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Staff Profiles

Dr. Louise Horrigan

BSC, MSC, PHD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
Dept. of Physiology
University of Galway
E: louise.horrigan@universityofgalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

I have been employed as a Lecturer Above-The-Bar (Assistant Professor, 0.5FTE) in the Discipline of Physiology since 2005, and I previously worked as a fixed term lecturer in Pharmacology & Therapeutics, NUI Galway. My main role within Physiology is in Teaching & Learning, where I am involved with providing lectures and laboratory classes at undergraduate and postgraduate level to students in Science, Medicine, and Health Science courses. I also supervise student research projects, where I promote experiential learning and research-driven opportunities for students. I have a strong interest in pedagogy, and in the development and implementation of strategies for student success. 
Reviewer profile: publons.com/a/691762/
Orcid ID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6204-9702

Research Interests

My research interests lie in the following fields:
  • Physiology Education
  • Bioimpedance Analysis
  • Osteoporosis
  • The Physiological Functions of Dietary Agents

Reviewer profile: publons.com/a/691762/
Orcid ID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6204-9702



Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Staff-Student Interactions in a Physiology Laboratory Class: What do they involve and are they important?'
Horrigan, L.A. (2021) 'Staff-Student Interactions in a Physiology Laboratory Class: What do they involve and are they important?'. Advances in physiology education, 45 (3):607-619 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Tackling the threshold concepts in physiology: what is the role of the laboratory class?'
Horrigan, LA (2018) 'Tackling the threshold concepts in physiology: what is the role of the laboratory class?'. Advances in physiology education, 42 :507-515 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Blueberry juice causes potent relaxation of rat aortic rings via the activation of potassium channels and the H2S pathway'
Horrigan, LA,Holohan, CA,Lawless, GA,Murtagh, MA,Williams, CT,Webster, CM (2013) 'Blueberry juice causes potent relaxation of rat aortic rings via the activation of potassium channels and the H2S pathway'. Food & Function, 4 :392-400 [DOI] [Details]
(2006) 'Immunomodulatory effects of caffeine: Friend or foe?'
Horrigan, LA,Kelly, JP,Connor, TJ (2006) 'Immunomodulatory effects of caffeine: Friend or foe?'. Pharmacology And Therapeutics, :877-892 [DOI] [Details]
(2004) 'Caffeine suppresses TNF-alpha production via activation of the cyclic AMP/protein kinase A pathway'
Horrigan, LA,Kelly, JP,Connor, TJ (2004) 'Caffeine suppresses TNF-alpha production via activation of the cyclic AMP/protein kinase A pathway'. International Immunopharmacology, 4 :1409-1417 [DOI] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2003) PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CYTOKINE SOCIETY ANNUAL MEE
HORRIGAN, L et al. (2003) Caffeine inhibits monocyte and neutrophil chemotaxis at concentrations relevant to normal human consumption PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CYTOKINE SOCIETY ANNUAL MEE , pp.49-54 [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Saliva Interacts with Hawthorn Juice to Reduce its Antioxidant Capacity'
Killeen, S.; Finnerty, B.; Horrigan, L.A. (2017) 'Saliva Interacts with Hawthorn Juice to Reduce its Antioxidant Capacity' Archives of the International Society of Antioxidants in Nutrition and Health (ISANH), 5 (2) :26-28. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2024) Scholarship of Teaching & Learning: Getting Started with Research,
Louise A. Horrigan (2024) A Look Behing The Scenes of the Physiology Laboratory Class. [Invited Oral Presentation], Scholarship of Teaching & Learning: Getting Started with Research, University of Galway , 25-JUN-24. [Details]
(2024) Irish DXA Society Annual Meeting,
Louise A. Horrigan (2024) A Role for Bioimpedance Analysis in Point-of-Care Identification of Fracture Risk. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish DXA Society Annual Meeting, University of Galway , 10-MAY-24. [Details]
(2022) ENLIGHT Teaching & Learning Conference 2022,
Louise A. Horrigan, Catherine Loughrey (2022) The Use of Physiology Home Laboratory Kits to Maximise Student Inclusivity. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], ENLIGHT Teaching & Learning Conference 2022, Online with Gottingen, Germany , 16-NOV-22. [Details]
(2016) Researching the Role of Laboratory Practical Classes in Physiology,
Louise A. Horrigan (2016) As part of the CELT symposium 'Theory & Practice: Researching Teaching & Learning in Higher Education' I provided an oral presentation on my ongoing work to research the role of lab practical classes for science students in Physiology. [Oral Presentation], Researching the Role of Laboratory Practical Classes in Physiology, NUI Galway , 17-JUN-16 - 17-JUN-16. [Details]

Abstract

  Year Publication
(2005) Caffeine and its major metabolite paraxanthine suppress human lymphocyte function.(Abstract).
Horrigan, L.A., Kelly, J.P., Connor, T.J. (2005) Caffeine and its major metabolite paraxanthine suppress human lymphocyte function.(Abstract). Abstract [Details]
(2003) Caffeine consumption may inhibit human neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis. (Abstract).
Horrigan, L.A., Diamond, M., Connor, T.J., Kelly, J.P. (2003) Caffeine consumption may inhibit human neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis. (Abstract). Abstract [Details]
(2003) Caffeine and paraxanthine suppress human TNF-a production via a cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent mechanism. (Abstract).
Horrigan, L.A., Kelly, J.P., Connor, T.J. (2003) Caffeine and paraxanthine suppress human TNF-a production via a cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent mechanism. (Abstract). Abstract [Details]
(2001) Dietary manipulation of essential fatty acids alters macrophage and lymphocyte cytokine production in the rat. (Abstract).
Horrigan, L.A.; Connor, T.J.; Kelly, J.P.; Leonard, B.E. (2001) Dietary manipulation of essential fatty acids alters macrophage and lymphocyte cytokine production in the rat. (Abstract). Abstract [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2024 Award for Teaching Excellence University of Galway College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Science
2021 Transforming Teaching & Learning for Student Success National Forum for Enhancement of Teaching & Learning

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Irish DXA Society Collaboration in Research for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis 01-JAN-24 / 01-JAN-25
Galway Neuroscience Centre Collaboration in Neuroscience 01-JAN-24 / 01-JAN-25

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Galway Neuroscience Centre Committee Collaboration in Neuroscience 01-JAN-24 /
Curriculum Committee Chairperson 01-SEP-18 / 01-JUN-22
College of Science Promotion of STEM Committee Member 01-SEP-15 / 01-JUN-20

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Physiology, NUI Galway Lecturer Above The Bar 01-AUG-05 /
Pharmacology & Therapeutics, NUI Galway Fixed Term Lecturer 03-SEP-01 / 01-AUG-05
NUI Maynooth Research Assistant 01-FEB-00 / 01-FEB-01

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2021 NUI Galway MA in Academic Practice Academic Practice
2004 NUI Galway PhD Pharmacology
2000 NUI Galway MASTERS OF SCIENCE Neuropharmacology
1998 NUI Galway BACHELOR OF SCIENCE Physiology

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Outreach Brain Awareness Week /
Outreach Body Composition Analysis for Community Health Promotion 25-JUN-22 /
Outreach START 2024 /
Outreach 'When Science Meets Medicine' Youth Academy 04-FEB-17 / 03-FEB-18
Outreach Healthy Heroes Schools Event 09-NOV-17 / 09-NOV-17
Outreach Speaker at NUI Galway Mini-Med School 27-JAN-16 / 27-JAN-16
Outreach Energetic Food Schools Workshop 01-SEP-15 / 01-DEC-17

Teaching Interests

I teach Physiology within a broad range of undergraduate and taught postgraduate courses, including Medicine, Science, Biomedical Science, Podiatry, Environmental Health & Safety Systems and Medical Physics. As well as teaching all of the fundamentals of Physiology, my particular teaching interests are in the areas of Haematology and Immunology. I have an interest in the promotion and development of lab practical teaching within the discipline, and I also supervise research projects for undergraduate and taught postgraduate students. I am currently module lead for the following modules: Fundamentals of Physiology (SI2103) and Immunology (SI408). Having completed the MA in Academic Practice, and with published research in education, I have a strong interest in pedagogy and in the development and implementation of strategies for student success. 

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
Semester 1 Introduction to Physiology SI2101
Semester 2 Research Project SI435
Semester 2 Systems Physiology SI2102
Semester 2 Immunology SI3106
Semester 1 Fundamentals of Physiology SI2103
Semester 2 Applied Pathophysiology PO2101
Semester 1 Principles of Physiology MD137
Semester 1 Science Communication SI4102
Semester 1 Human Body Function SI317
Semester 1 Immunology SI408