Dr John Mulvihill, Bernal PI and Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the 51社区, leads research on how soft tissues respond to mechanical forces. His work in cellular mechanobiology explores how cells sense and react to physical changes, with applications for Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and traumatic brain injury.
Dr Mulvihill directs biomedical engineering programs, chairs UL鈥檚 Research Ethics Governance Committee, and is conference chair for the Royal Academy of Medicine Ireland BioEngineering meeting in 2026. A former Marie Curie Fellow, he continues to advance understanding of tissue mechanics.
A major focus of his research is the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain. While meningitis is widely known, the meninges themselves were long thought to be passive. Mulvihill鈥檚 work shows they play an active role in immune and inflammatory responses. Since 2017, his team has mapped their mechanical properties and revealed how they respond to changes in pressure and fluid flow, acting like an alarm system during injury.
This research could transform recovery prediction after head injuries. By studying how meningeal cells react to stress, Mulvihill identifies biomarkers that may guide concussion management and treatment. His goal is to create a lab-on-a-chip model to simulate disease and injury in controlled conditions.
The meninges consist of three layers: dura mater, arachnoid mater and pia mater. Mulvihill鈥檚 findings confirm their distinct properties, from the tough outer dura to the delicate pia near the brain. His team has also developed the first simple in vitro models, enabling new studies on brain interaction in conditions like Alzheimer鈥檚 and concussion.
Contrary to common belief, the brain does not move freely during concussion. It is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid and anchored by the meninges, which act as stabilising straps. Mulvihill鈥檚 research highlights their critical role in brain protection and recovery, paving the way for better diagnostics and treatments.
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