RSOP Research News 22 May 2014

8/12/2019 RSOP Research News 22 May 2014

1/71

The newsletter is published approximately monthly during term time.

This issue covers the period February 2014 - May 2014. Please let Cat Hale

([email protected])know if there are items you would like included in

the next issue.

We aim to report successful grant applications, published papers, and

related research news.

elcome

RSOP launches three new MSc byResearch Programmes in October 2014

RSOPs Dr Gary Stephens, Dr Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy,Dr Parastou Donyai

and Mrs Cat Halehave been working hard during the last few months to

prepare and launch RSOPs brand new MSc by Research programmes in

Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience, Formulation Design and Analysis and

Pharmacy Practice.

The programmes have now been confirmed by STRAM and UBTL and will

start from October 2014. Each will provide a 12 week taught component

that is aimed to prepare students for an extended 30 week laboratory-

based or clinical project within the three divisions of the Reading School

of Pharmacy divisions.

More details of the individual programmes can be found here:

http://www.reading.ac.uk/pharmacy/postgraduate/pharm-

mscbyresearch.aspx and any questions about the programme, recruiting

students etc., please contact Gary, Vitaliy or Parastou.

Inside This Issue

Welcome RSOP Launches three MSC

by Research Programmes

Invited Talks andPresentations

RSOP and OxfordUniversity Hospitals

Academic Pharmacy Unit

Launch Hot off the Press Funding Successes Visit from the Alzheimers

Society

RSOP Research into ThaiHerbal Medicines

2ndRSOP PharmacyPractice Research

Showcase

Health Services Researchand Pharmacy Practice

(HSRPP) Conference

School of PharmacyResearch Newsletter

1stJune, 2014 #22
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.reading.ac.uk/pharmacy/postgraduate/pharm-mscbyresearch.aspxhttp://www.reading.ac.uk/pharmacy/postgraduate/pharm-mscbyresearch.aspxhttp://www.reading.ac.uk/pharmacy/postgraduate/pharm-mscbyresearch.aspxhttp://www.reading.ac.uk/pharmacy/postgraduate/pharm-mscbyresearch.aspxhttp://www.reading.ac.uk/pharmacy/postgraduate/pharm-mscbyresearch.aspxmailto:[email protected]


2/7

Reading School of Pharmacy Research News

2

Invited Talks and PresentationsIt seems that RSOP staff have been very busy delivering invited

presentations during the last few months, so much so that it warrants its

own section!

Khutoryanskiy VV Advances in hydrogen-bonded polymer complexes:

nanoparticles, multilayers and capsules, University of Chinese Academy of

Sciences, Beijing, China and Pharmaceutical materials for ocular, oral and

intravesical delivery both at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing,China

Khutoryanskiy VV Polymeric hydrogels: superabsorbent and mucosa-

mimetic materials, University of Shanghai, China

Khutoryanskiy VV Approaches to improve bioavailability of drugs topically

administered to the eye, SMi Meeting on Controlled Release, London

Whalley BJ CBD and CBDV in Models of Acute Seizure and Epilepsy NHS

Scottish Epilepsy Network

Whalley BJ CBDV in Models of Acute Seizure and Epilepsy 12th Eilat

Conference of New Anti-Epileptic Drugs

Whalley BJ CBD and CBDV in Models of Acute Seizure and Epilepsy IVth

Brazilian Symposium on Medicinal Cannabis

Whalley BJ CBD and CBDV in Models of Acute Seizure and Epilepsy

European Dravet Syndrome Society

Whalley BJ BD and CBDV in Models of Acute Seizure and Epilepsy RoyalSociety of Medicine Key Opinion Leader Meeting on Cannabis and

Epilepsy.

Dr Gary Stephens will be

hosting a Physiological

Society seminar entitled

"Functional assessment

of human pluripotentstem cell-derived

cortical neurons" and

given byProf. David

Wyllie. The seminar will

be held in Hopkins 101

on May 29th2014.

Dr Vitaliy

Khutoryanskiys

research group

presented at the

UKICRS Annual meeting

held at University

College Cork on 11th

April 2014 where they

presented a talk and sixposters in total!

Ibrahim Celiker

(supervised byProf.

Helen Osborn andDr

Barny Greenland)

presented a poster

entitled"Design and

Synthesis of NovelAntiviral Agents" whilst

Laura-Beth Brierley

(supervised by Prof.

Helen Osborn and Dr

John Brazier) gave a

talk entitled The

synthesis and

antibacterial profiles of

novel glycosidesat the

RSCs Chemical Biology

and Bio-Organic

Chemistry

postgraduate

symposium.

On 1st

May a second RSOP Academic Pharmacy Practice Unit was launched

which is a joint venture between RSOP and the pharmacy department of

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. The overarching aim of the APU is

to facilitate collaboration between the two organisations in research and

teaching activities. Benefits to the NHS Trust staff are access to researchexpertise of RSOP staff and UoR facilities with benefits to UoR via

improved access to the practice base and specialist professional and

clinical expertise.

The launch day was very well attended by RSOP and OUH staff where Prof.

Helen Osbornand Dr Ben Whalleyspoke about the ethos of the APU and

how this links to RSOPssresearch strategy. Dr Parastou Donyaiand Dr

Rosemary Limthen introduced their research themes and highlighted

opportunities for collaboration. Mr Dan Grantand Prof. Angela

Alexanderoutlined the new MPharm programme and the CIPPETs CPD

programmes.

The launch has already fostered several meetings to develop new research

initiatives. If you are interested in finding out more please contact Dan,

Parastou or Ben.

RSOP and Oxford University HospitalsAcademic Pharmacy Unit Launch


3/7


3

PAGE 3Hot Off the Press!

Hill AJ, Jones NA, Smith I, Hill CL, Williams CM, Stephens GJ & Whalley BJ(2014) Voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channel blockade by plant

cannabinoids does not confer anticonvulsant effects per se. NeuroscienceLetters566:269-74.

Duckles H, Boycott HE, Al-Owais MM, Elies J, Johnson E, Dallas ML, Porter

KE, Giuntini F, Boyle JP, Scragg JL, Peers C (2014) Heme oxygenase-1regulates cell proliferation via carbon monoxide-mediated inhibition of T-type Ca2+channels. Pflugers Arch.2014 In Press

Elies J, Dallas ML, Boyle JP, Scragg JL, Duke A, Steele DS, Peers C (2014)Inhibition of the cardiac Na

+ channel Nav1.5 by carbon monoxide. J Biol

Chem.In Press

Peers C, Boyle JP, Scragg JL, Dallas ML, Al-Owais MM, Hettiarachichi NT,Elies J, Johnson E, Gamper N and Steele DS (2014) Diverse mechanismsunderlying the regulation of ion channels by carbon monoxide Br JPharmacol.In Press

Cook MT, Tzortsis G, Charalampopoulos D, Khutoryanskiy VVMicroencapsulation of a synbiotic into PLGA/alginate multiparticulate gels,Int. J. Pharm.,466 (1), 400-408(2014)

Cook MT, Charalampopoulos D, Khutoryanskiy VV Visualising pH withinalginate gels using confocal microscopy, BRG News BioencapsulationInnovations Newsletter, March, 6-7 (2014).

Tsika E, Glauser L, Moser R, Fiser A, Daniel G, Sheerin U, Lees A, Troncoso JC,Lewis PA, Bandopadhyay R, Schneider BL and Moore DJ (2014) ParkinsonsDisease-Linked Mutations in VPS35 Induce DopaminergicNeurodegeneration Human Molecular GeneticsIn press

Dr Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy

has edited and

published a new book

entitledMucoadhesiveMaterials and Drug

Delivery Systems,

(Wiley)

Dr Al Edwardsscompany Capillary Film

Technologyhas won

98k TSB SBRI funding to

develop a POC Acute

Coronary Syndrome

Diagnostic.

The award seesDr

Edwardss group

welcome Dr Jeremy

Pivetaland Ms Filipa

Pereira, new

researchers who started

in April.

Funding Successes!

Dr Angela Bithell was awarded a Royal Society Research Grant of 15,000 to

study the effects of anti-depressants on glucocorticoid receptor binding in

human brain cells in a model of depression.

RSOP PhD student Divya Ravishankar (supervised by Prof Helen Osborn

and Dr Fran Greco) has been awarded 1,800 from the Felix Trust for

conference travel

RSOP staff have been very successful in obtaining winning funds to supportundergraduate research during the summer with UROP awards to Dr Vitaliy

Khutoryanskiy and Dr Ben Whalley plus Physiological Society and

Alzheimers Society studentships to Dr Mark Dallasand Dr Gary Stephens.

Dr Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy has also been successful in winning ~20k to

support equipment, consumables, beam time access and visiting researchers

within his group from a variety of sources.

Dr Al Edwards has won 10k beam time at the ILL neutron source

(Grenoble) to study interfacial drug encapsulation.

Dr Parastou Donyai has been awarded 101,515 by Janssen-Cilag Ltd to

conduct a service evaluation of a long-acting injection formulation of

paliperidone. The project is a joint venture with Berkshire Healthcare NHS

Foundation Trust under the Academic Pharmacy Unit with Mrs Kate Masters.

Dr Patrick Lewis gave a

seminar in Leicester at

the department of

genetics on the 5thof

February, and a talk at

the Movement for Hope

"Rewired - art and

neuroscience" event at

the Bloomsbury Theatre,

London on the 4thof

Feb!


4/7


4

Dr Mark Dallas led the Pharmacology team to host a visit from The

Alzheimers Society. The AS is the leading UK care and research charity for

people with this disease and other dementias, their families and carers. The

research that they fund is chosen by people directly affected by dementia

and leading dementia scientists. Therefore RSOP invited the local branch

along to showcase the exciting and diverse dementia research happening at

RSOP. Dr Ben Whalley welcomed the group and highlighted the researchstrengths within RSOP and how fighting brain disease is embedded in RSOP

research strategy at various levels. 3 PIs (Drs Dallas, Bithell and Lewis) then

presented some of their research to the group, taking them on a journey

from cell types in the brain, through genetics and finally unravelling the

topic of epigenetics (with the aid of Ping-Pong balls!). The group were well

informed and quizzed the PIs on various aspects of their work, including the

meaning of glia and the benefits of red wine in tackling dementia.

Following the presentations, the group received a guided tour of theresearch labs within the Hopkins Building. They got a chance to see some

cells and some of the equipment we use on a routine basis, which seemed

like something from a space ship to them (except the fridges and freezers).

The afternoon session saw the group engage in a discussion with Pharmacy

Practice staff regarding medicine packaging issues. This was a problem the

group felt strongly about and the Pharmacy Practice staff guided them

through the regulations and provided advice that was well received by the

group. One highlight of the discussion was the nomination of Dr Limto lead

a research proposal into these packing issues and the group are keen to be

closely involved with this research from the outset. The group thoroughly

enjoyed their visit to the RSOP and are keen to develop stronger links in thefuture. This is particularly welcome given the Alzheimers Society sponsored

doctoral training centre grant that is currently in preparation. In addition it

gave researchers a chance to meet with people that are affected by the

disease and bring home why their research is vital in the fight against a

devastating disease for both patient and their family.

isit from the Alzheimers Society

Dr Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy

and his team (pictured

above) exhibited their

research and

achievements on

polymeric hydrogels at2014 Materials Research

Exchange: UK

Advanced Materials

Research Showcase

held in Coventry on 24-

25thFebruary 2014.

In addition to exhibition

stand, Enrica Calo

(pictured above), a

PhD student in Vitaliys

group, presented a

poster Advanced

Hydrogel Compositions

for Wound Dressing

Dr Gary Stephens, Dr

Vitaliy Khutoryanskiy

andDr Ben Whalley

have received

promotion to professor

whilstDr Samantha

Weston has been

promoted to the

position of Associate

Professor.


5/7


5

PAGE 5

RSOP Research into Thai HerbalMedicines

RSOPs Benjawan Poonthananiwatkul, a PhD student, is working towards

her PhD at Arokhayasala, Wat Khampramong, a Buddhist temple in

northern Thailand which treats cancer patients using herbal medicine. Her

supervisor, Prof Liz Williamson, took the opportunity to visit her there in

January 2014 and see the work of the temple first-hand.

It was a fascinating and uplifting experience and not at all depressing

quite the opposite as many patients live much longer and happier lives

than their condition would usually allow, and everyone there seems to be

smiling most of the time. The Abbot, who survived naso-pharyngeal cancer

himself, decided to investigate Thai herbal medicine as a way of improving

his own health and strength after being left very weak state after

chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He now treats patients using a

combination of 11 herbal medicines for all types of cancer, with extra

herbs for specific cancers and other conditions. These are used in

combination with conventional therapies prescribed by the patients' own

hospital doctors, or at Arokhayasala by volunteer doctors. The aim of the

temple is to deliver complementary treatment for advanced cancer

patients and to learn from direct experience how to improve provision of

palliative care. Since 2005, 2,821 cancer patients have been treated

(mainly liver cancer, lung and breast cancer). Wat Khampramong is

becoming well-known for its work and actively encourages scientific

research, and visits from doctors and nurses are also welcomed. Benjawan

is interviewing patients and documenting their experiences of the herbal

treatment, including side effects. The project is sponsored by the RoyalThai Government.

Anti-clockwise from top: the entrance to the temple; boiling up the herbs

to make the medicine which all patients take each morning; Benjawan

Poonthananiwatkul with a volunteer; the Abbot explaining the work of the

temple to Prof. Williamson; herbs drying in the sun.


6/7


6

2n RSOP Pharmacy Practice ResearchShowcase

The 2nd

RSOP Pharmacy Practice Research Showcase was held at the end of

February 2014. This event showcases work being undertaken by staff,

postgraduate students and undergraduates. We had a mix of

presentations relating to MPharm projects, as well as projects linking in

with the Academic Pharmacy Units (with the Berkshire Healthcare NHS

Foundation Trust as well as the newer APU with Oxford University

Hospitals; see above).

The event was very well-attended and we had participants from Clinical

Commissioning Groups, the hospital sector, community pharmacy as well

as colleagues representing other University departments. The organizer,

Dr Parastou Donyai, said As we develop and expand our links through

the APUs, and also launch a new MSc by Research in Pharmacy Practice, we

hope that the Pharmacy Practice Research Showcase grows in its success

and scope.

Dr Gary Stephens

attended the

Biophysical Society

meeting in SanFrancisco and

presented a poster

"Synaptic vesicle

glycoprotein 2a (SV2a)

knockdown affects

calcium channel

function at peripheral

sympathetic synapses"

on work from University

of Reading (Dr Gary

Stephensand Dr Ben

Whalley) in

collaboration with a

group at Tokyo Medical

University and

supported by UCB

Pharma.

Dr Vitaliy

Khutoryanskiys

PhD student,Sarah

Smith gave a talk"The

role of mucoadhesives

in low fat food

formulations: potential

flavour and texture

enhancers" at the 2nd

Nursten Flavour

Symposium held at the

University of

Nottingham on the 28th

April 2014.

Health Services Research and PharmacyPractice (HSRPP) Conference

RSOP were once again strongly represented at the Health Services

Research & Pharmacy Practice (HSRPP) conference which was held in

Aberdeen on the 3rd

and 4th

April.

Once again, RSOPs track record of prize winning at this meeting was

maintained with Dr Parastou Donyai collecting the runner up prize for

best oral presentation.

In recent years, RSOP have won the following prizes at this meeting:

2012 Ms Catherine Langranand Prof. Angela Alexanderwon BestPoster Prize

2013 Ms Supaporn Bunsiriluck(supervised by Dr Parastou Donyaiand Prof. Liz Williamson) won Best Poster Prize

2014 Dr Parastou Donyaiwas awarded the runner up Prize for BestOral Presentation (of PhD student Saleh Almutairis work)!


7/7


7

PAGE 7

Documents

RSOP Research News 22 May 2014