Education
Ph.D. – Toxicology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, with honors
B.A. – Biology (Minor in Chemistry), University of Missouri
Areas of Expertise
Hepatotoxicity
Clinical Biomarkers
Liver Regeneration
Introduction
Dr. McGill’s research is focused on liver injury. He also serves as the Technical Director of Regional Clinical Laboratory Testing and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Regulatory Sciences.
Credentials, Accreditations and Awards
2021 – Present Clinical Chemist (Registrant #4751), N.R.C.C.
2020 and 2022 Tox Spotlight articles in Toxicological Sciences
2019 and 2021 Poster of Distinction awards, The Liver Meeting
2019 UAMS Medical Research Endowment Award
2018 AASLD Foundation Pinnacle Research Award
Teaching Focus
Dr. McGill primarily teaches students about FDA regulations, drug metabolism, clinical toxicology, and environmental toxicology. He also gives lectures on clinical chemistry to pathology residents.
Research Overview
The McGill laboratory is focused on 1) fundamental and clinical aspects of acetaminophen-induced liver injury, 2) development of liver injury biomarkers for regulatory and clinical applications, and 3) molecular mechanisms of liver repair after injury. They combine animal models, human specimens, and cell culture models to address critical healthcare needs within these areas.
Recent Books or Publications
- Acetaminophen: Experimental Evidence and Clinical Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment of Toxicity or Potential Toxicity. Rumack BH, Jaeschke H, McGill MR (Eds.) Elsevier. 2024. ISBN: 9780443158773.
- McGill MR. The Role of Mechanistic Biomarkers in Understanding Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity in Humans. Drug Metab Dispos. 2024 Jul 16; 52(8):729-739. PMCID: PMC11257692.
- Layman AJ, Alsbrook SM, Koturbash IK, McGill MR. Natural Products that Protect Against Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity: A Call for Increased Rigor in Preclinical Studies of Dietary Supplements. J Diet Suppl. 2024 Apr 1:1-18. PMID: 38562009.
- Yiew NKH, Vazquez JH, Martino MR, Kennon-McGill S, Price JR, Allard FD, Yee EU, Layman AJ, James LP, McCommis KS, Finck BN, McGill MR. Hepatic Pyruvate and Alanine Metabolism are Critical and Complementary for Maintenance of Antioxidant Capacity and Resistance to Oxidative Insult. Mol Metab. 2023 Nov; 77:101808. PMCID: PMC10561123.
- Vazquez JH, Kennon-McGill S, Byrum SD, Mackintosh SG, Jaeschke H, Williams DK, Lee WM, Dranoff JA, McGill MR; Acute Liver Failure Study Group. Proteomics Indicates Lactate Dehydrogenase is Prognostic in Acetaminophen-induced Acute Liver Failure Patients and Reveals Altered Signaling Pathways. Toxicol Sci. 2022 May; 187:25-34. PMCID: PMC9216044.
Fun Fact
Dr. McGill became a toxicologist because he was fascinated by poisons. Moreover, toxicology informs all areas of life science and health, from botany and zoology (e.g., the evolutionary struggle of plants and animals that arm themselves with poison or venom) to medicine (e.g., drug overdose) to public health (e.g., exposure to environmental chemicals).