Projects per year
Personal profile
Interests
Professor Lorraine Martin holds a BSc and PhD in Biochemistry and a Masters of Medical Science in Clinical Laboratory Medicine. At the outset of her career, Lorraine played a pivotal role in a joint programme between Queen's University Belfast and the biotechnology company behind Dolly the cloned sheep, PPL Therapeutics plc, Edinburgh and was heavily involved in the Phase II clinical trials of a transgenic human protein, known as alpha1 antrypsin in cystic fibrosis (CF). She was then funded by a Sir Henry Wellcome Innovative Award to develop tools for the real-time monitoring and subsequent inhibition of intracellular proteolysis before taking up her academic appointment in the School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast.
Within the Biomolecular Sciences Research Group, Lorraine continues to develop her research interests on the role of active proteases in health and disease which includes the profiling, delineation and inhibition of proteases involved in infection and inflammation. With a focus on chronic airways diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive disease (COPD) her group seeks to understand underlying mechanisms of disease which also includes the characterisation of novel cellular proteins and pathways. Programmes of work include the development of therapeutic strategies to combat airways dehydration, a key factor contributing to disease progression, as well as the characterisation of novel biomarkers to aid earlier diagnosis and disease management.
Lorraine has also played a key role in the commercial exploitation of patented QUB ProteaseTag™ technology which evolved from a Proof of Concept (Invest Northern Ireland) project with further support provided by the MRC. In 2013, she co-founded and was the founding CEO of ProAxsis Ltd. and won the NISP Connect 25K Award (now INVENT, Catalyst Inc.), before going on to secure significant investment and a Horizon 2020 SME Instrument award for the company. In 2016, Professor Martin was awarded the Queen's University Vice-Chancellor's Research Impact Prize in recognition of the success and impact of these commercialisation and innovation activities.
Lorraine has published widely in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals and currently holds 4 patents. She has presented her work both nationally and internationally, has held funding from the like of BBSRC, MRC, Prostate Cancer Charity, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, UK and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, USA and has productive research collaborations with UK industry and global pharma. In addition, Lorraine has secured significant European funding (€7.7 M) through the INTERREG Va programme (SEUPB) to build cross-border capacity in COPD research. BREATH (Borders and REgions Airways Training Hub) is a 5-year collaborative programme between QUB, Dundalk Institute of Technology and the University of the West of Scotland and funds 25 full-time researchers across the 3 partners. BREATH has been showcased at the EU Parliament (2017) and was awarded Asthma/COPD Project of the Year at the NI Healthcare Awards (2018).
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Projects
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R1943CEM: Stratification of patients with ‘steroid-resistant’ airway inflammation by A20-DREAM
Schock, B., Martin, L. & Shields, M.
06/09/2018 → …
Project: Research
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R1293PMY: Protease-Tag Technology: Clinical Validation and Commercialisation
Martin, L. & Walker, B.
01/08/2012 → 01/08/2015
Project: Research
Research Output
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A Novel Serine Protease Inhibitor PE-BBI Ameliorates Cockroach Extract-Mediated Airway Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction
Reihill, J., Ouyang, X., Yang, Z., Douglas, L., Zhou, M., Chen, T. & Martin, L., 28 Mar 2020, In : Biomolecules. 10, 515, 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)47 Downloads (Pure) -
Perspectives on neuroinflammation contributing to chronic cough
Driessen, A., Devlin, A-C., Lundy, F., Martin, L., Sergeant, G. P., Mazzone, S. B. & McGarvey, L., 09 Jul 2020, In : European Respiratory Journal.Research output: Contribution to journal › Literature review › peer-review
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Sputum trypsin-like protease activity relates to clinical outcome in cystic fibrosis
Reihill, J., Moffitt, K., Douglas, L., Elborn, S., Jones, A. & Martin, L., 11 Jan 2020, In : Journal of Cystic Fibrosis.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)17 Downloads (Pure) -
Evaluation of Novel Serine Protease Inhibitors to Ameliorate Cockroach-Induced Airway Inflammation and Cell Damage
Reihill, J., Yang, Z., Carroll, E., McGarvey, L., Lundy, F., Lockhart, J., Sergeant, G. & Martin, L., 01 Apr 2019, In : The FASEB Journal. 33, Suppl. 1, 127.10.Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting abstract › peer-review
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Furin Inhibition as a Mechanism to Reduce Aberrant ENaC-Mediated Sodium Transport and Rehydrate the Airways in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease
Douglas, L., Reihill, J., Ho, M., Axten, J. & Martin, L., 01 Apr 2019, In : The FASEB Journal. 33, Suppl. 1, 802.26.Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting abstract › peer-review
Prizes
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Asthma/COPD Project of the Year, 19th Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards
Martin, Lorraine (Recipient), McGarvey, Lorcan (Recipient), Lundy, Fionnuala (Recipient), Keith Thornbury (Recipient), Mark Hollywood (Recipient), Gerard Sergeant (Recipient), John Lockhart (Recipient), Gary Litherland (Recipient) & Anne Crilly (Recipient), 22 Feb 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
File -
European Cystic Fibrosis Society Conference (2011) Best poster presentation award
Martin, Lorraine (Recipient), Jun 2011
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Overall Winner NISP Connect 25K Award 2013: ProAxsis Ltd.
Martin, Lorraine (Recipient), 26 Sep 2013
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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ProAxsis Ltd. - Innovative Business of the Year 2018
Martin, Lorraine (Recipient), 31 May 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Seedcorn Northern Ireland Regional Finalist
Martin, Lorraine (Recipient), May 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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ProAxsis Ltd. - The Journey from Proof of Concept to Successful Biotech Spin-Out
Lorraine Martin (Invited speaker)
14 Nov 2019Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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EU INTERREG VA BREATH PROGRAMME ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Lorraine Martin (Organiser)
19 Jun 2019 → 21 Jun 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Experimental Biology 2019
Lorraine Martin (Invited speaker)
08 Apr 2019Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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4IRC Debate: Education do we need to change the way we teach?
Lorraine Martin (Member of programme committee)
10 Apr 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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BREATH Showcase at the European Parliament
Lorraine Martin (Presenter)
21 Nov 2017Activity: Other activity types › Other
Press / Media
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An increasing number of countries are banning e-cigarettes – here’s why
Lorraine Martin & James Reihill
23/09/2019
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
Impact
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Improving outcomes for people with cystic fibrosis through evidence based clinical trials
Stuart Elborn (Participant), Lorraine Martin (Participant), Damian Downey (Participant), Simon Brockbank (Participant) & Madeleine Ennis (Participant)
Impact: Health Impact, Quality of Life Impact