Research Interests

Open to PhD applications in the field of:

Chronic airways diseases, to include cystic fibrosis, COPD, bronchiectasis & asthma, with a particular emphasis on:

• Proteases as potential biomarkers and therapeutics targets;
• Ion channel modulation, airways hydration & mucociliary clearance;
• Infection and inflammation.

Make a PhD enquiry

Current Research Opportunities

• Selective targeting of proteases for the treatment of chronic airways disease.
• Investigation of novel protease-antiprotease imbalances associated with chronic airways disease.

Public outreach & key achievements

• Vice-Chancellor’s Research Culture Prize (2020)
• Vice-Chancellor’s announcement
• BREATH Research Culture video (below)

 

• Asthma/COPD Project of the Year, NI Healthcare Award, 2019
• Vice-Chancellor’s Research Impact Prize (2016)
• Award of €7.7M EU funding for fight against lung disease (BREATH)
• New Discovery in Combatting Cystic Fibrosis
• Founding CEO of ProAxsis Ltd
• Winner of NISP Connect 25K Award

Research students

Name: Xuan Ouyang
PhD title: Targeting allergen-associated proteases and airways remodeling in allergic asthma.
Years of Study: 2019-2023
Country: China

Name: Bethany Montgomery
PhD title: The inhibition of furin as a strategy for the treatment of cystic fibrosis airways disease.
Years of Study: 2021-2024
Country: Northern Ireland

Name: Amy Hendren
PhD title: Targeting  deubiquitinases for the treatment of airway diseases.
Years of Study: 2021-2024
Country: Northern Ireland

 

Alumni: Where are they now

Name: Suhad Bani Melhim
PhD title: An investigation of the cellular effect of multi-drug combinations in cystic fibrosis
Years of Study: 2018-2022
Country: Jordan
Current position: Assistant Professor, Biochemistry/Biological Chemistry, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hashemite University, Jordan.     

Name: Dr Lisa Douglas
PhD title: Putting a CAP on ENaC: A mechanism to rehydrate the airways and restore mucociliary function in cystic fibrosis
Years of Study: 2015-2018
Country: Northern Ireland
Current position: Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Pharmacy, QUB

Name: Dr Timothy Ferguson
PhD title: The design, synthesis and evaluation of novel inhibitors and activity-based probes targeting serine proteases in cystic fibrosis
Years of Study: 2012-2015
Country: Northern Ireland

 

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• Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Sciences

• School of Pharmacy

• Material and Advanced Technologies for Healthcare