School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health

Dr Eilidh MacDonald

  • Research Fellow (Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health)

Biography

Eilidh is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health at the University of Glasgow. Eilidh comes from Canada, which is also where she completed her PhD at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia under the supervision of Prof Alex Quinn. Her work investigated intrinsic regulation of the heart’s natural pacemaker and the effects of mechano-electric interactions on heart rhythm. During this time, she was awarded a travel grant which allowed her to spend a year at the Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine working under the supervision of Prof Peter Kohl.

In January 2021 Eilidh moved to Glasgow to work as a postdoc with Prof Chris Loughrey investigating cardiac dysfunction. Specifically, she has been working to understand mechanisms by which cardiac disease leads to changes in heart architecture and function, and how this adverse cardiac remodelling leads to heart failure and arrhythmia. She is fascinated by the heart and loves working to understand the complex and intricate ways in which it self-regulates both in health and disease in order to perform its very simple (yet essential to life) task – to pump.

Eilidh is a member of the International Society for Heart Research, the Physiological Society, and the British Society for Cardiovascular Research. In 2022 she was awarded the British Society for Cardiovascular Research Early Career Researcher Award and in 2023 was selected for a Journal of Physiology Editorial Board Fellowship.

Research interests

Research Theme: Cardiac

Research groups

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2026 | 2025 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2018 | 2017
Number of items: 13.

2026

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X and Quinn, T. Alexander (2026) Pacemaking in the heart: a redundant and robust system of mutually entrained oscillators driving cardiac automaticity. Journal of Physiology, (doi: 10.1113/JP284757) (PMID:42047239) (Early Online Publication)

McIntosh, Bailey, Elbassioni, Ali Ali Mohamed, Raheem, Anmar ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6233-6218, MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Nicklin, Stuart A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9691-6210, Koay, Yen Chin, Cameron, Ewan R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-1491, Loughrey, Christopher M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-9159 and O'Sullivan, John F. (2026) Optimised murine HFpEF models for translational pre-clinical studies. ESC Heart Failure, 13(2), xvag072. (doi: 10.1093/eschf/xvag072) (PMID:41812219) (PMCID:PMC13036831)

Elbassioni, A. A. M. et al. (2026) Targeting Runx1 protects against heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Cardiovascular Research, (Accepted for Publication)

2025

Boland, E. et al. (2025) Biomechanical and compositional basement membrane defects due to a Col4a1 mutation affect cardiac morphology and function. Matrix Biology, 141, pp. 82-100. (doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2025.09.003) (PMID:40946812)

McIntosh, Bailey, Elbassioni, Ali, Raheem, Anmar ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6233-6218, MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Nicklin, Stuart A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9691-6210, Koay, Yen Chin, Cameron, Ewan R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-1491, Loughrey, Christopher M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-9159 and O'Sullivan, John F. (2025) Optimized protocols for commonly-used murine models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. bioRxiv, (doi: 10.1101/2025.01.22.634221)

2023

Martin, T. P. et al. (2023) Ribonucleicacid interference or small molecule inhibition of Runx1 in the border zone prevents cardiac contractile dysfunction following myocardial infarction. Cardiovascular Research, 119(16), 2663–2671-2663–2671. (doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvad107) (PMID:37433039) (PMCID:PMC10730241)

2022

Martin, Tamara P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2509-2613, MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Elbassioni, Ali Ali, Zaeri, Ali Abdullah I., O'Toole, Dylan, Nicklin, Stuart A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9691-6210, Gray, Gillian A. and Loughrey, Christopher M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-9159 (2022) Pre-clinical models of myocardial infarction: from mechanism to translation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 179(5), pp. 770-791. (doi: 10.1111/bph.15595) (PMID:34131903)

Stoyek, Matthew R., MacDonald, Eilidh ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Mantifel, Melissa, Baillie, Jonathan S., Selig, Bailey M., Croll, Roger P., Smith, Frank M. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2022) Drivers of sinoatrial node automaticity in zebrafish: comparison with mechanisms of mammalian pacemaker function. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 818122. (doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.818122) (PMID:35295582) (PMCID:PMC8919049)

2021

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X and Quinn, T Alexander (2021) What keeps us ticking? Sinoatrial node mechano-sensitivity: the grandfather clock of cardiac rhythm. Biophysical Reviews, 13(5), pp. 707-716. (doi: 10.1007/s12551-021-00831-8) (PMID:34777615)

2020

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Madl, Josef, Greiner, Joachim, Ramadan, Ahmed F., Wells, Sarah M., Torrente, Angelo G., Kohl, Peter, Rog-Zielinska, Eva A. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2020) Sinoatrial node structure, mechanics, electrophysiology and the chronotropic response to stretch in rabbit and mouse. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 809. (doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00809) (PMID:32774307) (PMCID:PMC7388775)

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Rose, Robert A. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2020) Neurohumoral control of sinoatrial node activity and heart rate: insight from experimental models and findings from humans. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 170. (doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00170) (PMID:32194439) (PMCID:PMC7063087)

2018

MacDonald, Eilidh ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X and Quinn, T. Alexander (2018) Mechanical Determinants of the Chronotropic Response to Sinoatrial Stretch. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 124:91. Meeting Abstract: 2018 ISHR-NAS annual meeting, Halifax, NS, Canada, 29 May - 1 Jun 2018. (doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.07.030)

2017

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Stoyek, Matthew R., Rose, Robert A. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2017) Intrinsic regulation of sinoatrial node function and the zebrafish as a model of stretch effects on pacemaking. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 130(Part B), pp. 198-211. (doi: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.07.012) (PMID:28743586)

This list was generated on Thu May 14 11:48:26 2026 BST.
Jump to: Articles | Conference or Workshop Item
Number of items: 13.

Articles

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X and Quinn, T. Alexander (2026) Pacemaking in the heart: a redundant and robust system of mutually entrained oscillators driving cardiac automaticity. Journal of Physiology, (doi: 10.1113/JP284757) (PMID:42047239) (Early Online Publication)

McIntosh, Bailey, Elbassioni, Ali Ali Mohamed, Raheem, Anmar ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6233-6218, MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Nicklin, Stuart A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9691-6210, Koay, Yen Chin, Cameron, Ewan R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-1491, Loughrey, Christopher M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-9159 and O'Sullivan, John F. (2026) Optimised murine HFpEF models for translational pre-clinical studies. ESC Heart Failure, 13(2), xvag072. (doi: 10.1093/eschf/xvag072) (PMID:41812219) (PMCID:PMC13036831)

Elbassioni, A. A. M. et al. (2026) Targeting Runx1 protects against heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Cardiovascular Research, (Accepted for Publication)

Boland, E. et al. (2025) Biomechanical and compositional basement membrane defects due to a Col4a1 mutation affect cardiac morphology and function. Matrix Biology, 141, pp. 82-100. (doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2025.09.003) (PMID:40946812)

McIntosh, Bailey, Elbassioni, Ali, Raheem, Anmar ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6233-6218, MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Nicklin, Stuart A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9691-6210, Koay, Yen Chin, Cameron, Ewan R. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-1491, Loughrey, Christopher M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-9159 and O'Sullivan, John F. (2025) Optimized protocols for commonly-used murine models of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. bioRxiv, (doi: 10.1101/2025.01.22.634221)

Martin, T. P. et al. (2023) Ribonucleicacid interference or small molecule inhibition of Runx1 in the border zone prevents cardiac contractile dysfunction following myocardial infarction. Cardiovascular Research, 119(16), 2663–2671-2663–2671. (doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvad107) (PMID:37433039) (PMCID:PMC10730241)

Martin, Tamara P. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2509-2613, MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Elbassioni, Ali Ali, Zaeri, Ali Abdullah I., O'Toole, Dylan, Nicklin, Stuart A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9691-6210, Gray, Gillian A. and Loughrey, Christopher M. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-9159 (2022) Pre-clinical models of myocardial infarction: from mechanism to translation. British Journal of Pharmacology, 179(5), pp. 770-791. (doi: 10.1111/bph.15595) (PMID:34131903)

Stoyek, Matthew R., MacDonald, Eilidh ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Mantifel, Melissa, Baillie, Jonathan S., Selig, Bailey M., Croll, Roger P., Smith, Frank M. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2022) Drivers of sinoatrial node automaticity in zebrafish: comparison with mechanisms of mammalian pacemaker function. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 818122. (doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.818122) (PMID:35295582) (PMCID:PMC8919049)

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X and Quinn, T Alexander (2021) What keeps us ticking? Sinoatrial node mechano-sensitivity: the grandfather clock of cardiac rhythm. Biophysical Reviews, 13(5), pp. 707-716. (doi: 10.1007/s12551-021-00831-8) (PMID:34777615)

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Madl, Josef, Greiner, Joachim, Ramadan, Ahmed F., Wells, Sarah M., Torrente, Angelo G., Kohl, Peter, Rog-Zielinska, Eva A. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2020) Sinoatrial node structure, mechanics, electrophysiology and the chronotropic response to stretch in rabbit and mouse. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 809. (doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00809) (PMID:32774307) (PMCID:PMC7388775)

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Rose, Robert A. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2020) Neurohumoral control of sinoatrial node activity and heart rate: insight from experimental models and findings from humans. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 170. (doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00170) (PMID:32194439) (PMCID:PMC7063087)

MacDonald, Eilidh A. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X, Stoyek, Matthew R., Rose, Robert A. and Quinn, T. Alexander (2017) Intrinsic regulation of sinoatrial node function and the zebrafish as a model of stretch effects on pacemaking. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, 130(Part B), pp. 198-211. (doi: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.07.012) (PMID:28743586)

Conference or Workshop Item

MacDonald, Eilidh ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7771-754X and Quinn, T. Alexander (2018) Mechanical Determinants of the Chronotropic Response to Sinoatrial Stretch. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 124:91. Meeting Abstract: 2018 ISHR-NAS annual meeting, Halifax, NS, Canada, 29 May - 1 Jun 2018. (doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.07.030)

This list was generated on Thu May 14 11:48:26 2026 BST.

Supervision

Professional activities & recognition

Prizes, awards & distinctions

  • 2022: Early Career Investigator Marshall Award (British Society for Cardiovascular Research)
  • 2019: Postgraduate Scholarship-Doctoral (Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada)
  • 2018: MacDonald Graduate Studentship (Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation)
  • 2018: BrightRed Paul & Mary O’Regan Graduate Research Award (Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canada)
  • 2020: Research Training Award (Mitacs Canada)
  • 2020: Physiology & Biophysics Graduate Student Research Award (Dalhousie University)
  • 2019: Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine Graduate Studentship (Dalhousie University)
  • 2018: Globalink Research Award (Mitacs Canada)

Editorial boards

  • 2023: Journal of Physiology

Profile photo