Lucy A. Clunes, Ph.D.
Vice President of Student Affairs; Professor,Microbiology, Immunology, and Pharmacology
Biography
Dr. Lucy A. Clunes is Vice President of Student Affairs and Professor of Pharmacology at St. George’s University (SGU). She earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Pharmacology from the University of Sheffield and a Ph.D. in Physiology & Pharmacology from the University of Dundee, followed by post-doctoral training at the Cystic Fibrosis Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since joining SGU in 2008, she has progressed from Assistant to Professor, serving as Assistant and Associate Deans in Basic Sciences, as Dean of Students (2021–2025), and now Vice President of Student Affairs.
Her leadership portfolio includes deputy chairing the Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Pharmacology; chairing curriculum review committees (BPM1, BPM2) and the Basic Sciences Curriculum Subcommittee; and directing large-scale academic advising and USMLE Step 1 initiatives that support thousands of learners annually.
Dr. Clunes’ research focuses on epithelial ion transport and mucociliary physiology, including CFTR regulation, adenosine signaling, and the effects of cigarette smoke on airway surface liquid homeostasis. Her publications appear in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, FASEB Journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, British Journal of Pharmacology, and SAGE Open Medicine. A multi-recipient of SGU’s Excellence in Teaching Awards and Exceptional Teaching recognitions, she also contributes to national and international dialogues on medical education, serving as a Faculty Council Member in Pharmacology for USMLERx/First Aid and as an invited panelist or presenter at professional conferences. She is committed to evidence-informed, inclusive student support systems; data-driven curricular design; and rigorous, clinically meaningful pharmacology education.
Contact Information
473-444-4175 ext. 3636/3164
Areas of Interest
- Epithelial ion transport and mucociliary physiology (CFTR, adenosine signaling)
- Effects of cigarette smoke on airway epithelial function
- Pharmacology education and curriculum design; Step 1 preparation outcomes
- Evidence synthesis (systematic reviews) across clinical and translational topics
Affiliations
- St. George’s University, School of Medicine (Vice President of Student Affairs; Professor of Pharmacology)
- British Society of Pharmacology — Member
- American Association of Clinical Anatomists — Member
- USMLERx / First Aid — Faculty Council Member (Pharmacology)
Selected Publications
- Clunes LA, Coakley RD, Sun H, et al. 17β-Estradiol inhibits calcium-dependent ASL homeostasis in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia. J Clin Invest. 2008;118(12):4025–4035.
- Clunes LA, Davies CM, Coakley RD, et al. Cigarette smoke exposure induces CFTR internalization and airway surface liquid dehydration. FASEB J. 2012;26(2):533–545.
- Garland AL, Walton WG, Coakley RD, et al. Molecular basis for pH-dependent mucosal dehydration in cystic fibrosis airways. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013;110(40):15973–15978.
- Watson MJ, Worthington EN, Clunes LA, et al. Defective adenosine-stimulated cAMP production in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia. FASEB J. 2011;25(9):2996–3003.
- Chambers LA, Constable M, Clunes MT, et al. Adenosine-evoked Na+ transport in human airway epithelial cells. Br J Pharmacol. 2006;149:43–55.
- Rollins BM, Burn M, Coakley RD, Chambers LA, Hirsh AJ, Clunes MT, et al. A2B adenosine receptors regulate the mucus clearance component of lung defense. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2008;39(2):190–197.
- Clunes LA, Bridges A, Alexis NE, Tarran R. In vivo vs. in vitro airway surface liquid nicotine following cigarette smoke exposure. J Anal Toxicol. 2008;32(3):201–207.
- Clunes LA, McMillan-Castanares N, Mehta N, et al. Epithelial vectorial ion transport in cystic fibrosis: dysfunction, measurement, pharmacotherapy. SAGE Open Med. 2020;8:2050312120933807.
- Slouha E, Segal J, White C, Pallotta T, Ghosh S, Clunes LA, Kollias TF. Ovarian reserve after laparoscopic drilling for PCOS: Systematic review. Cureus. 2024;16(6):e62092.
- Farahbod K, Slouha E, Gerts A, Rezazadah A, Clunes LA, Kollias TF. Diet intervention effects on gut microbiota in T2DM: Systematic review. Cureus. 2024;16(3):e56737.
Selected Projects
- Mechanisms of cigarette smoke–induced CFTR internalization and airway surface liquid dehydration
- Adenosine signaling and epithelial ion transport in innate airway defense
- Medical education innovation: peer-led MCQ sessions; Step 1 readiness/outcomes; curriculum redesign
- Systematic reviews in women’s health, endocrinology, gastroenterology, dermatology (2023–2024)
SVM Research Faculty
View the SVM faculty involved in research and SVM Adjunct and Cooperating faculty who collaborate with SVM researchers. SVM faculty also collaborate with many other researchers at institutions in North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. These collaborations are reflected within the individual SVM faculty research profile.
