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Professor Helen McCarthy

School of Pharmacy
Helen McCarthy 800x533 correct

Professor Helen McCarthy

School of Pharmacy

Prof McCarthy’s research team have focused on the development of non-viral delivery systems for nanomedicine applications in the School of Pharmacy. These biomimetic peptide systems are designed to overcome the extra and intracellular barriers, so that the macromolecular payload can be delivered at the destination site in order to exert the optimal therapeutic effect. Current research projects involve gene therapy for metastatic deposits; miRNA therapeutics for oncology and wound healing applications; mRNA and DNA vaccination strategies; repurposing of bisphosphonates and regeneration of bone by increasing the bioavailability of ceramics. The wide-spread utility of these delivery systems has led to a spin-out company Phion Therapeutics www.phiontx.co.uk.

Contact info

  • View Academic Profile
  • h.mccarthy@qub.ac.uk
  • +44 (0)28 9097 2149, +44 (0)28 9097 1993
  • @Prof_H_McCarthy

Research Interests

Open to PhD applications in the field of nano-drug delivery, biopharmaceutics, vaccine technology, repurposing of phosphate based drugs, nucleic acid therapies and bone repair.

  • Development of nanomedicines for cancer
  • Design of non-viral delivery systems

Make a PhD enquiry


Current Research Opportunities

  • Personalised Medicine for Breast and Ovarian Cancer
  • Development of a saRNA nano-vaccine for Prostate Cancer

Public outreach & key achievements

  • http://www.qub.ac.uk/Research/Our-impact/Pioneeringresearch/THENANOMEDICINEINNOVATORWHOALWAYSHASTHEPATIENTINMIND.html
  • 2017- INVENT NI Health and Life Sciences Category and Overall Winner. https://www.siliconrepublic.com/start-ups/invent-awards-winners-2017
  • 2017- Intertrade Ireland Seed Corn Investor Readiness Competition. Regional and Overall Winner. http://www.businesseye.co.uk/phion-therapeutics-wins-intertradeireland-seedcorn-competition/
  • 2018 – Recipient of The QUB Vice Chancellor’s Innovation Award. http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/StaffGateway/Vice-ChancellorsResearchPrizes2018.html
  • www.phiontx.co.uk

Research students

PhD Title Development of a controlled release DNA vaccine for ovarian cancer
Name Chayanika Saha
Country India
Year of Study  2019-2022
   
PhD Title  3D printed caffolds with biologically active cargo
Name Ying Sun
Country China
Year of Study  2019-2022
   
PhD Title  Development of an inhalable nanomedicine for lung cancer therapy
Name Miftakul Muni
Country Indonesia
Year of Study 2019-2021
   
   

 


Alumni: Where are they now

PhD Title The Use of A Novel Technology Platform to Create a DNA Vaccine for Prostate Cancer
Name Dr Grace Cole
Year of Study 2013-2016
Country  Northern Ireland
Current Position Research Fellow in Leukemia at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada
   
PhD Title Development of a genetic nanomedicine for chronic wounds
Name  Dr Eoghan Mulholland
Year of Study 2015-2018
Country Northern Ireland
Current Position Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Cancer Genetics at the Wellcome Centre of Human Genetics, University of Oxford
   
PhD Title The development of a multi-functional loaded thermo-sensitive hydrogel for the treatment of bone metastases 
Name  Marine Chalanqui
Year of Study 2014-2018
Country France
Current Position Senior Formulation Scientist at MedinCell

 

 


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School of Pharmacy

Medical Biology Centre,
97 Lisburn Road,
Belfast, BT9 7BL. 

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Phone :+44 (0)28 9097 2086
E-mail: pharmacyinfo@qub.ac.uk

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