Her research focuses on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms driving alveolar inflammation and injury in ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), a devastating illness causing respiratory failure in the critically ill, and the classical pattern of injury in the lungs of patients with COVID infection. Another research focus is exploring new therapeutic interventions for ARDS in clinically relevant human models through to clinical trials. Her research group at Queen's works in both wet lab and clinical research, and has a particular focus on human models of the lung environment. The group is currently working on the therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) to reduce injury and promote repair in lungs in the presence of infection and ARDS, in both laboratory models and clinical trials. Professor O'Kane work is currently focused on a clinical trial to test a novel cell therapy approach whereby cells derived from human tissues are being used to treat lung injury in patients with ARDS caused by COVID19. It is hoped that this approach will rectify the underlying causes of serious lung damage. A second clinical trial is testing a novel cell therapy approach whereby cells derived from human tissues are being used to treat lung injury in patients with ARDS caused by COVID-19. It is hoped that this approach will rectify the underlying causes of serious lung damage. (HSC funded; Danny McAuley & Cecilia O’Kane, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute For Experimental Medicine)