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Full NameProfessor Gerard Curley

Dept of Anaesthesia and Critical Care

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Webpage:rcsi.ie

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Research Fields

infectious disease and the immune system
cell and developmental biology/regenerative medicine
physiology and non-communicable disease

Postgrad Medical Specialties

Medicine
Anaesthetics
Emergency Medicine

Medical Subspecialties

Infectious diseases
Immunology
Respiratory Medicine

My Work

Two areas are under study in my laboratory.

(1) The first investigates optimization of novel therapies, including mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and sepsis. We use in vitro functional assays (epithelial and endothelial permeability and wound repair, monocyte inflammation, polarization status, phagocytosis and bacterial killing), conventional animal models (rodent and murine Ventilator Induced Lung Injury, LPS, E. coli pneumonia, caecal ligation and puncture), large animal models and the isolated perfused human lung to test promising therapeutic strategies.

(2) The second investigates the mechanism of action of MSCs during inflammation and repair. We are examining the fate of MSCs in the pulmonary vasculature using a microfluidics device in vitro and intra-vital sub-pleural imaging in live mice. We are also focused on the interaction of MSCs with monocytes and macrophages, and in particular on macrophage phenotype, phagocytosis and bacterial killing as a key therapeutic effect of MSCs in sepsis. We have identified a novel MSC-induced macrophage phenotype with enhanced microbicidal capability, including NADPH-oxidase 2 (NOX2) mediated reactive oxygen species production during phagocytosis. Other work aims to identify the molecular mechanisms underpinning receptor-mediated phagocytosis in MSC-educated macrophages.

Selected Publications:
1. Curley GF, Jerkic M, Dixon S, Hogan G, Masterson C, O’Toole D, Devaney J, Laffey JG. Cryopreserved, xeno-free human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells reduce lung injury severity and bacterial burden in rodent E. coli induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Crit Care Med. 2017 Feb;45(2):e202-e212.
2. McAuley DF, Curley GF, Hamid UI, Laffey JG, Abbott J, McKenna DH, Fang X, Matthay MA, Lee JW. Clinical grade allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells restore alveolar fluid clearance in human lungs rejected for transplantation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2014 May 1;306(9):L809-15.
3. Curley GF, Ansari B, Hayes M, Devaney J, O’Toole D, O’Brien T, Laffey JG. Effects of intra-tracheal Mesenchymal Stem Cells therapy during recovery and resolution following Ventilator Induced Lung Injury. Anesthesiology. 2013 Apr;118(4):924-932.
4. Curley GF, Hayes M, Ansari B, Shaw G, Ryan A, Barry F, O’Brien T, O’Toole D, Laffey JG. Mesenchymal stem cells enhance recovery and repair following ventilator-induced lung injury in the rat. Thorax. 2012 Jun;67(6):496-501.
5. Curley GF, Contreras M, O’Toole B, Higgins B, O’Kane C, McAuley D, Laffey JG. Evolution of the inflammatory and fibroproliferative responses during resolution and repair following Ventilator Induced Lung Injury. Anesthesiology. 2011 Nov;115(5):1022-32.