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Find a PhD Supervisor

Dr James Burrows

School of Pharmacy
James Burrows

Dr James Burrows

School of Pharmacy

The main focus of Dr Burrows’s research team is the identification and characterisation of proteases which potentially represent targets for drug discovery.

The main focus is USP17, a deubiquitinase overexpressed in multiple cancers and required for tumour growth and metastases. Dr Burrows has been at the forefront of studies characterising its biological role and assessing its credentials as a therapeutic target.  

He also has an interest in bacterial proteases which contribute to antimicrobial resistance, with the aim of identifying potential antimicrobial targets.

Finally, through his work on proteases, Dr Burrows has also developed an interest in intracellular trafficking, particularly the trafficking of receptors and nanoparticles upon endocytosis.

Contact info

  • View Academic Profile
  • askmhls@qub.ac.uk

Research Interests

Open to PhD applications in the field of the biology, characterisation and therapeutic targeting of mammalian and microbial proteases.

  • USP17 as a therapeutic target in cancer
  • Targeting bacterial proteases as an antimicrobial strategy

Make a PhD enquiry


Current Research Opportunities

  • Investigating the role of USP17 in EMT

Public outreach & key achievements

  • USP17 Required for Clathrin Mediated Endocytosis of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

  • A Novel RCE1 Isoform is required for H-Ras Plasma Membrane Localisation

  • USP17 is required for trafficking and oncogenic signaling of mutant EGFR in NSCLC cells

Research students

PhD Title Identifying drug targets to combat Acinetobacter baumannii infections?
Name Bronagh Elmore
Country UK
Year of Study  2019-2022
   
PhD Title  Manipulating endocytosis to facilitate drug uptake and delivery
Name Alhareth Alsa’d
Country Jordan
Year of Study  2019-2022
   
PhD Title
Jonathan Burden
Name
USP17 as a potential cancer therapeutic target
Country
2020-2023
Year of Study
United Kingdom

Alumni: Where are they now

PhD Title Therapeutic evaluation of an immunomodulatory nanoparticle in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Name Dr Michelle Greene
Year of Study 2011-2015
Country  Country: United Kingdom
Current Position Postdoctoral Fellow, Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
   
PhD Title The role of the deubiquitinating enzyme USP17 in endocytosis and the regulation of Ras converting enzyme 1 activity.
Name  Dr Jakub Jaworski
Year of Study 2010-2013
Country Poland
Current Position Principal Scientist, Immunocore Ltd, Oxford, UK
   
PhD Title The role of USP17 in EGFR signaling and as a potential novel target for therapy in colorectal cancer
Name  Aidan McCann
Year of Study 2015-2018
Country UK
Current Position Senior Scientist, Almac Discovery, Belfast, UK

 

 


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  • Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Sciences

  • School of Pharmacy

  • Materials and Advanced Technologies for Healthcare 


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97 Lisburn Road,
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