Brent McParland

Dr Brent McParland is a Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney, and a member of the Charles Perkins Centre. His work bridges respiratory pharmacology, parasitology, and reproductive medicine with clinical applications.

His primary research investigates mechanisms of exaggerated airway narrowing in asthma and COPD, focusing on airway smooth muscle dynamics, autacoid pharmacology (5HT, NO, Bradykinin, PGs, LTs, Histamine), and the role of extracellular matrix. He also leads pioneering research into whether Australian ticks cause Lyme-like illness, examining Babesia and Theileria pathogens through molecular detection methods. His work extends to reproductive medicine and drugs in sport, aligning with the Charles Perkins Centre's themes of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, infection, and maternal health.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a dominant respiratory focus (73% of articles), particularly on airway smooth muscle physiology in asthma/COPD, with significant contributions to parasitology (13%) regarding Australian tick-borne diseases. His methodological approaches emphasize cellular signaling, pathogenesis, and pathology, often utilizing in vitro models and molecular characterization techniques.

Dr McParland has secured competitive research funding including:

• 2014: Australias Lyme-Like Illness grant (Australian Respiratory Council)
• 2013: NHMRC Project Grant on COPD airway mechanics
• 2006: Ramaciotti Foundation grant on asthma fluid lining
• 2006: University of Sydney Newly Appointed Staff grant
• 2006: Asthma Foundation of NSW award on cold-induced exacerbations

He teaches core pharmacology courses including Pharmacology Fundamentals, Respiratory Diseases (Asthma, COPD, PAH), and Autacoid Pharmacology, while contributing to the Charles Perkins Centre's multidisciplinary research on metabolic, infectious, and reproductive health conditions through his expertise in airway pathophysiology and vector-borne disease mechanisms.