Medicine

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Level 1
Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute
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Dr. Roisin Mc Mackin

Dr. Roisin Mc Mackin

Assistant Professor, Physiology

3531896 2718https://www.mcmackinlab.com/

Biography

Following graduation from Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin with First Class Honours and a University Gold Medal, Dr Roisin McMackin undertook a PhD in Clinical Medicine from 2016-2021 at Trinity College Dublin investigating electrophysiological biomarkers of ALS, supported by an IRC Postgraduate Award. Having been awarded her Doctorate with no corrections, Dr McMackin subsequently continued her research postdoctorally as recipient of a prestigious MNDA Non-Clinical Fellowship (2021-2022). Dr McMackin began her role as Assistant Professor in the Discipline of Physiology in October 2022, and now leads a team of research students who use electrophysiology based measures to understand brain function in health and disease. She has since been awarded a number of highly competitive project grants, including an ALS Finding A Cure Early Diagnostics Initiative Award and funding from the Galen Hilary Weston Foundation under the Characterisation of Novel Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases of Ageing program.

Dr McMackin was awarded the ENCALS 2025 Young Investigator Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to the field of ALS research, as well as the Neuroscience Ireland Early Career Researcher Award for her contribution to the field of neuroscience research.

Dr McMackin's research is supported by the Motor Neurone Disease Association UK, the ALS Association, The Galen Hilary Weston Foundation, the Irish Health Research Board and Research Motor Neurone, in addition to previous support from the Irish Research Council.

Dr McMackin teaches across across a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Neuroscience, Human Health and Disease, Physiology, Medicine, Clinical Neuropsychology, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry and Medical Device Design, in addition to providing international training courses on electrophysiological methods.

Dr McMackin is the Associate Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the School of Medicine. She is also the Education Officer and Trinity College representative for Neuroscience Ireland, as well as a member of the Women In Research Ireland Committee.

Dr McMackin is also an Associate Editor of Brain Communications, the Q1 open access sister journal of Brain.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • McMackin R, Muthuraman M, Groppa S, Babiloni C, Taylor JP, Kiernan MC, Nasseroleslami B, Hardiman O., Measuring network disruption in neurodegenerative diseases: New approaches using signal analysis., Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 90, (9), 2019, p1011 - 1020Journal Article, 2019, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • McMackin R, Bede P, Pender N, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B., Neurophysiological markers of network dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases, Neuroimage Clin, 22, 2019, p101706-Journal Article, 2019, URL , TARA - Full Text
  • McMackin R, Dukic S, Broderick M, Iyer PM, Pinto-Grau M, Mohr K, Chipika R, Coffey A, Buxo T, Schuster C, Gavin B, Heverin M, Bede P, Pender N, Lalor EC, Muthuraman M, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B, Dysfunction of attention switching networks in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. , Neuroimage Clin, 22, 2019, p101707-Journal Article, 2019, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • Dukic S, McMackin R, Buxo T, Fasano A, Chipika R, Pinto-Grau M, Costello E, Schuster C, Hammond M, Heverin M, Coffey A, Broderick M, Iyer PM, Mohr K, Gavin B, Pender N, Bede P, Muthuraman M, Lalor EC, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B., Patterned functional network disruption in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. , Human Brain Mapping, 40, (16), 2019, p4827 - 4842Journal Article, 2019, URL
  • McMackin R, Dukic S, Costello E, Pinto-Grau M, Fasano A, Buxo T, Heverin M, Reilly R, Muthuraman M, Pender N, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B., Localization of Brain Networks Engaged by the Sustained Attention to Response Task Provides Quantitative Markers of Executive Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis., Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991), 2020Journal Article, 2020, DOI
  • Calvert GHM, McMackin R, Carson RG., Probing interhemispheric dorsal premotor-primary motor cortex interactions with threshold hunting transcranial magnetic stimulation., Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology, 131, (11), 2020, p2551-2560Journal Article, 2020, DOI
  • McMackin R, Dukic S, Costello E, Pinto-Grau M, Keenan O, Fasano A, Buxo T, Heverin M, Reilly RB, Pender N, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B, Sustained attention to response task-related beta oscillations relate to performance and provide a functional biomarker in ALS., Journal of neural engineering, 18, (2), 2021, p026006Journal Article, 2021, DOI
  • McMackin R, Dukic S, Costello E, Pinto-Grau M, McManus L, Broderick M, Chipika R, Iyer PM, Heverin M, Bede P, Muthuraman M, Pender N, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B. , Cognitive network hyperactivation and motor cortex decline correlate with ALS prognosis., Neurobiol Aging, 104, 2021, p57-70Journal Article, 2021
  • Costello E, Rooney J, Pinto-Grau M, Burke T, Elamin M, Bede P, McMackin R, Dukic S, Vajda A, Heverin M, Hardiman O, Pender N. , Cognitive reserve in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a population-based longitudinal study. , J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. , 92, (5), 2021, p460-465Journal Article, 2021, TARA - Full Text
  • Dukic S, McMackin R, Costello E, Metzger M, Buxo T, Fasano A, Chipika R, Pinto-Grau M, Schuster C, Hammond M, Heverin M, Coffey A, Broderick M, Iyer PM, Mohr K, Gavin B, McLaughlin R, Pender N, Bede P, Muthuraman M, van den Berg L, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B., Resting-state EEG reveals four subphenotypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis., Brain : a journal of neurology, (awab3222), 2021Journal Article, 2021, DOI
  • McMackin R, Bede P, Ingre C, Malaspina A, Hardiman O., Biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current status and future prospects., Nat Rev Neurol., 2023Journal Article, 2023, URL
  • Metzger M, Dukic S, McMackin R, Giglia E, Mitchell M, Bista S, Costello E, Peelo C, Tadjine Y, Sirenko V, Plaitano S, Coffey A, McManus L, Farnell Sharp A, Mehra P, Heverin M, Bede P, Muthuraman M, Pender N, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B., Functional network dynamics revealed by EEG microstates reflect cognitive decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis., Hum Brain Mapp., 2023Journal Article, 2023, DOI
  • Dukic S, Fasano A, Coffey A, Buxó T, McMackin R, Chipika R, Heverin M, Bede P, Muthuraman M, Lowery M, Carson RG, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B., Electroencephalographic ß-band oscillations in the sensorimotor network reflect motor symptom severity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis., Eur J Neurol., 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI , URL
  • Roisin McMackin, Yasmine Tadjine, Antonio Fasano, Matthew Mitchell, Mark Heverin, Friedemann Awiszus, Bahman Nasseroleslami, Richard G Carson, Orla Hardiman, Examining short interval intracortical inhibition with different transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced current directions in ALS, Clinical Neurophysiology Practice, 13, (9), 2024, p120 - 129Journal Article, 2024, DOI , URL , TARA - Full Text
  • M. Metzger, S. Dukic, R. McMackin, E. Giglia, M. Mitchell, S. Bista, E. Costello, C. Peelo, Y. Tadjine, V. Sirenko, L. McManus, T. Buxo, A. Fasano, R. Chipika, M. Pinto-Grau, C. Schuster, M. Heverin, A. Coffey, M. Broderick, P.M. Iyer, K. Mohr, B. Gavin, N. Pender, P. Bede, M. Muthuraman, O. Hardiman, B. Nasseroleslami, Distinct longitudinal changes in EEG measures reflecting functional network disruption in ALS cognitive phenotypes, Brain Topography, 2024Journal Article, 2024
  • Fasano A, Vacchiano V, Bonan L, McMackin R, Nasseroleslami B, Hardiman O, Liguori R., Neurophysiological biomarkers of networks impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis., Journal of neurology, 272, (8), 2025, p507Review Article, 2025, DOI
  • Novel approaches to EEG and MEG in motor neurone disease: IFCN Handbook Chapter. in, 2025, pp301-315 , [Dukic S, Govaarts R, Hillebrand A, de Visser M, Seeck M, McMackin R.]Book Chapter, 2025, DOI
  • Dukic S, van Veenhuijzen K, Westeneng HJ, McMackin R, van Eijk RPA, Sleutjes BTHM, Nasseroleslami B, Hardiman O, van den Berg LH., Altered EEG Response of the Parietal Network in Asymptomatic C9orf72 Carriers., Human brain mapping, 46, (11), 2025, pe70275Journal Article, 2025, DOI
  • Brain Communications, Oxford University Press, 2025Editorial Board, 2025
  • De Vocht J, Costello E, McHutchison C, Radakovic R, Foucher J, McMackin R, Peelo C, van den Berg L, Hardiman O, Van Damme P, Pender N, Abrahams S, Lulé D, first ICNALS Workshop., Prioritizing neuropsychological research and care in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): building an international neuropsychological framework for ALS., Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration, 2026, p1-4Journal Article, 2026
  • McMackin R., Price S., Slator G.R., Hardiman O., Kelly J.A., JAK4D, a first-in-class thyrotropin-releasing hormone analogue, reverses scopolamine-induced memory deficits, Brain Communications, 8, (1), 2026Journal Article, 2026, DOI
  • McMackin R., Tadjine Y., Suleyman N., Woods E., Plaitano S., Fasano A., Awiszus F., Hardiman O., Carson R.G., Long-interval intracortical inhibition is similar in people with and without amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Brain Communications, 8, (2), 2026Journal Article, 2026, DOI
  • O'Sullivan S, Tadjine Y, Palma GR, Suleyman N, Woods E, Fasano A, Walsh C, Awiszus F, Hardiman O, Carson RG, McMackin R., Very low-amplitude muscle activity increases probability of motor evoked potentials in healthy individuals and in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis., Experimental physiology, 2026Journal Article, 2026
  • Séamus O'Sullivan, Yasmine Tadjine, Gabriel R Palma, Narin Suleyman, Eva Woods, Antonio Fasano, Cathal Walsh, Friedemann Awiszus, Orla Hardiman, Richard G. Carson, Roisin McMackin, Very low amplitude muscle activity increases probability of motor evoked potentials in healthy individuals and in ALS - TMS-EMG dataset, 1, Zenodo, 2026Dataset, DOI
  • Meher Sabharwal, Narin Suleyman, Gabriel R. Palma, Roisin McMackin, Closed Eyes and Coil Size -- Effects on Motor Threshold and Intracortical Inhibition, measured with TMS, arXiv, 2026Preprint, URL

Research Expertise

The key direction of my research is to identify non-invasive, economical and accessible measures of the central nervous system changes which underpin disease or functional decline. Specifically, my team's research centres on the use of electrophysiology, including electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), to measure neural network function and dysfunction in health and neurodegenerative diseases. In doing so, we aim to (i) improve understanding of the neurophysiology captured by electrophysiological measurements, (ii) use electrophysiological measurements to progress understanding of disease mechanisms and (iii) identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and improve the outcome measures used to test potential therapies in disease. I have a particular interest in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease, and Huntington's Disease, and whether these electrophysiological measures can detect disease prior to symptom onset and reliably measure disease progression.
I am also engaged in preclinical neurotherapeutic research, in collaboration with Dr Julie Kelly, Associate Professor in TCD, in addition to consulting on the application of electrophysiology in international clinical trials for The Science Behind Ltd.

I am also passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion in medical academia and research. Within this I have several ongoing research projects:
1. Development and assessment of a taught laboratory practical to educate students on the importance of recognising and accounting for diversity in physiological research, working in collaboration with Prof. Sean Roe and Prof. Mary McGahon of Queen's University Belfast.
2. Development of an international working group to establish recommendations for the training of early career researchers who work with individuals with MND in a research context.
3. Investigation of gender-related differences in neurophysiological measures.
4. Identifying and characterising barriers to research participation in the Irish Huntington's Disease community.

  • Title
    Electromarkers of ALS: Detecting abnormal brain network function before ALS symptoms emerge in C9orf72 mutation-prevalent families.
    Summary
    It is well established that a long period of degeneration occurs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) before the symptoms begin. However, diagnosis of ALS currently depends on muscle weakness emerging. As ALS cannot be diagnosed until symptoms are apparent, potential drug treatments cannot be offered until the nervous system has already been extensively damaged. This dramatically limits the chances of the treatment halting or reversing the effects of ALS. A measurement that can detect ALS at an earlier stage, before clinically discernible signs emerge, is urgently needed. Those carrying long hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene are at greater risk of developing ALS and/or frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We and others have demonstrated that measurements of nervous system function, recorded with electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), can directly detect ALS/FTD-related changes in brain function prior to symptoms being detected. We now aim to perform a larger, more extensive study in individuals carrying the ALS/FTD-associated C9orf72 mutation, to determine the most informative brain function changes that are predictive of if/how the disease will emerge.
    Funding Agency
    ALS Finding A Cure
    Date From
    2023
    Date To
    2027

Genetics, Medical and biomedical engineering, Medical, health and life sciences, Psychology and cognitive sciences, Neurosciences, Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences,

Recognition

  • Julian Boldy Prize (TCD) 2013
  • Trinity College Dublin University Gold Medal 2016
  • ENCALS Young Investigator Award 2025
  • Neuroscience Ireland Early Career Investigator Award 2022
  • Trinity College Dublin Non-Foundation Scholarship 2014
  • Barbara Ryan Prize (TCD) 2015
  • Brainbox Research Challenge Award 2020
  • FENS-EJN Early Career Investigator Award 08/04/2026
  • Eli Lilly Chemistry Prize 2013
  • Omniscient Neurotechnology Infinitome Imaging Award 2021
  • Trinity College Dublin Inspiring Educator Award 31/03/2026
  • Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) member Present
  • European Huntington's Disease Network (EHDN) member Present
  • Women In Research Ireland - Committee member Present
  • Irish Electrophysiology Research Clinic - Co-founder and organiser 01/01/2025
  • Neuroscience Ireland - Education Officer and Trinity College Dublin representative Present
  • TMS MultiLab - Working Group Member 01/06/2025
  • UK Motor Neuron Disease Research Institute Independent Oversight Committee - International Committee Member 28/11/2025
  • Education Officer, Neuroscience Ireland
  • MND Association UK: From Cause to Early Intervention - Focus Group member 24/7/2025
  • PhD Viva External Examiner, King's College London 06/2024
  • Associate Editor of Brain Communications 05/2025
  • Leader of INITIATE (Implementing Necessary Initiation Training in ALS/MND Through Education) - Working group to develop consensus guidelines on training of MND Early Career Researchers 01/11/2025
  • European Initiative to Enhance the Current Sex as A Biological Variable Policy in Preclinical Biomedical Research - Working Group Member 19/05/2026
  • Target ALS VIBRANT (Virtual International Biorepository Alliance NeTwork) - Working Group Member 17/01/2026
  • Coordinator of Civic Engagement activities for the Discipline of Physiology 01/2024
  • Trinity College Dublin Representative of the Neuroscience Ireland Committee 08/2023