Projects per year
Personal profile
Particulars
Dr. Nicola Irwin graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Master of Pharmacy degree (First Class Honours) in 2009. Following a pre-registration training year in community pharmacy, she returned to the School of Pharmacy and completed a PhD in the area of infection-resistant medical device development under the supervision of Professor Colin McCoy and Professor Sean Gorman. In 2013, Dr. Irwin was appointed as a Research Fellow on an Invest NI-funded Proof of Concept programme to develop lubricious catheter coatings for intermittent self-catheterisation devices. Traction generated from this project led to her being successfully awarded a personal Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2015. Dr. Irwin was appointed to her current position of Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Materials Science in the School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, in April 2016.
Dr. Irwin is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
Research Interests
Dr. Irwin’s current research interests are focused on the development of advanced surface technologies to combat the major issues associated with employment of medical devices, namely their ease of use and susceptibility to infection. To inform the development of infection-prevention strategies, a major focus of her research is involved with investigation of the mechanisms controlling bacterial adhesion to surfaces and subsequent biofilm formation.
Her research has been featured in the national press (BBC News and The Telegraph), published in peer-reviewed journals and filed as a patent.
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Projects
R1909PMY: A platform for reduction of incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia through modified PVC
McCoy, C., Carson, L., Irwin, N. & Jones, D.
22/05/2018 → …
Project: Research
R2481PMY: Development of antimicrobial materials made of natural compounds prepared using 3D printing
23/04/2018 → …
Project: Research
R2493PMY: 3D printable antimicrobial materials for the development of safer medical devices
11/06/2018 → 10/08/2018
Project: Research
R2473PMY: Sustainable materials for prevention of catheter complications
13/04/2018 → 17/08/2018
Project: Research
R1863PMY: A One Health Approach to Address Medical Device-Associated Infections
08/02/2018 → 18/08/2018
Project: Research
Research Output
An infection-responsive approach to reduce bacterial adhesion in urinary biomaterials
McCoy, C. P., Irwin, N. J., Brady, C., Jones, D. S., Carson, L., Andrews, G. P. & Gorman, S. P., 2016, In : Molecular Pharmaceutics. 13, 8, p. 2817–2822 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
File
15
Citations
(Scopus)
236
Downloads
(Pure)
Synthesis and release kinetics of polymerisable ester drug conjugates towards pH-responsive infection-resistant urinary biomaterials
McCoy, C. P., Irwin, N. J., Brady, C., Jones, D. S., Andrews, G. P. & Gorman, S. P., 15 May 2013, In : Tetrahedron Letters. 54, 20, p. 2511-2514 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
4
Citations
(Scopus)
Effect of pH on the in vitro susceptibility of planktonic and biofilm-grown Proteus mirabilis to the quinolone antimicrobials
Irwin, N. J., McCoy, C. P. & Carson, L., Aug 2013, In : Journal of applied microbiology. 115, 2, p. 382-9Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
13
Citations
(Scopus)
Infection-responsive drug delivery from urinary biomaterials controlled by a novel kinetic and thermodynamic approach
Irwin, N. J., McCoy, C. P., Jones, D. S. & Gorman, S. P., Mar 2013, In : Pharmaceutical Research. 30, 3, p. 857-865 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
18
Citations
(Scopus)
Lignin/poly(butylene succinate) composites with antioxidant and antibacterial properties for potential biomedical applications
Domínguez-Robles, J., Larrañeta, E., Fong, M. L., Martin, N. K., Irwin, N. J., Mutjé, P., Tarrés, Q. & Delgado-Aguilar, M., 15 Feb 2020, In : International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 145, p. 92-99Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open Access
File
2
Citations
(Scopus)
55
Downloads
(Pure)
Datasets
Datasets for "A Multifunctional, Low Friction, Antimicrobial Approach for Biomaterial Surface Enhancement"
Irwin, N. (Creator), Bryant, M. (Contributor), McCoy, C. (Contributor), Trotter, J. (Contributor) & Turner, J. (Contributor), Queen's University Belfast, 01 Nov 2019
DOI: 10.17034/d5148116-3dcf-4998-b75d-0ef99dd650f2
Dataset
Prizes
Academy of Medical Sciences Springboard Award
Irwin, Nicola (Recipient), 01 May 2019
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
Artwork accepted for cover of Chemistry - A European Journal
Irwin, Nicola (Recipient), 28 Nov 2019
Prize: Other distinction
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Irwin, Nicola (Recipient), 30 Jun 2017
Prize: Other distinction
Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher Prize
Irwin, Nicola (Recipient), 09 Dec 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
Lead for CQC Exchange Programme
Nicola Irwin (Organiser), & Shu Li (Organiser)
13 Jan 2020 → 19 Feb 2020
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (Journal)
Nicola Irwin (Peer reviewer)
15 Jan 2020 → …
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
University of Houston
Nicola Irwin (Visiting researcher)
02 Sep 2019 → 06 Sep 2019
Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Research and Teaching at External Organisation
Royal Academy of Engineering (External organisation)
Nicola Irwin (Member)
20 Aug 2019 → …
Activity: Membership types › Membership of national or international committees and working groups
Queen's University Belfast (Organisational unit)
Nicola Irwin (Member)
07 Oct 2019 → …
Activity: Membership types › Membership of peer review panel or committee
Press / Media
A World of Opportunity - Interviewed about my role as an academic in the Northern Ireland Healthcare Review Magazine
02/12/2019
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other
Self-lubricating condom designed to reduce infections
16/10/2018
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
Breaking the bladder taboo and pressing for progress: Professor Roger Feneley’s legacy
09/08/2018
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment