Research & Interests

Together with colleagues in the DkIT Smooth Muscle Research Centre (SMRC) and international collaborators at the University of Nevada, Reno, my laboratory research focuses on Ca2+ signalling in smooth muscle organs. Ca2+ is an essential regulatory molecule in many cells. In smooth muscle tissues such as the gastrointestinal and urinary tract, contractions  underlying gut peristalsis or urinary tract tone / compliance rely on changes in intracellular Ca2+. My research uses state of the art Ca2+ imaging techniques to visualize  changes in Ca2+ that occur in cells of smooth muscle organs and we employ recordings of contractile activity of smooth muscle tissues to determine how Ca2+ handling pathways and Ca2+-dependent ionic conductances affect tissue contractility and function.

In addition, I am also a member of the DkIT Research Group on Teaching & Learning. My interests in this domain primarily focus on how to employ active learning approaches such as flipped classrooms to improve student engagement and prioritize student understanding through application of knowledge. I also research student performance and perception  of varied laboratory assessment techniques in our practical classes (group presentations, Moodle quizzes and traditional reports).

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS (* = Joint First Authour)

1. Gupta N, Baker SA, Sanders KM, Rabab KE, Thean DKF, Alkawadri T, Griffin CS, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA, Thornbury KD & Drumm BT (2025). ANO1 channels are expressed in mouse urethral smooth muscle but do not contribute to agonist or neurally evoked contractions. Scientific Reports. 15 (1): 17365. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00953-z.

    

2. Heaney F, Velasco-Torrijos T, Breslin C, Elmes R, Stephens JC, Collery-Walsh R, Cleary A, Joyce O, Murphy B, Drumm BT, Bree R, Moore E, Morrin A, White B & Rooney D (2025). Beyond Grades: Harnessing digital badges to champion holistic skill development and celebrate active engagement across a large enrollment organic chemistry module. The Journal of Chemical Education. doi: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01325. 

    

3. Griffin CS, Loughran S, Kelly B, Healy E, Lambe G, van Rossum A, Murphy B, Moore E, Burke C, Morrin A, Breslin C, Heaney F, Rooney D, Bree R & Drumm BT (2025). Virtual Laboratories complement but should not replace face-to-face classes: Perceptions of life science students at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland. Advances In Physiology Education. 49(6):314-330. doi: 10.1152/advan.00227.2024.

    

4. Mueller M, Drumm BT, Hannan J & Ruetten H (2025). Advancing our understanding of the epithelium and lamina propria, hormone receptors, vascular supply, and sensory aspects of the female human urethra. Neurology and Urodynamics. Accepted January 2025. doi: 10.1002.nau.70003. 

    

5. Baker SA, Karwa M, Lee JY, Riar S, Drumm BT & Sanders KM (2025). Ca²⁺ signaling in myenteric interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC-MY) and their role as conditional pacemakers in the colon. Cell Calcium. Accepted January 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102990.

    

6. Koh SD *, Lee JH *, Ryoo SB *, Drumm BT *, Kim HJ, Baker SA & Sanders KM (2024). Integrated responses of the SIP syncytium generate a major motility pattern in the colon. The Journal of Physiology. 602 (24): 6659-6682. doi: 10.113/JP287315. Editor’s choice article.

7. Zawieja SD, Pea GA, Broyhill SE, Bromert KH, Norton CE, Kim HJ, Li M, Castorena-Gonzalez JA, Drumm BT & Davis MJ (2024). Characterization of the cellular components of mouse collecting lymphatic vessels reveals that lymphatic muscle cells are the innate pacemaker cells regulating lymphatic contractions. eLife. 12: RP90679. doi.org/10.7554/eLife.90679.2

    

8. Kamaran SA, Moghnieh H, Hossain KF, Bartlett A, Tavakkoli A, Drumm BT, Sanders KM & Baker SA (2024). Automated denoising software for calcium imaging signals using deep learning. Heliyon. 10.21: e3954. doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39574 

    

9. Drumm BT, Gupta N, Mircea A & Griffin CS (2024). Cells and ionic conductances contributing to spontaneous activity in bladder and urethral smooth muscle. The Journal of Physiology. Accepted September 2024. doi: 10.1113/JP284744. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39323077.

    

10. Gupta N, Baker SA, Sanders KM, Griffin CS, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA, Thornbury KD & Drumm BT (2024). Interstitial cell of Cajal-like cells (ICC-LC) exhibit dynamic spontaneous activity but are not functionally innervated in mouse urethra. Cell Calcium. 123:102931. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102931.

     

11. Drumm BT, Bree R, Griffin CS & O’Leary (2024). Diversifying laboratory assessment modes broadens engagement with practical competencies in life science students. Advances In Physiology Education. 48.4: 527-546. doi: 10.1152/advan.00257.2023 

     

12. Sanders KM, Drumm BT, Cobine CA & Baker SA (2024). Ca²⁺ dynamics in interstitial cells: foundational mechanisms for the motor patterns in the gastrointestinal tract. Physiological Reviews. 104.1: 329-398. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00036.2022

13. Drumm BT, Griffin CS & Pollock J (2023). Low-stake quizzes and live application classes increase student engagement with online pre-recorded lectures: Lessons from an online flipped undergraduate classroom during COVID-19. All Ireland Society of Higher Education Journal. 15.3. 1-14.

14. Drumm BT (2023). Designing and reflecting on active learning and flipped classrooms for renal physiology. International Journal For The Scholarship of Teaching & Learning. 17.1: Article 22. doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2023.17122.

     

15. Dwivedi R, Drumm BT, Griffin CS, Dudem S, Bradley E, Alkawadri T, Martine LS, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA & Thornbury KD (2023). Excitatory cholinergic responses in mouse primary bronchial smooth muscle require both Ca²⁺ entry via L-type Ca²⁺ channels and store operated Ca²⁺ entry via Orai channels. Cell Calcium. 112:102721. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2023.102721.

16. Dwivedi R, Drumm BT, Alkawadri T, Martin SL, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA & Thornbury KD (2023). The TMEM16A blockers benzbromarone and MONNA cause intracellular Ca²⁺ release in mouse bronchial smooth muscle cells. European Journal of Pharmacology. 947:175677. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175677.

     

17. Sanders KM, Baker SA, Drumm BT & Kurahashi M (2022). Ca²⁺ signalling is the basis for pacemaker activity and neurotransduction in interstitial cells of the GI tract. Advances In Experimental Medicine and Biology. 1383: 229-241. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-05843-1_22.

     

18. Lim XR, Drumm BT, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA & Thornbury KD (2022). Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channels (TMEM16A) underlie spontaneous electrical activity in isolated mouse corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells. Physiological Reports.10(22): e15504. doi: 10.14814/phy2.15504

     

19. Hwang SJ *, Drumm BT *, Kim MK, Lyu JH, Baker SA, Sanders KM & Ward SM (2022). Calcium transients in intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal of the murine gastric fundus and their regulation by neuroeffector transmission. The Journal of Physiology. 600 (20): 4439-3363.

     

20. Grainger N, Shonnard CC, Quiggle SK, Fox EB, Presley H, Daugherty R, Shonnard MC, Drumm BT & Sanders KM (2022). Propagation of pacemaker activity and peristaltic contractions in the mouse renal pelvis rely on Ca²⁺-activated-Cl^- channels and T-type Ca²⁺ channels. Function. doi: 10.1093/function/zqac041.

     

21. Drumm BT, Cobine CA & Baker SA (2022). Insights on gastrointestinal motility through the use of optogenetic sensors and actuators. The Journal of Physiology. 600.13: 3031-3052.

     

22. Koh SD, Drumm BT, Lu H, Kim HJ, Ryu SB, Kim HU, Lee JY, Rhee PL, Wang Q, Gould TW, Heredia D, Perrino BA, Hwang SJ, Ward SM & Sanders KM (2022). Propulsive colonic contractions are mediated by inhibition-driven post-stimulus responses that originate in interstitial cells of Cajal. Proceedings of The National Academy of Science U S A. 119 (18). e2123020119.

     

23. Drumm BT, Hannigan KI, Lee JY, Rembetski BE, Baker SA, Koh SD, Cobine CA & Sanders KM (2022). Ca²⁺ signalling in interstitial cells of Cajal contributes to generation and maintenance of tone in mouse and monkey lower esophageal sphincters. The Journal of Physiology. 600.11: 2613-2636. Cover Article.

     

• Perspective Article: Joshi V & Beyder A (2022). LEtS set the tone. The Journal of Physiology. doi.org/10.1113/JP282570.

24. Grainger N, Sanders KM & Drumm BT (2021). Isolating and imaging live, intact pacemaker regions of mouse renal pelvis by vibratome sectioning. The Journal of Visualized Experiments. 170. e62040.

     

25. Drumm BT, Thornbury KD, Hollywood MA & Sergeant GP (2021). Role of Ano1 Ca²⁺-activated Cl^- channels in generating urethral tone. American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology. 320.4: F525-536.

26. Baker SA, Leigh WA, Valle GD, Yturriaga IDE, Ward SM, Cobine CA, Drumm BT & Sanders KM (2021). Ca²⁺ signalling driving pacemaker activity in submucosal interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine colon. eLife. 10:e64099. doi: 10.7554/eLife.64099.

27. Griffin CS, Alvarado MG, Yamasaki E, Drumm BT, Ali S, Nagle EM, Sanders KM & Earley S (2020). The intracellular Ca²⁺ release channel TRPML1 regulates lower urinary tract smooth muscle contractility. Proceedings of The National Academy of Science U S A. 117(48): 30775-30786.

     

• Comment Article: Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA & Thornbury KD (2020). Igniting Ca²⁺ sparks with TRPML1. Proceedings of The National Academy of Science U S A. 117 (52): 32836-32838.

28. Drumm BT & Jong ASY. A semester like no other: A student and lecturer perspective on the impact of Covid-19 on 3^rd level academic life (2020). All Ireland Society of Higher Education Journal. 12.3: 1-14.

29. Drumm BT, Thornbury KD, Hollywood MA & Sergeant GP (2020). Store-operated Ca²⁺ influx in native vascular smooth muscle cells relies on interactions between PKCd, PIP₂ and TRPC1 channels. The Journal of Physiology. 599(4): 1037-1038.

30. Leigh WA, Del Valle G, Amit Kamran S, Drumm BT, Tavakkoli A, Sanders KM & Baker SA (2020). A high throughput machine-learning driven analysis of Ca²⁺ spatio-temporal maps. Cell Calcium. 91: 102260.

31. Hannigan KI, Bossey AP, Foulkes HJL, Drumm BT, Baker SA, Ward SM, Sanders KM, Keef KD & Cobine CA (2020). A novel intramuscular interstitial cell of Cajal is a candidate for generating pacemaker activity in the mouse internal anal sphincter. Scientific Reports. 10: 10378

32. Thakore P, Pritchard HAT, Griffin CS, Yamasaki E, Drumm BT, Lane C, Sanders KM, Earley YF & Earley S (2020). TRPML1 channels initiate Ca²⁺ sparks in vascular smooth muscle cells. Science Signaling. 13, 637, eaba1015.

     

• Comment Article: Nieves-Clinton M, Santana LF & Navedo MF (2020). TRPML1ing on sparks. Science Signaling. 13 (637): eabc0993. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.abc0993

33. Drumm BT, Rembetski BE, Messersmith K, Baker SA & Sanders KM (2020). Excitatory cholinergic responses in intramuscular interstitial cell of Cajal are due to enhanced Ca²⁺ release via M₃ receptor activation in mouse colon. FASEB Journal. 34 (8): 10073-10095.

     

34. Grainger N, Freeman RS, Shonnard CC, Drumm BT, Koh SD, Ward SM & Sanders KM (2020). Identification and classification of interstitial cells in the mouse renal pelvis. The Journal of Physiology. 598 (15): 3283-3307.

     

• Comment Article: Hashitani H & Lang RJ (2020). Atypical or interstitial, take your PIC. The Journal of Physiology. 598 (15): 3061-3062.

35. Zheng H, Drumm BT, Zhu M, Xie Y, Baker SA, Perrino BA, Koh SD & Sanders KM (2020). Role of Na⁺ / Ca²⁺ exchange in the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal. Frontiers In Physiology. 11: 230. Doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00230

36. Rembetski BE, Sanders KM & Drumm BT (2020). Contribution of Cav_1.2 Ca²⁺ channels and store-operated-Ca²⁺-entry to pig urethral smooth muscle contraction. American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology. 318(2): F496-F505.

37. Drumm BT, Rembetski BE, Messersmith K, Manierka MS, Baker SA & Sanders KM (2020). Pacemaker function and neural responsiveness of subserosal interstitial cells of Cajal in the mouse colon. The Journal of Physiology. 598(4):651-681. Editor’s choice & cover article.

38. Drumm BT, Rae MG & Ward SM (2019). Active peer mentored learning can improve student understanding of physiological concepts in an undergraduate journal club. Advances In Physiology Education. 43.3: 359-364.

39. Drumm BT, Hwang SJ, Baker SA, Ward SM & Sanders KM (2019). Ca²⁺ signaling behaviours of intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine colon. The Journal of Physiology. 597.14:3587-3617.

40. Souza LA, Worker CJ, Li W, Trebak F, Watkins T, Gayban AJ, Cooper SG, Yamasaki E, Drumm BT & Feng Y (2019). The (Pro) renin receptor knockdown in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus attenuates hypertension development and AT₁ receptor-mediated calcium events. American Journal of Physiology Heart Circulation Physiology. 316.6: H1389-H1405.

41. Drumm BT, Rembetski BE, Baker SA & Sanders KM (2019). Tonic inhibition of murine proximal colon is due to nitrergic suppression of Ca²⁺ signaling in interstitial cells of Cajal. Scientific Reports. 9(1). 4402:

42. Drumm BT, Hennig GW, Baker SA & Sanders KM (2019). Applications of spatio-temporal mapping and particle analysis techniques to quantify intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling in situ. The Journal of Visualised Experiments. 143. e58989, doi:10.3791/58989

43. Zheng H, Drumm BT, Sung TS, Earley S, Koh SD & Sanders KM (2018). Store-operated Ca²⁺ entry mediated by STIM and Orai is essential for pacemaker activity in interstitial cells of Cajal. Science Signaling. 11, Issue 534, eaaq0918.

44. Drumm BT *, Sung TS *, Zheng H, Baker SA, Koh SD & Sanders KM (2018). The effects of mitochondrial inhibitors on Ca²⁺ signalling and electrical conductances required for pacemaking in interstitial cells of Cajal in the mouse small intestine. Cell Calcium. 72: 1-17.

45. Rembetski BE, Cobine CA & Drumm BT (2018). Laboratory practical to study the differential innervation pathways of urinary tract smooth muscle. Advances In Physiology Education. 42.2: 295-304.

46. Drumm BT, Rembetski BE, Baker SA, Cobine CA, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA, Thornbury KD & Sanders KM (2018). Ca²⁺ signalling in mouse urethral smooth muscle in situ: Role of Ca²⁺ stores and Ca²⁺ influx mechanisms. The Journal of Physiology. 596.8: 1433-1466.

     

47. Drumm BT & Sanders KM (2018). “Methods for investigating the regulation of smooth muscle excitability by interstitial cells” In Signal Transduction and Smooth Muscle. Chapter 15, 305-321. Editors: Mohammed Trebak & Scott Earley. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group. 

48. Baker SA *, Drumm BT *, Skowronek KE, Rembetski BE, Hennig GW, Perrino BA & Sanders KM (2018). Excitatory neuronal responses of Ca²⁺ transients in interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine small intestine. eNeuro. 5.2. 10.1523/ENEURO.0080-18.2018.

49. Baker SA *, Drumm BT *, Cobine CA, Keef KD & Sanders KM (2018). Inhibitory regulation of the Ca²⁺ transients in intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal in the mouse small intestine. Frontiers In Physiology. 9:328. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00328

50. Pritchard HAT, Gonzales AL, Pires PW, Drumm BT, Ko EA, Sanders KM, Hennig GW & Earley S (2017). Microtubule structures underlying the sarcoplasmic reticulum support peripheral coupling sites to regulate smooth muscle contractility. Science Signaling. 10.497: eaan2694.

51. Drumm BT *, Hennig GW *, Battersby MJ, Cunningham E, Sung T, Ward SM, Sanders KM & Baker SA (2017). Clustering of Ca²⁺ transients in interstitial cells of Cajal define slow wave duration. The Journal of General Physiology. 149.7: 703-725.

• Comment Article: Sedwick C (2017). Many parts make a whole: Calcium transients sum for slow waves. The Journal of General Physiology. 149 (7): 681. doi: 10.1085/jgp.201711831. 

52. Drumm BT & Baker SA (2017). Teaching a changing paradigm in physiology: A historical perspective on gut interstitial cells. Advances In Physiology Education. 41.1:100-109.

53. Baker SA *, Drumm BT *, Sauer D, Hennig GW, Ward SM & Sanders KM (2016). Spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in interstitial cells of Cajal located within the deep muscular plexus of the murine small intestine. The Journal of Physiology. 594.12: 3317-3338. Editor’s choice article.

54. Drumm BT, Large RJ, Hollywood MA, Thornbury KD, Baker SA, Harvey BJ, McHale NG & Sergeant GP (2015). The role of Ca²⁺ influx in spontaneous Ca²⁺ wave propagation in interstitial cells of Cajal from the rabbit urethra. The Journal of Physiology. 593.15: 3333-50.

55. Drumm BT, Koh SD, Andersson KE & Ward SM (2014) Calcium signalling in Cajal-like interstitial cells of the lower urinary tract. Nature Reviews Urology. 11: 555-564.

56. Durnin L, Hwang SJ, Kurahashi M, Drumm BT, Ward SM, Sasse KC, Sanders KM & Mutafova-Yambolieva VN (2014). Uridine adenosine tetraphosphate is a novel neurogenic P2Y1 receptor activator in the gut. Proceedings of The National Academy of Science U S A. 111.44: 15821-15826.

57. Drumm BT, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA, Thornbury KD, McHale NG & Harvey BJ (2014). The role of cAMP dependent protein kinase in modulating spontaneous intracellular Ca²⁺ waves in interstitial cells of Cajal from the rabbit urethra. Cell Calcium. 56: 181-187.

58. Drumm BT, Sergeant GP, Hollywood MA, Thornbury KD, Matsuda T, Baba A, Harvey BJ & McHale NG (2014). The effect of high [K⁺] _o on spontaneous Ca²⁺ waves in freshly isolated interstitial cells of Cajal from the rabbit urethra. Physiological Reports. 2.1: e00203, doi: 10.1002/phy2.203

59. Bradley E, Kadima S, Drumm BT, Hollywood MA, Thornbury KD, McHale NG & Sergeant GP (2010). Novel excitatory effects of adenosine triphosphate on contractile and pacemaker activity in rabbit urethral smooth muscle. The Journal of Urology. 183: 801-811.