Research Impact
WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH
Staff in the School of Pharmacy publish world-class research which has local and global impact, as demonstrated in the case studies below.
Protecting against HIV/AIDS
Professor Karl Malcolm and Dr Peter Boyd at the QUB School of Pharmacy are at the forefront of global efforts to develop products to protect women against sexually transmitted infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Developed in partnership with the International Partnership for Microbicides (acquired by Population Council in 2002), a vaginal ring offering 1-month release of the antiretroviral drug dapivirine has been approved in twelve African countries. A 3-month ring and various next-generation multipurpose rings that additionally offer contraception and/or protection against other sexually transmitted infections are also being developed.
Long-Acting Ocular Implants to Transform Treatment of Retinal Diseases
Research led by Professor Raj Thakur at Queen’s University Belfast has pioneered EyeLief® and OcuLief® — novel long-acting implant technologies enabling 6–12 months delivery of biologics and small molecules for the treatment of ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
Around 1.5 million people in the UK live with a macular condition, including 700,000 with AMD, a figure expected to more than double by 2040. This breakthrough underpinned the creation of Re-Vana Therapeutics, a QUB spin-out (2016) with 20+ full-time employees, which has raised ~£18 million (seed, pre-Series A, Series A; supported by grants from Innovate UK and Invest NI) and secured a significant collaboration deal with Boehringer Ingelheim worth up to $1 billion.
Innovative Microbial Research
Digital dermatitis, a condition that presents as wart-type lesions on the heel of affected animals, adversely affects animal welfare, production and farm profitability.
It occurs extensively in cattle, with 70-95% of dairy herds showing symptoms and herd prevalence rates averaging between 20-30% in Europe and the USA.
Research led at Queen’s by Professor David Jones, in collaboration with Provita Eurotech Ltd. (https://www.provita.co.uk/), has helped to address the economic challenge associated with digital dermatitis as well as generating a commercial impact for the company. Provita Eurotech Ltd is an N Ireland based SME working in the animal healthcare sector, a market worth USD50,000,000,000.
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