Staff Profile

Qualifications

Personal Development Course for External Examiners (Advance HE)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Certificate in Advanced Studies of Academic Practice, Newcastle University

Ph.D. - Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University College Dublin, Ireland

BSc. (Hons) Physiology major - University College Dublin, Ireland

Previous Positions

Teaching Fellow in Physiology (T & S) School of Biomedical Sciences, Newcastle University

Research associate, Reproductive and Vascular Biology Group / Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University

Grants and Publications Research Associate, Academic Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Manchester

Research Associate, Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, The University of Manchester

Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, NY, USA

Postgraduate Researcher, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University College Dublin, Ireland

Teaching Assistant, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University College Dublin, Ireland

Current Roles and Responsibilities

School

Chair of Board of Examiners for Stage 3 and 4 (2019 - )

Chair of Board of Examiners for Stage 2 (2019 to 2025)

Academic Secretary for Stage 2 Board of Examiners (2025 - )

Co-Chair of Physiological Sciences Curriculum Committee (2023 - )

Chair of PEC Committee for Stage 3 (2019 - )

Member Stage 2 PEC Committee (2019 - )

Member of Phase 1 Curriculum Committee

Member of Board of Studies

University

Member of Cross Faculty Education Committee, FMS academic representative (2023 - )

Member of Library Advisory Group, FMS academic representative (2018 - )

Member of PEC Review Working Group (2022 - 2025)

Other

The Physiological Society, Newcastle University Representative

Memberships

The Physiological Society

Fellow of Higher Education Academy

I teach physiology and bioscience skills across a range of modules and degree programmes, as a lecturer, seminar leader, practical leader, assessment marker and undergraduate project supervisor.

Current modules to which I contribute:

Module leader

CMB1004 Cell Biology

PSC2020 Cardiovascular System Physiology

PSC3012 Integrated Physiology

Other

CMB1011 Professional and Practical Skills for Bioscientists

PSC1002 Physiology

PSC2002 Membrane Transport and Cell Signalling in Health and Disease

PSC2018 Human Anatomy for Physiologists

PSC2019 Renal and Respiratory Physiology

BMS2013 Practical and Presentation Skills in Biomedical Sciences

PSC3012 Integrated Physiology

CMB3000 Project supervisor

NUT1005 Human Physiology and Practical Skills

DEN1103 Dental Physiology

A100 and A1010 Case 3

Teaching Developments

I led a successful application for Faculty funding for new equipment used for physiology practicals (£189,000, 2015) across a range of degree programmes, and later for funding to acquire cloud-based software licences allowing students remote access to practical files (2020). I have designed multiple new practical sessions for degree programmes and engagement activities and trained and supported new staff using this equipment.

I have contributed to the design and development of multiple new modules in the physiological sciences programme, in particular, and as Curriculum Committee Co-Chair have supported colleagues with their design and development.

Following the BMS Curriculum Review I will lead design and lead implementation of two new stage 2 modules, one core, and co-lead on one stage 1 core module in the new biomedical sciences degree programme.

Since switching to a T&S role, I incorporate my research interests in cardiovascular physiology with teaching, undergraduate project supervision and public engagement activities.

I have presented and co-presented oral and poster presentations at local, national and international meetings. At the Europhysiology 2022 meeting, one of my peer-reviewed abstracts (co-authored with Dr Alison Howard and Dr Beth Lawry) was selected for special recognition with a Physiological Reports Abstract Award in the Education and Teaching category.

I have received funding for engagement activities including Engagement and Place fund 2024 (£2500), for Discover Festival Physiology activity (co-led with Dr Carys Watts), and multiple awards from The Physiological Society for Physiology Week (formerly Physiology Friday).

I was a member of the organising committee (led by Dr Alison Howard) successful in applying to host The Physiological Society Education and Teaching theme annual meeting in Newcastle University in April 2026: Fit for the Future: Physiology Education and Teaching in the UK Conference.

I have reviewed abstracts and chaired communications sessions for multiple Physiological Society meetings.

I was an invited panellist for Is Physiology Dead? webinar (2024) hosted by ADInstruments Education Team, and invited chair for The Hardware Revolution in Physiology Education: Feel the Phys webinar (2026), hosted by ADInstruments Education Team and The Physiological Society.

• Articles

  • Nicholson CJ, Sweeney M, Robson SC, Taggart MJ. Estrogenic vascular effects are diminished by chronological aging. Scientific Reports 2017, 7, 12153.
  • Narytnyk A, Verdon B, Loughney A, Sweeney M, Clewes O, Taggart MJ, Sieber-Blum M. Differentiation of Human Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cells (hEPI-NCSC) into Virtually Homogenous Populations of Dopaminergic Neurons. Stem Cells Reviews and Reports 2014, 10(2), 316-326.
  • Chen A, Karolczak-Bayatti M, Sweeney M, Treumann A, Morrissey K, Ulrich SM, Europe-Finner GN, Taggart MJ. Lysine deacetylase inhibition promotes relaxation of arterial tone and C-terminal acetylation of HSPB6 (Hsp20) in vascular smooth muscle cells. Physiological Reports 2013, 1(6), e00127.
  • Dordea AC, Sweeney M, Taggart J, Lartey J, Wessel H, Robson SC, Taggart MJ. Differential vasodilation of human placental and myometrial arteries related to myofilament Ca²⁺-desensitization and the expression of Hsp20 but not MYPT1. Molecular Human Reproduction 2013, 19(11), 727-736.
  • Herriott A, Sweeney M, Whitaker M, Taggart M, Huang JY. Kinetochore localized Mad2 and Cdc20 is itself insufficient for triggering the mitotic checkpoint when Mps1 is low in Drosophila melanogaster neuroblasts. Cell Cycle 2012, 11(24), 4650-4660.
  • Karolczak-Bayatti M, Sweeney M, Cheng JAN, Edey L, Robson SC, Ulrich SM, Treumann A, Taggart MJ, Europe-Finner GN. Acetylation of Heat Shock Protein 20 (Hsp20) Regulates Human Myometrial Activity. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2011, 286(39), 34346-34355.
  • Tong WC, Sweeney M, Jones CJP, Zhang H, O'Neill SC, Prior I, Taggart MJ. Three-dimensional electron microscopic reconstruction of intracellular organellar arrangements in vascular smooth muscle – further evidence of nanospaces and contacts. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 2009, 13(5), 995-998.
  • Sweeney M, Wareing M, Mills TA, Baker PN, Taggart MJ. Characterisation of tone oscillations in placental and myometrial arteries from normal pregnancies and those complicated by pre-eclampsia and growth restriction. Placenta 2008, 29(4), 356-365.
  • Sweeney M, Jones CJP, Greenwood SL, Baker PN, Taggart MJ. Ultrastructural features of smooth muscle and endothelial cells of isolated isobaric human placental and maternal arteries. Placenta 2006, 27(6-7), 635-647.
  • Shaw LM, Sweeney MA, Jones CJP, O'Neill SC, Austin CE, Taggart MJ. Caveolae and sarcoplasmic reticular coupling in smooth muscle cells of pressurised arteries: The relevance for Ca²⁺ oscillations and tone. Cardiovascular Research 2006, 69(4), 825-835.

• Book Chapter

  • Gurney L, Robson SC, Sweeney M, Jones AT, Taggart MJ. Strategies for Peptide-Mediated Cargo Delivery to Human Smooth Muscle Cells. In: Langel U, ed. Cell Penetrating Peptides : Methods and Protocols. Boston: Humana Press Inc, 2022, pp.459-471.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Nicholson C, Sweeney M, Robson S, Taggart M. Tissue-Specific Isolated Murine Arterial Responses to Aging. In: Experimental Biology 2015. 2015, Boston, MA, USA: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
  • Nicholson CJ, Sweeney M, Robson SC, Taggart MJ. Estrogen Receptor-Specific Agonists Differentially Affect Vascular Tone in Arteries of Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women. In: 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. 2013, Orlando, FL, USA: Sage Publications Ltd.
  • Gurney L, Sweeney M, Jones A, Robson S, Taggart M. Assessment of the Delivery of Cell Penetrating Peptides to Human Uteroplacental Cells. In: British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society 16th Annual Conference. 2013, Dublin, Republic of Ireland: BMJ Publishing Group.
  • Karolczak-Bayatti M, Sweeney M, Ulrich SM, Robson SC, Taggart MJ, Europe-Finner NG. Inhibition of KDAC8 and acetylation of Hsp20 regulates contractile activity of human myometrial smooth muscle. In: Blair Bell Research Society Annual Academic Meeting. 2012, London, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Dordea AC, Sweeney M, Robson SC, Taggart MJ. Human Placental and Myometrial Arteries Differ in Their Ca²⁺-Sensitivities of Force Production. In: Reproductive Sciences. 2012, Sage Publications, Inc.
  • Lartey J, Martin J, Sweeney M, Robson S, Taggart M. Up-Regulation of MYPT LZ Positive Isovariants during Gestation and Cyclic Nucleotide Induced Desensitisation in Pregnant Human Myometrium. In: Reproductive Sciences: 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. 2010, Orlando, Florida: Sage Publications Inc.
  • Lartey J, Martin J, Sweeney M, Robson S, Taggart M. Pregnancy Induced Alternative Splicing of MYPT1 Exons 13 and 14: A Mechanism of Sensitisation of the Human Uterus Prior to Labour. In: Reproductive Sciences: 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. 2010, Orlando, Florida: Sage Publications Inc.
  • Sweeney M, Watkins CL, Jones AT, Taggart MJ. Octaarginine mediated delivery of fluorescent cargo to human smooth muscle cells. In: Drug Discovery Today: 3rd International Cellular Delivery of Therapeutic Macromolecules (CDTM) Symposium. 2010, Cardiff, UK: Elsevier Ltd.
  • Lartey J, Martin J, Sweeney M, Robson S, Taggart M. MYPT3 and TIMAP-Prenylatable Myosin II Targeting Units and Uterine Quiescence in Humans. In: Reproductive Sciences: 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. 2010, Orlando, Florida: Sage Publications Inc.
  • Sweeney M, Martin J, Robson SC, Taggart MJ. Differential Sensitivities of Human Myometrial and Placental Arteries to CaM Kinase II Inhibition. In: Reproductive Sciences: 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. 2010, Orlando, Florida: Sage Publications Inc.
  • Sweeney M, Martin J, Robson SC, Taggart MJ. Oxytocin-Induced Changes in Both Cytosollic and Nuclear Ca2+ of Human Myometrial Cells. In: Reproductive Sciences: 56th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation. 2009, Glasgow, UK: Sage Publications, Inc.