lungs. It is these cells that are considered to be responsible for generating the abnormal electrical activity that triggers atrial fibrillation, although the underlying mechanisms are unknown.

My current focus is on understanding the mechanisms whereby pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes generate spontaeneous electrical activity, and in particular the role that intracellular Ca²+ plays in this process. I am also interested in determining how electrical activity is propagated along the pulmonary vein to the atria, where it can then trigger atrial fibrillation. Since current drug treatments for atrial fibrallation are of limited efficacy, identification of potential novel therapeutic targets for future drug development is extremely important.