Bio
Dr. Clunes received a BSc (Hons) in Biology from the University of Stirling, Scotland, UK, 1995 and a PhD in 1998 from the University of Dundee, Scotland, UK.
Prior to accepting a position as Associate Professor with St. George’s University in Sept. 2008, in the Department of Physiology/Neuroscience, Dr. Clunes worked as a Research Associate with the Cystic Fibrosis Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His work there included the development of a new lung model for drug development – and the registration of that model as an invention with UNC Office of technology Development.
Throughout Dr. Clunes career in science, he has been involved in the elucidation of the mechanisms regulating ion transport in mammalian epithelial cells. The majority of Dr. Clunes work has been based on cellular transduction and the control of fluid/ion secretion and reabsorption, processes vital in osmoregulation and in the normal functioning of many organ systems, e.g. mucociliary clearance and respiration in lungs, chloride cell osmoregulation in fish, motility in gut and thermoregulatory control by sweat glands. To date Dr. Clunes work has involved gaining general insight into the normal physiology of animal epithelia (especially human), and in understanding pathological conditions affecting epithelial function, esp. cystic fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease and anhydrosis/hyperhidrosis.
Research methodologies Dr. Clunes is competent in include cellular imaging and spectrofluorescence (e.g. Ca2+ and pH measurement), immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology (Patch Clamp and Ussing chamber), molecular techniques, e.g. RT-PCR, Western and Northern blotting, primary and immortalised cell culture, mouse colony management – transgenic generation, and small animal surgery.
Awards received by Dr. Clunes include Geroge John Livanos Prize Studentship while in attendance at the University of Dundee. Patents awarded include Principle Discloser on NCI-H441 (CFTR, R117H, G551D, F508) model as registered with UNC Office of Technology Development (May 2008)
Research & Interests
- Epithelial Ion Transport
- Mucociliary Clearance
- Cellular Transduction
- Airway Pharmacology
Affiliations
- Elected Member of Physiological Society 2000
- Member of British Association of Lung Research
- American Physiological Society
Journal Articles
- Clunes, M. T. and R. C. Boucher (2011). Introduction to section I: overview of approaches to study cystic fibrosis pathophysiology. Methods Mol Biol 742: 3-14.
- Clunes MT and Boucher RC. (2008). Front-runners for pharmacotherapeutic correction of the airway ion transport defect in cystic fibrosis. Current Opinion in Pharmacology 8(3): 292-299
- Clunes MT, Bove PF and Boucher RC. (2008). Integration of epithelial ion transport activities into airway surface liquid volume and ion composition regulation. In The Pulmonary Epithelium in Health and Disease, Editor David Proud, John Wiley and Sons Ltd England.
- Clunes MT and Boucher RC. (2007). Cystic Fibrosis: The mechanisms of pathogenesis of an inherited lung disorder. Drug Discovery Today; Disease Mechanisms 4(2): 63-72
- Chambers LA, Constable M, Clunes MT, Olver RE, Ko WH, Inglis SK and Wilson SM. (2006). Adenosine-evoked Na+ transport in human airway epithelial cells. Br J Pharmacol. 149(1):43-55.
Selected Projects
- Clunes, MT, (Co-PI) Bovell, D. (2000). Stimulus-secretion coupling in human eccrine sweat glands. Unilever plc (GBP)
- Clunes, MT, (Co-PI) Inglis, S. (2003). small equipment grant. TENOVUS (GBP)
- Clunes, MT. (2007). Development of a new human lung model for high throughput drug screening. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, pilot grant
- Clunes, MT. (2007). ATP analogs and their metabolism in human airway cultures. Research Triangle Biotechnology Grant