Prof. Denis E. O'Donnell, MB, BCH, MD (NUI), FRCP(I), FRCP(C), FCCP, FERS

Founder of the Respiratory Investigation Unit

Prof. Denis O'Donnell is Professor of Medicine (Emeritus) at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. He is the founder and inaugural director of the Respiratory Investigation Unit (RIU), a research group at Queen’s University and Kingston Health Sciences Centre that enjoys international recognition for scientific excellence and training in clinical physiology. Prof. O’Donnell retired from his position as a senior-clinician scientist and Director of the RIU in 2022, but still maintains an adjunct staff position in the Department of Medicine where he continues his research to advance our understanding of dyspnea mechanisms and management in patients with various chronic lung diseases.

Prof. O'Donnell completed his medical training at the University of Galway, Ireland and undertook post-graduate clinical positions at Royal College of Surgeons and Trinity College, in Dublin. He later completed a research fellowship in Respiratory Physiology at the University of Manitoba where he completed a Doctorate in Medicine under the supervision of Profs Magdy Younes and Nicholas Anthonisen - world-renowned experts in pulmonary physiology. He joined the faculty at Queen’s University and Kingston General Hospital in 1988 as a clinician-scientist in the Respiratory Division, Dept. of Medicine. Here, in close collaboration with longterm colleague researcher, Katherine Webb, assembled a highly productive clinical research team (the Respiratory Investigation Unit). The program focused on clinical integrative physiology in chronic lung disease including the neuro-physiological mechanisms of dyspnea and exercise limitation. Prof. O’Donnell’s RIU was high successful at securing continuous financial support from various local, provincial and national granting agencies (including Queen’s University, the Ontario Thoracic Society, the Canadian Lung Association, and the Canadian Institute of Health Research) and various Investigator-initiated pharmaceutical collaborations. He has accepted invitations to present his Scientific work at multiple destinations around the World. He has published extensively, contributing over 450 peer-reviewed publications, to date, which are mostly featured in high-impact journals (i.e., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, European Respiratory Journal, Chest, Thorax, Journal of Physiology and Journal of Applied Physiology). His h-index is currently 109 and his work has been cited 48,839 times (April 2026). The RIU in 2026 continues to thrive under the inspirational leadership of Prof. Alberto Neder.

Prof. O'Donnell is former Chair of the Canadian Thoracic Society COPD Guidelines Committee and Past President of the Ontario and Canadian Thoracic Societies, and was founding member of the CIHR, Canadian Respiratory Research Network. He has received numerous local, National and International awards in recognition of his contribution to Research in Respiratory Diseases.

Complete List of Indexed Articles for Prof. Denis E. O'Donnell

Dyspnea: Mechanisms, Measurement and Management. Eds. D. Mahler, D.E. O’Donnell. Marcel Dekker Inc., Lung Biology in Health & Disease 2005; 208.
Exercise Physiology in COPD: The Impact of Tiotropium. Eur Respir Rev Monograph. Ed. D.E. O’Donnell, 2004 (In press).

Book Chapters

Former Trainees

Matthew James

PhD Candidate (2018-2022)

Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Queen's University

Dr. Devin Phllips, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2022)

Current Position: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health, York University

Dr. Nicolle Domnik, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow (2016-2020)

Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University

Dr. Kate Milne, MD, MSc.

MSc Student (2018-2022)

Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia

RIU Legacy (Prof. Denis O'Donnell)

Prof. Denis E. O'Donnell, MB, BCH, MD (NUI), FRCP(I), FRCP(C), FCCP, FERS

Founder of the Respiratory Investigation Unit

Complete List of Indexed Articles for Prof. Denis E. O'Donnell

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Book Chapters

Former Trainees

Matthew James

Dr. Nicolle Domnik, PhD

Dr. Kate Milne, MD, MSc.