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Mr Mitchell Mercer

Post Grad Student/ Part-Time Assistant Lecturer
Regional Development Centre (RDC)
Department of Life and Health Sciences
Regional Development Centre Building
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[email protected]
+353 (0)42 9370200

Biography

I hold a BSc in Human Biology and an MSc in Clinical Anatomy, both from Queen’s University Belfast. My doctoral research investigates the regulation of smooth muscle contractility in the mouse corpus cavernosum, with a focus on erectile physiology. In particular, I study the roles of the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) and the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv7., using molecular, electrophysiological, and pharmacological approaches. The aim of this work is to improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying normal erectile function and to identify potential therapeutic targets for erectile dysfunction.

Qualifications & Awards

BSc (Hons) Human Biology, Queen's University Belfast

Msc Clinical Anatomy, Queen's University Belfast

AWARDS:

•    Best Poster Prize (2023) 2nd International Kv7 Channels Symposium, Naples, Italy.
•    Runner-up Poster Prize (2024) Command and Control: Unveiling the Regulation of Smooth Muscle Function, Dundalk, Ireland.
•    Best Oral Communication (2024) DkIT Research Day, DkIT, Ireland.
 

Research & Interests

Mercer, M., Hollywood, M. A., Sergeant, G. P., & Thornbury, K. D. (2025). KV7 channels modulate tension and calcium signaling in mouse corpus cavernosum. American journal of physiology. Cell physiology328(3), C729–C742. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00980.2024

Lim, X. R., Mercer, M., Harraz, O. F., Hollywood, M. A., Sergeant, G. P., & Thornbury, K. D. (2024). Evidence of an excitatory purinergic innervation in mouse corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. The journal of sexual medicine, qdae107. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae107

Publications

The publications listed below represent my 1 most recent works as recorded on ORCiD

American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology
1 March 2025
DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00980.2024
Type: Journal article