Paul McLoughlin is a Professor of Physiology at UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular & Biomedical Research. Professor McLoughlin is a member of the Royal College of Physicians Ireland and gained his PhD from the University of London.
Professor McLoughlin is one of the School's most senior researchers, and his group focuses on the exploration and understanding of key mechanisms in the development and progression of lung diseases. These diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, cystic fibrosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome and occupational lung diseases and are amongst the most common (and increasing) causes of death and disability worldwide. No major therapeutic advances targeting novel molecular pathways have been made for many years due to the extremely limited knowledge of the underlying mechanisms.
Lung diseases all cause reduced oxygen in the lung which then activates mechanisms that are pro-inflammatory, pro-thrombotic and promote maladaptive vascular remodelling. Our current research is focused on understanding the specific mechanisms in the lung through which hypoxia promotes these disease responses. An understanding of these mechanisms enables the identification of potential therapeutic strategies that can be used to target the disease process within the lung without causing unwanted adverse effects in other organs.