I am a Pharmacologist and studied Pharmacology at Edinburgh University, both for my BSc and PhD. I was always interested in biology at school and I found reading about pharmacology, and how many drugs were derived from plants and animals, fascinating.
Professor Mandy MacLean
My studies took me to the USA and Cambridge. I now carry out research into pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is a disease of the lungs caused by the arteries of the lungs closing down. It is a fatal disease for which there is no cure and it mainly affects women. We are currently looking at how obesity, oestrogens and serotonin play a role in the development of this disease to see how new drugs might intervene to treat patients.
I am a Distinguished Professor at the University of Strathclyde. I am currently on the Council of the Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) and am their Diversity Champion and sit on an MRC and BHF grant panel. In my ‘spare’ time I am a mum, wife, friend, carer and artist and hold public engagement in science events.
Survival is very poor in pulmonary arterial hypertension and I am most inspired and motivated by the needs of these patients. I am also motivated to progress the careers of the young researchers who work with me wherever I can. The discipline of Pharmacology, and how the pharmacology alters with disease, fascinates and inspires me. My roles in the AMS, BHF, MRC and in public engagement reflect my wish to engage in, and contribute to, science and the scientific community at all levels.
Mandy is holding Gaddum’s Pharmacology, the first textbook that she bought in 1978 whilst studying Pharmacology at Edinburgh University.