Projects per year
Personal profile
Interests
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 three 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. We currently have three internal projects funded by Innovate UK, several commercial partners, one of which includes Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult for ex vivo applications of our technology.
Helen has published over 100 scientific publications, edited a book and has given many conference presentations. 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 have supported this research. Helen currently sits on the editorial board for Cancer Nanotechnology and the Journal of Material Science and is an external examiner for Pharmacy at RCSI and Translational Oncology in TCD.
Research Statement
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
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.
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Network
Projects
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R1007PMY: Anti-inflammatory radiosensitising gold nanoparticles for the treatment of prostate cancer
Coulter, J., Butterworth, K., Jain, S. & McCarthy, H.
25/01/2019 → …
Project: Research
Research Output
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A novel transdermal protein delivery strategy via electrohydrodynamic coating of PLGA microparticles onto microneedles
Angkawinitwong, U., Courtenay, A. J., Rodgers, A., Larraneta, E., McCarthy, H. O., Brocchini, S., Donnelly, R. F. & Williams, G. R., 18 Feb 2020, In : ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
9 Citations (Scopus) -
A sensitive HPLC-UV method for quantifying vancomycin in biological matrices: Application to pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies in rat plasma, skin and lymph nodes
Ramadon, D., Courtenay, A. J., Permana, A. D., Tekko, I. A., McAlister, E., McCrudden, M. T. C., McCarthy, H. O. & Donnelly, R., 10 Sep 2020, In : Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 189, 9 p., 113429.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Binder jetting additive manufacturing of hydroxyapatite powders: Effects of adhesives on geometrical accuracy and green compressive strength
Zhou, Z., Lennon, A., Buchanan, F., McCarthy, H. O. & Dunne, N., 02 Oct 2020, In : Additive Manufacturing. 11 p., 101645.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Development, evaluation, and pharmacokinetic assessment of polymeric microarray patches for transdermal delivery of vancomycin hydrochloride
Ramadon, D., Permana, A. D., Courtenay, A., McCrudden, M., Tekko, I., McAlister, E., Anjani, Q. K., Utomo, E., McCarthy, H. & Donnelly, R., 24 Jul 2020, In : Molecular Pharmaceutics. 17, 9, p. 3353–3368 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Development and characterisation of novel poly (vinyl alcohol)/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone)-based hydrogel-forming microneedle arrays for enhanced and sustained transdermal delivery of methotrexate
Tekko, I. A., Chen, G., Domínguez-Robles, J., Thakur], R. R. S., Hamdan, I. M. N., Vora, L., Larrañeta, E., McElnay, J. C., McCarthy, H. O., Rooney, M. & Donnelly, R. F., 25 Jun 2020, In : International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 1 p., 119580.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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All-Ireland Investor Readiness Seedcorn Awards 2017
McCarthy, Helen (Recipient), 22 Nov 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Recipient of The QUB Vice Chancellor’s Innovation Award.
McCarthy, Helen (Recipient), 10 Dec 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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RNAi Therapeutics
Helen McCarthy (Speaker)
21 Feb 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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REMEDI
Helen McCarthy (Invited speaker)
28 Sep 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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STFC User Meeting
Lindsey Bennie (Speaker), Aaron McCulloch (Speaker), Shannon O'Neill (Participant), Natalie Owen (Participant), Helen McCarthy (Participant), Frederick Currell (Participant) & Jonathan Coulter (Presenter)
05 Sep 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Mathematical Modelling of Radiation in Cancer Therapy
Helen McCarthy (Invited speaker)
11 Jan 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Pharmaceutica Nanomedicine
Helen McCarthy (Chair)
24 Jul 2017 → 25 Jul 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Press / Media
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Prostate Cancer UK Innovation Award
01/03/2018
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Northern Ireland Tech Mission
29/01/2018
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Winner of All Ireland Seedcorn Awards 2017
22/11/2017
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities