Scientists within the Molecular Therapeutics Cluster, School of Pharmacy, have identified a gene which could predict whether women with breast cancer will respond to treatment with tamoxifen, according to findings published today in Cancer Research (February issue).

Dr Tracy Robson and researcher Dr Hayley McKeen, who are funded by Breast Cancer Campaign, have identified a gene, FKBPL. When it is found in high levels in breast cancer, it indicates a good response to tamoxifen and a better chance of survival. Conversely low levels of FKBPL indicate a poor response.

Approximately 28,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with oestrogen dependent breast cancer each year, and many thousands will receive tamoxifen for five years after initial treatment and surgery. However, scientists predict the drug is only effective in around two-thirds of people with thousands of patients seeing no benefit.

Dr Robson hopes to harness the FKBPL gene to develop a test to better predict the outcome of treatment with tamoxifen. This will mean the most effective therapy for the tumour type is given early on in the disease.

Dr Robson, principal investigator, said, “I believe that many women are being treated with tamoxifen without knowing whether it will benefit them. This research is a step in the right direction towards personalised treatment, ensuring that appropriate therapies are given right at the point of diagnosis, avoiding unnecessary treatment.

“More importantly this research should allow us to identify which patients are unlikely to respond to or eventually relapse on tamoxifen therapy, which means they could be treated more aggressively with chemotherapy. In the next three years we should have a clearer indication of whether our research can benefit the patient.”

The next step is to assess levels of this gene in breast cancer samples from large numbers of patients who were treated with tamoxifen. 

Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign, which funded the study said, “Tamoxifen has long been available as a treatment for women with oestrogen dependent breast cancer. We know it works really well for the majority of people but in around a third of cases, it may not be the best treatment option. In the future a simple test could help us identify these people.”

The School of Pharmacy has learned, with great sadness, that Sir Allen McClay, a major benefactor of the School, passed away on January 12th., 2010. Sir Allen founded the pharmaceutical companies Galen plc and its successor, Almac Group Ltd. Through his long association with Queen's, he made substantial philanthropic donations to the School. One of his most notable legacies is the School's McClay Research Centre for Pharmaceutical Sciences, the construction of which was entirely funded through the charitable McClay Trust established by Sir Allen. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Lady Heather, and to his colleagues at Almac Group.

Prof. Sean Gorman awarded CBE

The School of Pharmacy is delighted to announce that Professor Sean Gorman, former Head of School and now Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, was awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List for 2010.

The School of Pharmacy officially launched the Pharmacists in Schools programme on 2^nd December 2009. The launch was hosted by Professor Peter Gregson, President and Vice Chancellor of the University and was attended by teachers from local Schools.

This innovative programme allows children aged eight to 14 to be given the opportunity to be pharmacists for the day, to encourage them to consider studying science-based career options, as well as increasing their awareness of the role of the pharmacist in the community and in health promotion activities. The School of Pharmacy at Queen’s is the first in the UK to develop an interactive programme of this type to encourage school children to engage with science.

Staff and undergraduate students from the School of Pharmacy will visit schools and give children the opportunity to prepare medicines in response to prescriptions, label the medicines and dispense them.

In this way they can learn how pharmacists use scientific and medical knowledge to make medicines and to advise patients on their safe and effective use.

Dr Ryan Donnelly, co-ordinator of the Pharmacists in Schools scheme, said: “Within pharmacy there are many roles; compounding and dispensing medications, reviewing medications for safety and efficacy and providing drug information and education and, increasingly, delivering frontline healthcare and clinical services.

“Pharmacists are the experts on drug therapy and they are the primary health professionals who optimise the use of medication to deliver positive health outcomes to patients. For any young person it is a career choice with tremendous scope.”

Professor David Woolfson, Head of the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s, said: “Programmes such as Pharmacists in Schools are a great way to engage with community.

“One study highlighted how a third of students studying science and engineering at one university had made their choice by the age of 12.

“I have no doubt that Pharmacists in School will create that sense of wonder and enthusiasm in those pupils who participate in it. And even if they do not go on to study pharmacy, they will have a real understanding of what pharmacists do.”

Mary Keating, Principal of St Brigid's Primary School in Glassdrummond, County Armagh, said: “The Pharmacists in Schools programme provides a great opportunity for children to engage with science and to learn about the extended role the pharmacist plays in the community in advising people about their medicines and on maintaining healthy lifestyles. The children at my school really enjoyed their experience being pharmacists for the day.”

The initiative is supported by Northern Pharmacies.

From left to right: Pam Trail, Vice President, Research and Development, MedImmune and one of the Judges; Professor Volker Schirrmacher, retired Head of the Division of Cellular Immunology at The German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany and one of the judges; Eva Schlecker, awarded second prize - PhD student at The German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany; Nicole Simonavicius, awarded First Prize - PhD student at The Institute of Cancer Research, London; Roberta Burden, awarded third prize - scientist at Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland; Klaus Bosslet, MedImmune's Vice President of Research, Oncology, Cambridge and one of the judges; Professor Gillian Murphy, Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge.

Cambridge, UK, 23 November 2009 – Dr Roberta Burden, a scientist from Dr Chris Scott's group at the School of Pharmacy, was today announced as winner of third place (£500) in the MedImmune research abstract competition, which highlights the work of tomorrow’s budding scientific leaders in cancer research. Students and postdoctoral fellows from across Europe were invited to submit abstracts on cancer research as part of a competition sponsored by MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics unit that has a research facility in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.

 “I am delighted to be recognised in this competition. It has been a very positive experience and I am grateful to MedImmune for giving me the opportunity to showcase my research. I hope to be able to continue my research in cancer and potentially help to save lives.” said Roberta Burden.

 First prize of £2,000 was awarded to Nicole Simonavicius, a PhD student at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK and second prize of £1,000 was presented to Eva Schlecker, a PhD student at The German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.

 “It is encouraging to see the high calibre of scientific research that went into the submissions we received,” said Professor Volker Schirrmacher, one of the competition’s judges and retired Head of the Division of Cellular Immunology at The German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany. “Their research could pave the way for further understanding of tumour microenvironment and could potentially help in the development of new therapies in the fight against cancer.”

 “MedImmune is committed to fostering the development of the next generation of leading scientists focused on improving human health. One of our primary objectives at MedImmune is to promote and advance health and science education, and this competition provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge committed and talented researchers pursuing science degrees and postdoctoral research in the field of oncology,” said Klaus Bosslet, Vice President of Research, Oncology, Cambridge. “We were impressed with the standard of work delivered and congratulate all of the ten finalists for getting this far. The students and scientists represented embody the future of exciting cancer research and we at MedImmune are privileged to play a part in their careers by providing some recognition for their hard work.”

 The competition was open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Europe with ten finalists shortlisted to present their research to an expert panel of judges including Professor Gillian Murphy, Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge; Professor Volker Schirrmacher, retired Head of the Division of Cellular Immunology at The German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany; and two senior MedImmune representatives. The three winners were announced at the awards ceremony in Cambridge University’s historic Peterhouse College following evaluation of their presentations on the basis of scientific merit, innovation and delivery.

MRSA is a major problem in nursing homes with one in four residents carrying the bacteria, a study by Queen’s University Belfast and Antrim Area Hospital has found.

Its authors say that the findings, which have been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, highlight the need for infection control strategies to be given a higher priority in nursing homes.

The study, funded by the Health and Social Care Research and Development Office Northern Ireland, thought to be the largest of its kind studying MRSA in private nursing homes in the UK, took nose swabs from 1,111 residents and 553 staff in 45 nursing homes in the former Northern Board area of Northern Ireland.

Twenty-four per cent of residents and 7 per cent of staff were found to be colonised with MRSA, meaning they were carrying the bacteria but not necessarily showing signs of infection or illness.

Residents in 42 of the homes were colonised with MRSA, with recorded rates in individual nursing homes ranging from zero to 73 per cent.

Staff in 28 of the homes carried the bacteria with prevalence rates ranging from zero to 28 per cent.

Dr Paddy Kearney, Consultant Medical Microbiologist with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “We decided to carry out the study after noticing an apparent increase in recent years in the number of patients who had MRSA when they were admitted to hospital from nursing homes.

“In hospitals routine checks are carried out to identify those most at risk of MRSA colonisation (carrying it on their skin and/or nose) and infection control policies are put in place but this is not always feasible in private nursing homes.”

Dr Michael Tunney, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy, from Queen’s University’s School of Pharmacy, said: “This is the first study which has reported prevalence of MRSA among staff in nursing homes in the UK and found that staff need to be more aware of the potential problem MRSA can be in this setting.”

Professor Carmel Hughes, a Director of Research in the School of Pharmacy, added: “In order to combat this problem, two approaches could be considered: improved education and training of staff, and removing MRSA from people who are colonised with it, using suitable creams and washes.

“Further studies looking at these approaches need to be carried out.”

Prof Woolfson, Dr King and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Gregson

Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory

A state-of-the-art pharmacy laboratory aimed at discovering new drugs for diseases including Alzheimer’s was officially opened on March 13th in the School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University, thanks to a £2million donation by former chief executive of Warner Chilcott, Dr John King.

The John A. King Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratories at the School of Pharmacy, on the University’s health sciences campus, have been funded by Dr King, who began his career in medicinal chemistry research as a lecturer at Queen’s in the 1970s after graduating with first class honours and PhD degrees in pharmacy from the University.

Head of the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s Professor David Woolfson said the donation had also funded opportunities for young researchers to be trained to doctoral level.

He continued: “With this generous gift, the School is establishing an international team of leading researchers in the vital area of drug discovery.

“The new facility will make a key contribution to our research programmes in the fundamental aspects of drug target identification and drug discovery.

“It represents the latest phase in the growth of a dynamic School that is now one of the leading academic centres for pharmaceutical science research in the UK and Ireland.”

Dr King has enjoyed remarkable success in the pharmaceutical industry and in 2004 he led the sale of Warner Chilcott to private equity partners for £1.6 billion. He retired from his position as executive chairman in 2005 and is now non-executive director of the company.

Dr King said: “As a former student, former lecturer and honorary graduate of Queen’s, I have a long-standing relationship with the University, and I am delighted to give support to the development of medicinal chemistry within the School of Pharmacy.

“I am pleased to support cutting-edge research into important areas including drug discovery for age-related diseases. I hope these facilities will further enhance the reputation of Queen’s pharmacy as a world-class research institute.”

A multi-national team has been recruited to work in the new lab including Dr Andrea Guiotto, who joined the School of Pharmacy from Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry of the Italian National Research Council and Dr Michael Decker, who moved to the School from Harvard Medical School in the USA and Jena University, Germany.

Dr Decker said that the ultimate aim of their research was to find novel compounds to help in the treatment and diagnosis of dementias. 

He added: "Andrea Guiotto and I will be focusing on the discovery of new drug treatments for age-related diseases, including those that impair memory, for example, devastating conditions such as Alzheimer's.

L-R Dr Brendan Gilmore, Nina Saban, Amanda Fernandes Rossi, Dr Ryan Donnelly

The School of Pharmacy is hosting two visiting international students this summer as part of a programme organised by the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE).

Nina Saban, from Slovenia, is working with Dr Brendan Gilmore and Amanda Fernandes Rossi, from Brazil, is working with Dr Ryan Donnelly.

The School of Pharmacy recognises and supports the value of the IAESTE programme, which allows students to enhance their technical and professional development and to promote international understanding and goodwill amongst students, academic institutions, employers and the wider community.

A Queen's academic will play a major role in researching medication prescribed to vulnerable groups, especially the elderly, through a new €5m virtual Health Research Centre which is being launched today.

Professor Carmel Hughes from the School of Pharmacy will take part in a five year programme through the Health Research Board's Centre for Primary Care Research.

It aims to improve the health of the elderly, pregnant women and drug users across Ireland. The project also involves researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Trinity College, the Coombe Hospital, Tallaght Hospital and St James’ Hospital, all in Dublin.

The team will examine the quality of care provided to vulnerable patient groups and aims to identify quality standards for safely prescribing medicines. It also hopes to improve diagnosis in primary care and develop new information and communications technologies to improve patient care and promote self-management among patients with chronic illness. Professor Hughes said: “‘I will be working in close collaboration with colleagues from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin and will focus on projects associated with prescribing in a number of vulnerable groups particularly older people.

“We hope that this extensive five year research programme will result in the development of new approaches to improve the health of those living in the community on the island of Ireland.”

Professor Tom Fahey, Principal Investigator at the Centre, said: “Funding is important because it recognises that we can do more to identify and improve the quality of medical care that vulnerable patient groups in Ireland receive.”

The Health Research Board has received €10m funding from the Irish government through the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation to set up two virtual centres. The second will focus on diet, diabetes and obesity. The centres will provide a hub for health research efforts of 11 universities, institutions and hospitals throughout Ireland.

The funding was announced by Mary Harney, Irish Minister for Health and Children, in Dublin.

At the KTP Awards are (from left): Dr Shane Olwill, Fusion Antibodies Limited; Dr Chris Scott, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University; Dr Henry Kwok, KTP Associate and Dr David Way, Technology Strategy Board.

A Queen's University project which speeds up the production of a diagnostic kit for infectious diseases has won a major national award. The University won the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Northern Ireland Regional Award for its work with local biotech company Fusion Antibodies, based in Dunmurry.

KTP Associate Dr Henry Kwok’s work in developing the partnership between Fusion and the School of Pharmacy began in 2004. Dr Kwok’s work enabled Fusion to produce protein from a target DNA sequence within a third of the usual time. The process will be used in a range of applications in basic research, diagnostics and therapeutics.

Research leader Dr Chris Scott, from the School of Pharmacy, welcomed the award: “The project was an excellent opportunity to work collaborating with Fusion Antibodies. This has led to further growth and expansion of the company.

“These proteins can be used in the battle against infectious diseases and the development of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Plans are under way to produce the kit commercially.

“This is an excellent example of the way in which Queen’s can help to produce jobs and revenue in Northern Ireland.”

Dr Kwok said: “KTP offered me a unique chance to develop my scientific career by working in both industrial and academic environments which gave me a chance to learn valuable managerial and technical experience.”

Dr Shane Olwill, of Fusion Antibodies, said: “The KTP programme allowed us to overcome bottle necks in our production capabilities. Our partners at Queen’s introduced some key improvements allowing scale-up of protein production in a cost-effective manner.”

The Head of the Knowledge Transfer Centre at Queen’s, Dr Mary Flynn, said: “Our work provides opportunities for academic staff to reach out to local industry, gather real material for research papers and grants and case study material for teaching, final year and MSC projects.”

The partnership contributed to curriculum development in the School of Pharmacy on aspects of biotechnology and drug development.

Staff with students after graduation

Hong Kong pharmacist graduates with MSc in Clinical Pharmacy

The School’s MSc students traditionally graduate at the Winter Graduation ceremony each year. For the School’s staff, this is often the first opportunity to meet with the students as they undertake the courses in their own workplace by distance learning. In addition, it is often the first opportunity for the students to visit Belfast and to see around the School and the University. This year, the farthest travelled MSc student was Ms. Wendy Chan, pharmacist in St. Teresa’s Hospital, Hong Kong who attended the ceremony with her parents. Wendy graduated with an MSc in Clinical Pharmacy. Also present were staff members Professor Gorman (Head of School), Dr Chen (MSc supervisor) and Mr McCaw (Distance Learning Manager).

Prof Sean Gorman and Laura Gillanders

Prof Sean Gorman and Claire Mitchell

The School of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) held their Annual Prize Giving Evening on Tuesday 13^th November in the Great Hall at Queen’s.

Cathay Burnside won the Gold Medal from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland for overall distinction in Pharmacy. Other notable prize winners included Claire Mitchell who won the prize from The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain for distinction in Level 4 studies as well as the PSNI prize for distinction in clinical studies and the McNeil Ltd prize for distinction in responding to symptoms.

Laura Gillanders won a total of 5 prizes including the QUB Foundation Award for distinction in Level 2 studies, the Warner Chilcott Ltd Award for distinction in Level 2 Medicinal Substances, the TG Eakin prize for distinction in Level 2 Principles of Drug Action, The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology prize for distinction in Level 2 Pharmaceutical Technology and the Aventis prize for distinction in Level 2 Formulation and Dispensing.

Professor Sean Gorman, Head of School, congratulated all the prize winners and commended them on their very high levels of achievement.

Prize winners with (from left) Prof JC McElnay (Dean), Raymond Anderson (President PSNI), Prof Bill Scott (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer of Scotland) and Prof S Gorman (Head of School)

Other prize winners included:

Felicia Garvey: Sangers (NI) Ltd prize for distinction in Professional and Management Studies.

Rebecca Houston: Pfizer Ltd prize for the best Level 4 science project.

Kimberley Little: Medicare prize for the best Level 4 practical project.

Rebecca Craig: Dr DF McCafferty Shield and prize for distinction in combined pharmaceutical sciences.

Karen Alexander: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology prize for distinction in Level 3 studies and the Ulster Chemists Association prize for distinction in level 3 clinical pharmacy / pharmacology.

Samuel Stevenson: International Journal of Pharmacy Practice prize for distinction in pharmacy practice – proprietary dispensing.

Fiona Treacey: International Journal of Pharmacy Practice prize for distinction in pharmacy practice – social and behavioural aspects.

Judith Graham: Dr WM Mawhinney award for Pharmaceutical Legislation (Level 3).

Erin McBride: QUB Foundation Award for distinction in Level 1 studies and the National Pharmacy Association prize for distinction in Level 1 Pharmaceutics.

Hannah McMillan: Warner Chilcott Ltd award for distinction in Level 1 Physiochemical Principles of Pharmacy.

IAESTE provides local students with the opportunity to go on course-related placements in different countries throughout the world.

In 2007, 3 of the 9 IAESTE students selected as contenders for the IAESTE UK Northern Ireland Trainee of the Year Award were from the School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast. The School was delighted that these students’ achievements were recognised and especially pleased that Joanne McCaffery was named as the overall winner.

Joanne travelled to Brazil where she worked in a community Pharmacy in Nhandeara. This provided Joanne with the opportunity to experience the differences in how Community Pharmacies in other countries operate compared to the UK. Joanne also worked in a manipulation Pharmacy, which involved combining a patient's drugs into one capsule for ease of administration where she found that her experience of extemporaneous preparation, covered in Level 2 of the MPharm programme, came in very useful. Joanne also spent a few days working in Braile Biomedica, a biomedical company located in Sao Jose Rio Preto as well as two days working in the research laboratories of São Paulo University where she was able to learn DNA extraction techniques.

Matthew Muldoon spent his IAESTE placement in Rijeka in northern Croatia working with the pharmaceutical company Jadran Galenski Laboratorij (JGL). JGL is a fast-growing pharmaceutical research company, which produces a vast array of products from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. During his time with JGL Matthew was involved in all aspects of the production of gels, creams and ointments and, as a result, Matthew developed a range of new skills and knowledge about the production process.

Steven O’Hara spent 8 weeks at the Pharmacy Department at the Universität Halle in Germany working on sugar esters, which are widely used in the food and cosmetic industry. Steven’s work focused on determining whether the sugar ester could control the release of drug to allow the drug’s action to be prolonged and result in the patient requiring fewer doses. This work provided Steven with the opportunity to find out first-hand what exactly was involved in working in research in the area of drug delivery and provided an insight into potential career opportunities for him in research. Steven also particularly enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people and to learn about another culture.

The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), based in Washington DC, is providing US$1.5 million in funding to establish a new research unit in the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast. The unit will study controlled release delivery systems for microbicides that may help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Microbicides are vaginal products being developed to reduce the transmission of HIV during sexual intercourse. The new laboratory will be under the direction of Professor David Woolfson and Dr. Karl Malcolm.

"IPM’s support for this new laboratory recognizes Prof. Woolfson and Dr. Malcolm’s leadership in the development of new methods to safely and effectively deliver a microbicide that could one day save millions of lives from HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Joseph Romano, Executive Director for Research and Development at IPM.

Prof. Woolfson and Dr. Malcolm have pioneered efforts to develop controlled release systems for vaginal drug delivery through existing long-term research relationships with IPM and many other international centres of excellence in HIV/AIDS microbicide and mucosal vaccine research.

"Given the scale of the HIV pandemic, particularly in areas like sub-Saharan Africa, we urgently need effective female-initiated, coitally-independent microbicide products to protect women in particular, and society in general, from the scourge of HIV/AIDS," said Prof. Woolfson, Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences Research in the School of Pharmacy at Queen's. "We hope the new laboratory will make a significant contribution towards achieving this goal."

The new IPM laboratory is scheduled to open within the School of Pharmacy's McClay Research Centre in November 2007, and will employ three postdoctoral drug delivery scientists. The lab will focus on various formulation projects, including polymeric vaginal rings (IVR) for the prolonged delivery of microbicides. The Queen's team has already played a major role in designing an IVR delivery system for the NNRTI microbicidal agent, dapivirine, IPM's lead candidate product, which is currently in clinical trials.

IPM is a non-profit product development partnership established in 2002 to prevent HIV transmission by accelerating the development and availability of a safe and effective microbicide for use by women in developing countries. As part of this effort, IPM designs optimal formulations and delivery systems for microbicide compounds before taking products through the clinical and regulatory pipeline.

IPM is committed to providing women with an affordable and self-initiated HIV-prevention method that will reduce the cycle of infection. HIV AIDS has led to the deaths of more than 25 million people worldwide and orphaned more than 15 million children since 1981. Like the promise of a future AIDS vaccine, microbicides represent an essential component of an integrated and comprehensive global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Graduation 2007

The School of Pharmacy is delighted to announce that a total of 90.8% of final year students gained a 1^st class or 2.i honours degree in the MPharm course this year.

Professor Sean Gorman, Head of School, commented: “I am extremely pleased at this outcome, which is a reflection of the high quality of the Pharmacy students graduating from Queen’s University.The School had a 100% pass rate with 48 students graduating with a First class honours and 60 students graduating with an upper second class degree”. Professor Gorman also praised the enormous effort by students and staff to achieve such a successful result and wished the students every success with their future career in Pharmacy.

Download a larger version of the graduation photograph for 2007. (Right click on the photo that opens and choose Save or Print from the menu.)

From left: Prof. Sean Gorman (Head of School), Mr Rory Graham, Prof. David Woolfson (Director of Research)

Queen’s School of Pharmacy has received the gift of an antique Pharmacy sign originating from France and brought to London sometime in the early 20^th century. It was extensively renovated in 2001 by the foundry responsible for the metalwork at the Palais de Versailles. The sign, which has been erected beside the School’s Pharmacy, was presented by Rory Graham who graduated in 1990 from the School. Following the recent sale of his London Pharmacy he retained the wrought iron Pharmacy sign and had it extensively re-gilded for donation to the University. Professor Sean Gorman, Head of the School, said “The School of Pharmacy is delighted to receive such a wonderful reminder of the long traditions of the Pharmacy profession. We especially appreciate the thoughtfulness of past students in making such gifts.” Fellow students will recall that Rory was Student President. He subsequently graduated from the London Business School with an MBA and has held senior positions in the international pharmaceutical industry including MSD, Servier, BMS, Inamed and is currently Head of Regulatory Affairs in CSL Bioplasma and living in Melbourne, Australia.

Dr Mohirez Rezvani, Chair of ARR, Prof Sean Gorman, Head of School of Pharmacy, QUB, Prof David Hirst and Dr Tracy Robson, Conference organisers.

Prof Sean Gorman speaking at the opening of the ARR conference

The School of Pharmacy hosted the Association for Radiation Research (ARR) Annual Conference from 3rd – 5th April 2007 (http://www.gci.ac.uk/usr/arr/home.html ).  The ARR is the pre-eminent UK based society for radiation research.  This meeting was organised by Dr Tracy Robson, the Association’s Secretary, and Prof David Hirst both from the School of Pharmacy, together with Dr Joe O’Sullivan and colleagues at the Clinical Cancer Centre and Dr Fred Currell from the School of Mathematics and Physics. It brought together 120 scientists from around the world - the USA, Canada, South Africa, Russia and Europe - to discuss all aspects of Radiation Science from environmental to therapeutic.  This conference came at a time when the multiple influences and roles of radiation in our lives are frequently in the news: environmental hazards, nuclear power and increasingly effective cancer therapy.

Prof Carmel Hughes

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain has announced that Professor Carmel Hughes is to be the British Pharmaceutical Conference Practice Chair for 2008. The news release states that:

Professor Carmel Hughes is Professor of Primary Care Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast and member of the Clinical and Practice Research Group. She is the first pharmacist to have been awarded the Harkness Fellowship in Healthcare Policy and is currently the only pharmacist to have received the honour of a National Primary Care Career Scientist Award from the NHS Executive.

Professor Hughes’ research focuses on long-term care for the elderly, rational prescribing, the interface between general practitioners and pharmacists, and evidence based health care. Currently she is undertaking studies through controlled trials in nursing homes evaluating the impact of an infection control intervention, and will soon begin work on the potential impact of organisational culture on prescribing in nursing homes, which is being funded by the RPSGB through its Academic Excellence Awards.

At the BPC 2001 Professor Hughes was awarded the Practice Research Medal, and says of her appointment as the BPC 2008 Practice chair:

“It’s an honour to have been elected as the Practice Chair for 2008.Pharmacy practice research has developed over the years in terms of quality and importance in health care research generally, and the British Pharmaceutical Conference is an excellent vehicle to promote and celebrate this research.”

Dr John King with Prof Sean Gorman, Head of School

Former Chief Executive of GalenHoldings Dr John King has been honoured by Queen’s University.

At the Summer 2006 graduation ceremony, he was awarded a Doctorate of Science for services to the pharmaceutical industry in Northern Ireland.

Delivering the citation, Professor Sean Gorman, head of Queen’s School of Pharmacy said: “During the 20 years from joining Galen to its listing on the stock exchange John King was responsible for growing a small local manufacturing unit in Craigavon to a multi-site, transatlantic specialty pharmaceuticals company.He engineered the development of Galen through a judicious mixture of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. Over time, Dr King developed the business from a manufacturing to a genuine research-based company that also contained a strong services sector providing chemical manufacturing and specialised clinical trials supplies to the multinational pharmaceutical industry.

“The transformation of the company was by no means complete at this stage though. In May 2000, Galen acquired the US-based drugs company Warner Chilcott taking the market value of Galen over £1billion for the first time. This acquisition provided Galen with a substantial distribution network in the US for its expanding drug delivery product range targeted at women’s healthcare and dermatology. Galen was now recognised as a substantial national and international pharmaceutical company and, inevitably, attracted a number of suitors. In November 2004 the company was acquired for £1.6 billion.”

John King graduated from Queen’s in 1971 with a first class honours degree in Pharmacy, also receiving the prestigious Gold Medal of the Pharmaceutical Society of NI. He embarked upon his PhD studies, and in 1972, Queen’s appointed him to a Lectureship in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the Department.

In 1976 he became Academic Secretary of FIP, the International Pharmaceutical Federation. He left the University in 1978 to begin his long association with Galen, which he joined as Technical Manager. becoming Technical Director and, in 1985, Managing Director. He subsequently became Chief Executive Officer and prepared the company for its successful stock market flotation in 1997 becoming Executive Chairman in 2000.

Professor Gorman said that during Dr King’s highly successful career, he continued to maintain his connections with Queen’s.

He said: “He fostered close ties with the University through research and business alliances with the School of Pharmacy, where a specialist Drug Delivery Research Unit was established in 1996, and the School of Chemistry, through the purchase of a major interest in QUCHEM Ltd. As the company grew, it also became a major employer of highly skilled graduates from Queen’s and elsewhere. John King has also seen the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s grow substantially since he left in 1978. Recognising the potential for further growth, Dr King has this year made a significant donation allowing the creation of a Chair and research team in Pharmaceutical Chemistry – his original research interest.”

For further information contact: Anne Langford, Tel 028 9097 5310

This new teaching programme in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology will be available in Sept 2006.

Unit title: MPhil programme in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Programme co-ordinators: Professors Walker & Shaw & Dr Chen

Purpose: To offer a one-year research masters programme in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, to be run through the School of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the University of Fuzhou, PRC

Duration: 1 Academic year

Proposed start date: September 2006

Projected numbers of students: 12 (2006)

Entrance requirements: BSc Honours or equivalent

Course description: Each student will undertake a research project on a topic that is directly relevant to the on-going research activities of the programme co-ordinators. The results of the research project will be presented in the form of a thesis that will be examined by an external assessor. The programme is designed to give students an understanding of the core science and technology bases that underpin the development of protein, peptide and small molecule pharmaceuticals and methods of drug delivery. The students will receive training in modern methods of peptide isolation and characterisation, recombinant protein expression, molecular biology, drug design and several aspects of molecular pharmacology including receptor and enzyme assays. In addition, they will receive a formal training in general research methods. The practical component of the programme will be complemented by formal lectures and tutorials.

David Woolfson, Professor of Pharmaceutics in the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast, has been appointed as the new Chair of the British Pharmacopoeia Commission.

The British Pharmacopoeia Commission was established by the UK Medicines Act 1968 and is responsible for setting and publishing legally enforceable, authoritative quality standards for drugs and pharmaceutical products. It plays a major role in the safeguarding of public health, ensuring that medicines bearing the letters 'BP' after their names meet the same quality standards, irrespective of the manufacturer.

In his role as Chair of the Commission, Professor Woolfson will also lead the United Kingdom delegation to the European Pharmacopoeia Commission in Strasbourg. Through this delegation the UK is also a major contributor to the development of common quality standards for drugs throughout 35 European states. The British Pharmacopoeia - an authoritative list of medicinal products - incorporates these standards into its yearly publication of monographs.

Professor Woolfson has been a member of the British Pharmacopoeia Commission since 1998. He also currently serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Pharmacy and, in Europe, as a member of the United Kingdom delegation to the European Pharmacopoeia Commission and of its Group of Experts on Formulated Pharmaceutical Products.

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Woolfson said "It will be a great honour but also a great challenge to lead the British Pharmacopoeia Commission during a period where we are seeking to further develop common international quality standards for pharmaceutical products in order to facilitate the efficient development of safe, effective medicines for the UK and the international community".

Director of Research in the Queen's School of Pharmacy's McClay Research Centre for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Woolfson's own research interests focus on advanced drug delivery systems. Most recently, his work has focused in particular on novel intravaginal drug delivery strategies for the prevention of the heterosexual transmission of HIV AIDS.

Notes:
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