Research Interests
Open to PhD applications in the field of peptide-based hydrogel materials as long acting injectables, within drug delivery, biomaterials and as antimicrobials.
Current Research Opportunities
- Enzyme-responsive peptide hydrogel as in situ forming long-acting drug delivery implants
- Peptide-like hydrogels: A post-surgical sustained release drug delivery implant for the treatment of glioblastoma brain tumours
- Peptide-like hydrogels as a long-acting multipurpose drug delivery platform for combined contraception and HIV prevention
- Peptide-like hydrogels as long-acting injectable drug delivery platforms for the prevention of malaria
- Peptide-like hydrogels as long-acting injectable drug delivery platforms for the prevention of tuberculosis
Public outreach & key achievements
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Dr Laverty’s work on using peptide materials for improving drug delivery was recently highlighted by The Irish Times
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Dr Laverty’s work on the use of short peptide gels against resistant biofilm forms of hospital superbugs attracted interest from national and international media outlets including BBC, RTE and UTV television and radio, The Belfast Telegraph, The Irish Times, WTOP radio Washington D.C and abc News.
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http://abc30.com/health/attacking-superbugs-in-the-hospital/453685/
Research students
Name: Yuming An
PhD title: Peptide hydrogels as a long-acting multipurpose drug delivery platform for combined contraception and HIV prevention.
Years of Study: 2
Country: China
Name: Han Sun
PhD title: Peptide hydrogels as a long-acting multipurpose drug delivery platform for combined contraception and HIV prevention
Years of Study: 1
Country: China
Alumni: Where are they now
Name: Sophie Gilmore
PhD title: Peptide-mimetic hydrogels as a long-acting drug delivery platform for HIV/AIDS
Years of Study: 3
Country: N. Ireland
Current position: Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy Queen’s University Belfast
Name: Rawan Huwaitat
PhD Title: Polymyxin-mimetic peptides for improved antimicrobial activity
Years of Study: 3
Country: Jordan
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department Of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University
Name: Alice McCloskey
PhD Title: Self-assembled Peptide Nanomaterials for the Prevention of Biomaterial Infection
Years of Study: 3
Country: Ireland
Current Position: Lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores