Margaret Rose Cunningham

Margaret Rose Cunningham is a Reader in Pharmacology and Associate Dean (Learning Enhancement) at the University of Strathclyde’s Faculty of Science, based in the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS). She also serves as the Director of Biomolecular Science (BMS) Programmes, leading curriculum development and accreditation with IBMS and RSB. Her academic leadership extends to external examiner roles at Swansea University and University College Cork, and she is actively engaged in national and international pharmacology education initiatives through IUPHAR and the British Pharmacological Society.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology of Proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice, both from the University of Strathclyde. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), reflecting her commitment to pedagogical excellence.

Cunningham's research centers on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly PARs and P2Y receptors, and their roles in cardiovascular function, inflammation, anti-cancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicity, and skeletal muscle aging. She co-led the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (CMVD) research group from 2017 to 2023. Her educational scholarship focuses on inclusive teaching practices and developing alternative, sustainable models to rodent-based pharmacology labs—such as 3D-printed human-body-on-a-chip systems—aligned with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement). Her recent publications reflect a dual focus: advancing pharmacological knowledge in cancer and cardiovascular disease, and innovating in STEM education through OSPEs and inclusive assessment strategies.

Her scientific contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the British Pharmacological Society Rang Prize for Teaching (2023), Honorary Fellowship of the BPS (2023), the AWERB 3Rs Prize (2024), and the Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Award. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland and a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellow.

• Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society (2021)
• Honorary Fellowship, British Pharmacological Society (2023)
• Rang Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching, BPS (2023)
• AWERB 3Rs Prize (2024)
• Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Award (2024)
• Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellow (2017)

Cunningham leads multiple research and educational projects, including the BPS-funded 'Revolutionising Pharmacology Education' initiative involving primary to postgraduate students, and grants from SCAF and BPS Summer Studentships. She supervises PhD students and has led Athena SWAN initiatives focused on career progression and gender equity in STEM. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education and health equity.

She is actively involved in professional service as a Reviewing Editor for Pharmacological Research & Perspectives, Secretary of the IUPHAR-Education Section, and member of BPS committees. Her outreach includes public engagement, organizing conferences, and mentoring through the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.