Biography

Dr. Natalie Hopkins is an experienced Lecturer in Physiology in the School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences and Health. She is a graduate of the University of Ulster and she also holds a PhD from University College Dublin. She teaches on 13 degree programmes and delivers 10 modules within the school of biological and health sciences. Her area of research investigates the role of nitric oxide, the superoxide pathway and gene therapy in chronic lung infection in vivo and the stereological morphometric measurement of pulmonary angiogenesis.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science, Dip. Industrial Studies., PhD (Physiology)

Research Themes

Nitric oxide and lung injury infection

Keywords

Nitric oxide, gene therapy in chronic lung infection; stereological morphometry; pulmonary angiogenesis.

Key Publications

Nichol, A., O’Croinin, D., Naughton, F., Hopkins, N.O., Boylan, J., Mc Loughlin P. Hypercapnic acidosis reduces oxidative reactions in endotoxin induced lung injury. Anesthesiology. 2010 Jul; 113(1):116-25.

Hopkins, N., Gunning, Y., O’Croinin, D., Laffey, J.G. and Mc Loughlin P. Anti-inflammatory effect of augmented nitric oxide production in chronic lung infection. J Pathol. 2006 Jun; 209(2):198-205.

Hopkins, N. and Mc Loughlin, P. (2002). The structural basis of pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung disease: remodelling, rarefaction or angiogenesis? J. Anat., 201: 335-348.

Professional Memberships

• Full member of the Royal Society of Biology.

• Full member of the American Thoracic Society.

• Full member of the Physiological Society of London.

• Full member of the European Respiratory Society.

• Full member of the Irish Thoracic Society.

External Activities/Outreach

• Reviewer for International Foundation programme DIT.

• Reviewer for re-accreditation of Irish Association of Respiratory Scientists and Review of CPD Certificate in Spirometry.

• Reviewer for School of Management Whole School Review, DIT.

Research and Academic Interests

Dr. Natalie Hopkins completed a PhD in UCD in 2000 (Thesis Title: “The expression of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection”), and subsequently worked as a Post-doctoral research fellow in the Dept. of Medicine and Therapeutics and the Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research for a period of 5 years.

Previously awarded: Post-doctoral Research Fellowship from the Health Research Board of Ireland in May 2005; Post-doctoral Research fellowship from the Dublin Molecular Medicine Centre in February 2001; Full scholarship from the Health Research Board of Ireland in September 1996, to study for a doctoral degree in UCD.

Involved in the delivery and curriculum design of the following modules: Organ Systems Physiology, Control and Integrative Physiology, Medical Physiology, Clinical Sciences Anatomy and Physiology, Biological Basis of Disease, Human Body and Disease, Pathophysiology, and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease.

Teaching extends from the early stages of these degree programmes, through to the final years. Through her large group teaching she has significant experience in group assessment, peer assessment and two-stage assignments. Currently involved in LEAF (Learning from and Engaging with Assessment and Feedback) project.