Dr. Margaret Lucitt

Dr. Margaret Lucitt

Assistant Professor, Pharmacology & Therapeutics

3531896 1565https://www.tcd.ie/research/profiles/?profile=lucittm

Biography

Margaret graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from University College Cork, followed by a PhD in Cardiovascular Pharmacology under the mentorship of Prof. Garret FitzGerald at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. This was followed by a postdoctoral position at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland where she received a fellowships from the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology. Research interests to date include the use of animal models (mouse and zebrafish) to investigate inflammatory drivers of atherosclerosis, obesity and hypertension. The development of clinical diagnostic assays in the cardiovascular area is also an area of research, in particular to better assess antiplatelet therapy in thrombotic diseases. Currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics in the School of Medicine she is involved in teaching pharmacology to dental and medical students through lectures and small group problem based learning. Ongoing research is to establish a strong cardiovascular research group to investigate novel molecular targets in this area.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • Bruen R, Curley S, Kajani S, Crean D, O'Reilly ME, Lucitt MB, Godson CG, McGillicuddy FC, Belton O., Liraglutide dictates macrophage phenotype in apolipoprotein E null mice during early atherosclerosis., Cardiovascular Diabetology, 16, 2017Journal Article, 2017, DOI
  • Boland AJ, Gangadharan N, Kavanagh P, Hemeryck L, Kieran J, Barry M, Walsh PT, Lucitt M., Simvastatin Suppresses Interleukin Iβ Release in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Stimulated With Cholesterol Crystals., J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther., 2018Journal Article, 2018, DOI
  • Heart BMJ(ed.), Red yeast rice extract reduces IL-1β secretion from PBMCS when treated with cholesterol crystals., 2018, A5 pProceedings of a Conference, 2018, DOI , URL
  • Heart BMJ(ed.), Cholesterol crystal secretion of IL-1β from PBMCS is reduced with simvastatin treatment., 2018, A5 pProceedings of a Conference, 2018, DOI , URL
  • Kavanagh P, Wash PT, Lucitt M. , Red yeast rice extract reduces interleukin-1 beta secretion from peripheral blood mononuclear cells when treated with cholesterol crystals., British Pharmacology Society Annual Meeting London Dec 2017, London UK, 2017Poster, 2017, DOI , URL
  • Gangadharan N, Kavanagh P , Walsh PT1, Hemeryck L, Kieran J, Barry M, Lucitt M. , Simvastatin reduces IL-1β secretion from PBMCs when treated with cholesterol crystals., British Pharmacology Society Annual Meeting London Dec 2016, London UK, 2016Poster, 2016, DOI , URL
  • Hernandez-Santana YE, Giannoudaki E, Leon G, Lucitt MB, Walsh PT., Current perspectives on the interleukin-1 family as targets for inflammatory disease., European journal of immunology, 2019Journal Article, 2019, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • Garret A. FitzGerald, Ying Yu, Margaret Lucitt, 'Antagonsim of PGF2alpha Receptor to Treat Hyertension Characterized by Activation of the Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone System in association with the trustees of the University Of Pennsylvania', USPTO, US2011/0172308A1, 2011, University of PennsylvaniaPatent, 2011, URL
  • N Gangadharan, P Kavanagh, PT Wash, L Hemeryck, J Kieran, M Barry1, M Lucitt, Cholesterol crystal secretion of IL-1β from PBMCS is reduced with simvastatin treatment., Scottish Cardiovascular Conference 2018, Dublin , Feb 2018, 2018Poster, 2018, DOI
  • PV Kavanagh, PT Walsh, M Lucitt., Red Yeast Rice Extract Reduces Il-1b Secretion from PBMCS when Treated with Cholesterol Crystals, Scottish Cardiovascular Forum, Dublin , Feb 2018, 2018Poster, 2018, DOI , URL
  • Dr Margaret Lucitt, Dr Paul Spiers and Professor Martina Hennessy, The Scottish Cardiovascular Forum , Feb 2018, 2018, Dublin Meetings /Conferences Organised, 2018
  • Emmanouil Lioudakis, Eirini Giannoudaki, Patrick T Walsh, Margaret Lucitt, The effects of Aquamin a marine mineral supplement from red algae on metabolic function., Irish Association of Pharmacologists 20th Annual Meeting, NUI Galway, Nov 2019, 2019Poster, 2019
  • Interleukin- 1 (IL-1) in, Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology 3rd Edition, 2022, [Margaret Lucitt, Patrick Walsh]Book Chapter, 2022, DOI
  • British Pharmacological Society E Journal(ed.), Red yeast rice extract reduces interleukin-1 beta secretion from peripheral blood mononuclear cells when treated with cholesterol crystals., 2017Proceedings of a Conference, 2017, DOI , URL
  • British Pharmacological Society E Journal(ed.), Simvastatin reduces IL-1β secretion from PBMCs when treated with cholesterol crystals., , 2016Proceedings of a Conference, 2016
  • Yu, Y; Lucitt, M ; Price, T; FitzGerald, G., Regulation of blood pressure by prostaglandin F-2a receptor gene (FP), Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 2008;28:e32-e149, 2008Published Abstract, 2008, DOI
  • Lucitt, MB; Price, TS; Pizarro, A ; Wu, W ; Yocum, AY; Seiler, C; Pack, M; Blair, IA; FitzGerald, GA ; Grosser, T, A mass spectrometric analysis of embryonic zebrafish proteins, Circulation, 116 (16), 2007Published Abstract, 2007, URL
  • Cheng, Y; Lucitt, M; FitzGerald, GA , Acceleration of the thrombotic response to vascular injury by selective inhibition of COX-2 or prostacyclin receptor deletion in vivo, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 24 (5), E1, 2004Poster, 2004, DOI
  • Grosser, T; Lucitt, M; Fries, S; MacLea, K; Blair, IA; FitzGerald, GA , Genomic and proteomic analyses of the vascular response to nicotine, Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 24 (5) E49, 2004Published Abstract, 2004, DOI
  • Egan, KM; Wang, M; Lucitt, M; Lawson, J; FitzGerald, GA, Thromboxane A(2) receptor antagonism and selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 in atherosclerosis, Circulation, 110 (17) p177, 2004Published Abstract, 2004
  • lUCITT, XXX, DDD, 2011Oral Presentation, 2011
  • Galvin S, Lucitt M., Student Learning Performance and Satisfaction With a Flipped Classroom in Undergraduate Dental Pharmacology Education., European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe, 2025Journal Article, 2025, DOI
  • Sakshi Hans, Emmanouil Lioudakis, Heather Loughnane, Shane O'Connell, Denise O'Gormon, Margaret Lucitt, Investigating the atherosclerotic immunomodulatory potential of the multi-mineral supplement aquamin, 183, (3), 2026Conference Paper, 2026, DOI
  • Sakshi Hans, Emmanouil Lioudakis, Heather Loughnane, Shane O"connell, Margaret Lucitt, Investigating the immuno-modulatory potential of the multi-mineral supplement aquamin, Atherosclerosis, European Atherosclerosis Congress 2026, Glasgow UK, May 2025, 407, 2025Conference Paper, 2025, DOI
  • Emmanouil Lioudakis, Margaret Lucitt, Statin disruption of cholesterol metabolism and altered innate inflammatory responses in atherosclerosis, Immunometabolism, 3, (3), 2021Review Article, 2021, DOI
  • O'Brien S, Kent NJ, Lucitt M, Ricco AJ, McAtamney C, Kenny D, Meade G, Effective hydrodynamic shaping of sample streams in a microfluidic parallel-plate flow-assay device: matching whole blood dynamic viscosity., IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering, 59, (2), 2012, p374-82Journal Article, 2012, DOI
  • Yu Y, Lucitt MB, Stubbe J, Cheng Y, Friis UG, Hansen PB, Jensen BL, Smyth EM, FitzGerald GA, Prostaglandin F2alpha elevates blood pressure and promotes atherosclerosis., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106, (19), 2009, p7985-90Journal Article, 2009, DOI
  • Lucitt MB, Price TS, Pizarro A, Wu W, Yocum AK, Seiler C, Pack MA, Blair IA, Fitzgerald GA, Grosser T, Analysis of the zebrafish proteome during embryonic development., Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP, 7, (5), 2008, p981-94Journal Article, 2008, DOI
  • Price TS, Lucitt MB, Wu W, Austin DJ, Pizarro A, Yocum AK, Blair IA, FitzGerald GA, Grosser T, EBP, a program for protein identification using multiple tandem mass spectrometry datasets., Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP, 6, (3), 2007, p527-36Journal Article, 2007, DOI
  • Zhou W, Blackwell TS, Goleniewska K, O'Neal JF, Fitzgerald GA, Lucitt M, Breyer RM, Peebles RS, Prostaglandin I2 analogs inhibit Th1 and Th2 effector cytokine production by CD4 T cells., Journal of leukocyte biology, 81, (3), 2007, p809-17Journal Article, 2007, DOI
  • Egan KM, Wang M, Fries S, Lucitt MB, Zukas AM, Puré E, Lawson JA, FitzGerald GA, Cyclooxygenases, thromboxane, and atherosclerosis: plaque destabilization by cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition combined with thromboxane receptor antagonism., Circulation, 111, (3), 2005, p334-42Journal Article, 2005, DOI
  • M. Lucitt, S. O'Brien, G. Meade, L. Basabe-Desmonts, M. Somers, T. Ricco, D. Kenny. , Real Time Kinetic Analysis of Platelet Thrombus Formation, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 179, (7), 2010Journal Article, 2010, DOI
  • Lucitt MB, O'Brien S, Cowman J, Meade G, Basabe-Desmonts L, Somers M, Kent N, Ricco AJ, Kenny D, Assaying the efficacy of dual-antiplatelet therapy: use of a controlled-shear-rate microfluidic device with a well-defined collagen surface to track dynamic platelet adhesion., Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, 405, (14), 2013, p4823-34Journal Article, 2013, DOI
  • Emmanouil Lioudakis, Sakshi Hans, Denise O'Gorman, Shane O'Connell, Margaret Lucitt, Aquamin a marine derived multi mineral attenuates toll like receptor mediated inflammatory responses in macrophages., bioRxiv, 2026, p2026.01. 1-Journal Article, DOI

Research Expertise

As Principal Investigator, I lead an independent research programme at the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James"s Campus, investigating the inflammatory mechanisms that underpin cardiovascular disease. My research focuses on understanding how immune and inflammatory pathways contribute to cardiovascular pathology, with the aim of identifying novel therapeutic targets and improving patient outcomes.

A key indicator of the strength and sustainability of my research programme is my success in securing competitive funding. To date, I have attracted approximately €600,000 in research funding, including over €500,000 since 2018. As lead investigator, I secured an Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP) Award (2023), industry-funded projects with Marigot Ltd (2018, 2021 and 2026), a Higher Education Authority BOOST Capital Equipment Award (2024), and COVID-19 PhD Stipend Support funding (2022). These awards have supported the development of my research team, including a postdoctoral research fellow, research assistant, PhD student, and numerous Master's and undergraduate research projects.

I have maintained a sustained programme of funding applications to national agencies, including the Irish Research Council, Health Research Board, Enterprise Ireland, Higher Education Authority and Research Ireland, as well as charitable foundations, professional societies and industry partners. Recent applications to the Research Ireland Innovate for Ireland Programme (2025) and Investigator Programme (2026) were positively reviewed, demonstrating the competitiveness and relevance of my research agenda.

My independent research leadership is reflected in a strong publication record. Since establishing my research group at Trinity College Dublin, I have published 15 peer-reviewed papers as senior and/or corresponding author. These include original research articles in Frontiers in Immunology (2026) and the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2018), and an invited contribution to a special issue on cardiovascular immunometabolism in Immunometabolism (2021). In recognition of my expertise, I was also invited to contribute a chapter to the Encyclopedia of Molecular Pharmacology (3rd Edition, 2020).

I actively disseminate my research nationally and internationally. In 2025, I delivered oral presentations at the British Pharmacological Society Annual Meeting, the Irish Pharmacological Society Meeting, and the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress. My presentation at the British Pharmacological Society Meeting received the award for Best Oral Presentation in its scientific session, providing external recognition of the quality and impact of my research.

I have developed a strong collaborative research network, including an Enterprise Ireland-funded collaboration with Professor Loscher (DCU) and productive partnerships with researchers at University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, resulting in publications in Cardiovascular Diabetology and the European Journal of Immunology.

My expertise is recognised through invitations to serve as a PhD examiner, grant reviewer for the UK Medical Research Council, and reviewer for leading journals including the British Journal of Pharmacology, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Scientific Reports and Immunometabolism.

Research training and mentorship are central to my academic contribution. I have successfully supervised a PhD student to completion and have mentored undergraduate and medical students through programmes including the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme.

Collectively, these achievements demonstrate a sustained, independent and externally funded research programme characterised by research leadership, scholarly productivity, successful mentorship, international dissemination, collaborative engagement and growing peer recognition.

  • Title
    To investigate the effects of AquaminTM supplementation on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.
    Summary
    Calcium supplementation agents are the 8th most prescribed product under the general medical card scheme in Ireland. While these agents are overwhelmingly prescribed to promote bone health, there is accumulating evidence to indicate that they may also have more wide ranging health benefits. AquaminTM is a natural multi-mineral complex, which contains calcium as its major component. AquaminTM supplements, known to improve bone health, may also exhibit cardioprotective effects through its lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory properties. Here we aim to investigate the role of AquaminTM supplementation on the pathogenesis of metabolic and cardiovascular disease in vivo using established preclinical models of disease (Aim1), while also investigating the precise mechanisms through which AquaminTM modulates inflammation in the context of metabolic dysfunction and consequent atherosclerosis (Aim2)
    Funding Agency
    Marigot Ltd Industry Research Collaboration 2018
    Date From
    Sept 2018
    Date To
    Sept 2022
  • Title
    Preclinical evaluation of a novel therapeutic strategy for obesity driven psoriasis
    Summary
    The studies outlined in this proposal are aimed at investigating a biological pathway which may play an important role in driving the development of psoriasis among obese patients. Based upon new discoveries we have identified a protein known as IL-36 which is elevated among obese individuals and is emerging as an important orchestrator of skin inflammation in psoriasis. We will evaluate whether IL-36 plays a critical linking role in driving psoriasis among obese individuals and dermine whether blocking its activity represents a new therapeutic strategy for treating these patients.
    Funding Agency
    Health Research Board
  • Title
    To characterise the functional role of CD226 (DNAM-1) in platelets
    Summary
    Platelets play a major role in both haemostasis and thrombosis (1). Although under healthy homeostatic conditions these anucleate cell derivatives of bone marrow megakaryocytes are relatively inert and short lived, they become rapidly activated upon exposure at sites of vascular injury and inflammation, whereupon they are transformed into highly adherent bodies and play a central role in primary haemostasis through the development of a 'platelet plug'. As such, platelets, and in particular the pathways, which regulate their activation, are critically important in the context of atherosclerotic diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke.
    Thrombotic clot formation is a dynamic three-stage process with initiation, extension and stabilization phases. Recent data has defined the role for molecules in thrombus stability such as the Eph receptor tyrosine kinases(2), Semaphorin 4D(3) and Gas 6(4). Other molecules which support thrombus stability include the CTX family such as the junctional adhesional molecules (JAM-A and JAM-C)(5). Despite significant advances in our understanding of platelet biology, many platelet cell surface proteins have been identified whose function remains undetermined, but may exert an important role in platelet behaviour (6). This proposal aims to define the function of one such protein, CD226 (DNAM-1), a member of the CTX family, is a cell surface protein with 2 Ig extracellular domains, a single transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail (7). Our preliminary data strongly suggests that DNAM-1 has a novel functional role in platelet aggregation and hence thrombus formation.
    The study has two specific aims; 1) To characterise the functional role of DNAM-1 on platelets and 2) To investigate DNAM-1 related signalling events in platelets.
    Funding Agency
    Haematology association of Ireland
    Date From
    Feb 2015
    Date To
    Feb 2016

Cardiovascular medicine and haematology, Medical and biomedical engineering,

Recognition

  • Medical Students Second Year Research Project 1st place 2011
  • Haematology Association of Ireland Novartis Fellowship 2015
  • Higher Education Authority Covid PhD Stipend Support 2022
  • Higher Education Authority Research Capital Equipment 2024
  • Provost PhD Project Award 2018
  • Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship 2010
  • Laidlaw Scholars Leadership & Research Programme 2024
  • Scottish Cardiovascular Forum
  • Haematology Association of Ireland
  • International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis
  • Irish Association of Pharmacologists
  • British Pharmacological Society
  • American Heart Association
  • Dental Schools Council Educational UK - sub working committee. This involved engaging with other dental pharmacology educators across dental schools in the UK (Newcastle University) and Ireland (UCC) in the development of guidance on the teaching of pharmacology.
  • I am an invited reviewer for a number of internationally recognised journals including the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology , Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis and , British Journal of Pharmacology, Scientific Reports and IUBMB. I have reviewed grants for the Medical Research Council UK 2019. I have present at departmental research progress meetings which offer CPD credits to medical staff within the department and St James's Hospital The School of Medicine hosts an annual Transition Year Programme which runs for one week during the academic year. I have participated in this programme in showcasing through hands on demonstration of medical laboratory research to these students.