Alexandra Mc Carron

Dr Alexandra Mc Carron

Grant-Funded Researcher (B)

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


I am a postdoctoral researcher with the Cystic Fibrosis Airway Research Group (CFARG), based in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Women's and Children's Hospital. 

My research

My research is in the area of airway gene therapy, a therapeutic approach that has potential to treat or prevent cystic fibrosis lung disease by correcting the underlying genetic defect. My work includes the production of lentiviral gene vectors, characterising and employing cystic fibrosis animal models for trialing of airway gene therapy, and investigating novel methods for enhancing the efficacy of airway gene transfer. 

Student projects

I have projects available for Summer Research Scholarship students, Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (BHMS) Third Year Research Placement students, and Honours students. The skills developed during these projects can include: rodent handling, airway gene delivery techniques, tissue collection, histology, immunohistochemistry, cell culture, gene vector production, data collection, analysis and interpretation.

2024     N. Rout-Pitt, A. McCarron, N. Reyne, D. Parsons. M. Donnelley. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, "Unravelling the Role of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease: Insights, Challenges, and Therapeutic Prospects", $175,000.

2024     P. Asare, C. A Foakwah, B. Ahinkorah, A. McCarron, S. Sterling. Medical Research Future Fund, “Effectiveness of Zinc Supplementation in Respiratory Infections in COPD patients: A randomised control trial”, $990,064.

2024     A. McCarron, R. Smith, K. Morgan, D. Parsons, M. Donnelley. Cystic Fibrosis Geelong Genetic Therapies Innovation Grant, “Harnessing the power of magnets: Improved effectiveness of airway gene therapy for the treatment of cystic fibrosis lung disease”, $80,000.

2023     E. Schneider-Futschik, J. Bourke, D. Parsons, H. Chinnery. J. Taylor-Cousar, P. Middleton, A. McCarron and N. Reyne. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Delaying the onset of cystic fibrosis pathologies” $282,000

2023     A. McCarron, N. Reyne. P. Cmielewski, M. Donnelley, D. Parsons. Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation. “Does the presence of lung infection impact the efficacy of cystic fibrosis airway gene therapy?” $40,060.

2022     M. Donnelley, D. Parsons, A. McCarron, C. Christou, T. Goddard. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “Effective delivery of genetic therapeutics for cystic fibrosis airway disease”, $307,512 USD (~$462,000 AUD).

2020     A. McCarron, P. Cmielewski, M. Donnelley, D. Parsons. Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Airway gene correction in neonatal cystic fibrosis rats”, $100,000.

2017     M. Donnelley, N. Farrow, P Cmielewski, A. McCarron, D. Parsons. Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Effective re-dosing protocols for lasting cystic fibrosis lentiviral airway gene therapy”, $75,240.

2017     M. Donnelley, C. McIntyre, N. Rout-Pitt, A. McCarron, D. Parsons. Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation. “Improving the efficiency of cystic fibrosis airway gene therapy”, $74,213.

  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
  • Phone: 0881619182
  • Email: alexandra.mccarron@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Women's and Children's Hospital, floor 6
  • Org Unit: Women's and Children's Health

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External Profiles