Research output per year
Research output per year
Professor
Room 0G.010 - The Graduate School
United Kingdom
Accepting PhD Students
PhD projects
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
Research activity per year
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. Helen has designed and patented several nucleic acid delivery systems. Current research projects involve gene therapy for metastatic deposits; miRNA therapeutics for oncology and wound healing applications; mRNA and DNA vaccination strategies; 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. This has led to a pipeline of internal development products funded by Innovate UK which include: a Therapeutic mRNA Vaccine for HPV, a multi-antigenic mRNA Vaccine for Covid-19 and a therapeutic vaccine for Ovarian Cancer all funded by Innovate UK. Phion also has several commercial partners which includes Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult for ex vivo applications of our technology, Medicines Discovery Catapult, Aptus Clinical and Alembia IP.
Helen has published over 130 scientific publications, edited a book and has given many conference presentations. Helen has also been the recipient of research grant income from the National Science Foundation, Invest Northern Ireland, Cancer Research UK, Prostate Cancer UK, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, The Royal Society, BBSRC, MRC, EPSRC, and Versus Arthritis. Helen currently sits on the Research Awards Committee for Prostate Cancer UK and is an Expert panel member for the Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator. Helen also sits on the editorial board for Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology and is a member of Alderley Park Science Innovation Centre.
Prof McCarthy's Research interests include:
Delivery of Nucleic Acids
Cancer Gene Therapy
Bio-inspired Delivery systems
DNA & mRNA Therapeutic Vaccines
Bone Regeneration
Nanotechnology
Biomaterials with Genetic Cargo
Transcriptional Targeting
Prostate Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Current Funding:
Invest NI
Prostate Cancer UK
Versus Arthritis
EPSRC
Phion Therapeutics
Teaching and delivery on 3 Modules on the MPharm Pathway (Yr 1, 3 & 4) and 3 Modules on the on the BSc Pharmaceutical Sciences Pathway and BSc Pharmaceutical Biotechnology in QUB and China Queen’s College.
Assistant Module Co-ordinator for PMY3176 (MPharm) and PMY3276 (BSc) ‘Advanced Delivery Systems for Large and Small Molecules’.
Assistant co-ordinator for PMY4005 Project module on the MPharm degree.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Coulter, S. (Data Collector), Pentlavalli, S. (Data Collector), Cross, E. (Data Collector), An, Y. (Data Collector), Vora, L. (Contributor), Peng, K. (Contributor), McAulay, K. (Contributor), Schweins, R. (Contributor), Donnelly, R. (Contributor), McCarthy, H. (Contributor) & Laverty, G. (Creator), Queen's University Belfast, 11 Jul 2022
DOI: 10.17034/67d0cd6f-5bed-4148-b986-f43975b0392c
Dataset
McCarthy, Helen (Recipient), 22 Nov 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
McCarthy, Helen (Recipient), 10 Dec 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Helen McCarthy (Invited speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Helen McCarthy (Editorial board member)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
Helen McCarthy (Invited speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Helen McCarthy (Invited speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Helen McCarthy (Invited speaker)
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
09/08/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
01/03/2018
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities