Radiobiology

Functionalised gold nanoparticles

Targeting strategies

Tumour metabolism

Nitric Oxide

Prostate Cancer

Chemokines

Tumour inflammation

Professor Jonathan Coulter’s team focus on understanding key mechanisms which contribute to treatment resistance, developing novel therapeutic strategies to overcome these. Most commonly, these are alterations within the tumour microenvironment e.g. hypoxia or altered tumour metabolism.

We employ emerging pharmaceutical engineering technologies (3D-printing, microfluidics) to design novel nanomedicine solutions to solve challenges such as poorly soluble drugs. Such examples include developing controlled release platforms for sustained delivery of novel nanotherapeutics or exploiting active targeting to counter pro-survival responses to existing therapeutics.

Ultimately goal is to discover novel, IP-protectable adjuvants that amplify the impact of existing treatments, driving real-world benefits for patients battling cancer. To date, this strategy has resulted in the formation of a new JV company called BXTA Nanotherpay, where Coulter serves as a Director and Chief Technical Officer.

Jonathan has published >65 research publications, written and edited a book, and has given numerous conference presentations. He is a committee member of both the Association for Radiation Research (ARR – Previous Chair 2018-2020) and the Irish Radiation Research Society. He also serves as Associate Editor of Cancer Nanotechnology and as an editorial board member of NanoDrugs and Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology.

Contributes to the following modules on the MPharm degree:

• PMY1014 Introduction to Pharmacy Practice Skills
• PMY2104 Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
• PMY2105 Clinical Therapeutic 1 
• PMY3175 Clinical Therapeutics 3
• PMY3072 Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 
• PMY4073 Infectious Diseases
• PMY4005 Level 4 Project

Distance Learning Supervisor:

• PG Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy
• MSc Clinical Pharmacy