Louise Carson graduated in 2006 with a Master of Pharmacy degree (1st Class Honours) from Queen's University Belfast, and completed her pre-registration training in community pharmacy.  In 2007 she returned to the School of Pharmacy to undertake a PhD in the area of medical device related infection and bacterial virulence.  She completed her PhD in January 2011, and following an industry-funded postdoctoral fellowship, was appointed to a lectureship in Pharmaceutical Science in August 2012.

Dr Carson is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

My current research is focused on the design, development and characterisation of biomaterials for implantable medical devices. I have a specific interest in strategies to alleviate complications associated with implantable medical devices, namely infection and the foreign body/inflammatory response.

My research is inherently interdisciplinary in it's approach, and I have formed strong collaborative links with academic colleagues across disciplines such as mechanical engineering and chemistry, as well as links with the medical devices industry.

• Biomaterials
  • Metals and alloys
  • Hydrogels
  • Silicone elastomers
  • Bioresorbable polymers
• Medical Devices
  • Urinary catheters
  • Orthopaedic devices
  • Aesthetic implants
• Medical Device Associated Infection
  • Anti-infective Biomaterials
• Biocompatibility of Biomaterials
  • Protein adsorption
  • Inflammatory response to implanted materials
  • Foreign Body Response (FBR)

I teach extensively across all degree programmes in the School of Pharmacy, QUB:

• MPharm degree
• BSc Pharmaceutical Sciences
• BSc Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
• Masters in Industrial Pharmaceutics
• Clinical Distance Learning Programmes

I am very happy to receive applications from prospective PhD students who wish to study within my research group. Applications are welcome from well qualified students with undergraduate degrees in relevant scientific disciplines: pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biomedical sciences, biomaterials engineering, etc.

Some example PhD projects available within my group are listed below, however, I am also happy to discuss alternative project ideas with interested applicants.

• Development of Biomaterials to Modulate the Inflammatory Response
• Surface Modified Materials to Prevent Biofilm Formation
• Multi-functional Nanocomposite Materials for Medical Devices

To apply for PhD study, an application must be submitted to through the QUB Direct Applications Portal.