Contact details
Dr Mary J Morrell
Reader in Respiratory Physiology
National Heart and Lung Institute
Tel: +44 (0)20 7352 8121
Email:
Dr Mary J Morrell
Mary Morrell received her PhD in Physiology from London University in 1994, having previously trained and practiced as a Nurse at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. During her time as a research assistant with Professors Guz and Adams in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Charing Cross Hospital she developed a keen interest in the control of breathing during sleep which continues to drive her research.
Dr Morrell was awarded a Wellcome Trust Prize International Travelling Research Fellowship that allowed her to Post-doc at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with Professor Dempsey and Dr Badr - A time that convinced her that anything is possible! Upon her return to the UK, Dr Morrell collaborated with Dr Simonds and clinical colleagues to set-up the Clinical and Academic Unit of Sleep and Breathing, at the Royal Brompton Hospital, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. She has received Career Development and University Fellowships from the Wellcome Trust.
The aim of the sleep research group is to investigate the causes and consequences of breathing disorders that occur during sleep; translating research into improvements in patient care. Her research focuses on the cardiovascular and neurological consequences of sleep apnoea; particularly in the vulnerable patients with pre existing heart disease, and older people. Mary's research is funded by the Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation.
In collaboration with Professor John Tinder at Melbourne University Dr Morrell's group have been exploring the impact of arousal from sleep on the cardiovascular system in older people, and using data from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort they have also been looking at the long term consequences of this.
Mary is committed to education and is involved in both postgraduate and undergraduate education. She has supervised > 10 PhD students and this year will take over as Theme Chair for the 1st year MBBS Life Support Systems Course. Mary currently serves on the American Thoracic Society Board of Directors as Chair of the Respiratory Neurobiology and Sleep Assembly. She is on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and is an active member of the Physiological Society, British Sleep Society and European Sleep Research Society.
When not in the lab Mary has also carried out Sleep Research Projects at high altitude and has held a Wellcome Trust Science Arts Grant.
