Queen’s University Belfast Pharmacy PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Microfluidic technologies applied to respiratory diseases

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Subject area. 3D Printing, lab-on-a-chip, Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Technology. In Preclinical studies, a large number of molecules and biomolecules, in a very short time, have to be evaluated in terms of efficacy and toxicity. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Lamprou, Prof M Tunney

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Novel strategies and innovative technologies to produce amorphous solid dispersion

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Poor drug solubility presents a major challenge in drug product development of oral solid dosage (OSD) forms. However, many new development compounds exhibit poor solubility and only a few of them reach market approval. Read more

Supervisor: Prof D Lamprou

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Multipurpose gel formulations containing antiretroviral-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles and antibiotics for combination HIV prevention and treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

This is an exemplar PhD project co-supervised by Dr. Sheiliza Carmali (School of Pharmacy) and Prof. Karl Malcolm (School or Pharmacy). Read more

Supervisors: Dr S Carmali, Prof K Malcolm

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Breaking the resistance: alternative approaches to antibiotics discovery

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 global threats to human health (http://www.who.int/). Read more

Supervisor: Prof G Wagner

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Breaking the resistance: alternative approaches to antibiotics discovery

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the top 10 global threats to human health (http://www.who.int/). Read more

Supervisor: Prof G Wagner

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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3D-printed drug-eluting auxetic meshes for preventing biofilm formation and capsular contracture associated with breast implants

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

This is an exemplar PhD project co-supervised by Dr. Zafer Kazanci (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) and Prof. Karl Malcolm (School or Pharmacy). Read more

Supervisors: Prof K Malcolm, Dr P Boyd

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Infection-responsive coatings for the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Medical care has transformed over the last century with significant improvements in the variety and extent to which various diseases can be treated and/or prevented. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M Wylie, Prof C McCoy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Biomaterial coatings with lubricious, slippery coatings for improved urinary catheter performance

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Intermittent urinary catheterisation is commonly used to address chronic urinary retention in patients suffering from conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M Wylie, Prof C McCoy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Designing next-generation urinary catheter materials for clean intermittent self-catheterisation through control of the urinary microbiome

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Intermittent urinary catheterisation is commonly used to address chronic urinary retention in patients suffering from conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M Wylie, Dr L Sherrard

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Development of carbohydrate-functionalised materials for detection and prevention of medical device-associated infections

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing problem in the 21st century, causing longer and more serious infections, and resulting in poor outcomes for vulnerable patients. . Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Wylie

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Microneedle delivery systems for minimally-invasive patient diagnosis/monitoring

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

In this project, a novel type of integrated system will be investigated that will by-pass the skin barrier. On its surface will be multiple microscopic needles that pierce the skin without causing any pain – the sensation is said to feel like a cat’s tongue or sharkskin. Read more

Supervisor: Prof R Donnelly

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Microneedle delivery systems for next-generation antibody therapeutics

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Microneedle arrays are minimally-invasive devices that painlessly, and without drawing blood, penetrate the skin’s stratum corneum barrier. Read more

Supervisor: Prof R Donnelly

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Does one size fit all for antimicrobial delivery via nanoparticles

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Antimicrobial resistant bacteria are a growing problem and new ways are needed to target bacterial infections more efficiently. One way in which bacteria can avoid therapeutics is via intracellular infection, where they hide within our own cells. Read more

Supervisors: Dr J Burrows, Prof B Gilmore

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Regulation of CaaX protein processing

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

USP17 is over-expressed in a range of primary tumours including NSCLC, breast, colorectal, cervical, ovarian and osteosarcoma and its depletion has been shown to block the growth of cells from all these cancer types, as well as the migration of a range of cancer cells (NSCLC, breast, ovarian, osteosarcoma). . Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Burrows

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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The role of carers in medicines management for people living with dementia

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

It is estimated that there are close to 50 million people living with dementia worldwide, and this number is estimated to double every 20 years. Read more

Supervisors: Dr H Barry, Prof C Hughes

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Structure-based design of allosteric modulators for G protein-coupled receptors using molecular modelling and pharmacology experiments

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Almost all physiological processes are regulated through the activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). It has become widely accepted that most GPCRs possess binding sites spatially distinct from their natural ligand binding site (orthosteric site), termed as allosteric sites. Read more

Supervisors: Dr I Tikhonova, Dr B Plouffe

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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High throughput exploration of the design space for antifungal nanocarrier development

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Fungal and bacterial infections contribute to over 7 million deaths yearly, affecting over 300 million people globally (GAFFI). Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Tian

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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A systematic screening tool for nanocarrier design and efficient drug delivery against biological barriers.

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Encapsulation of APIs in a liposome can dramatically alter the distribution by controlling the release to normal tissue while facilitating the accumulation to the site of inflammation. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Tian

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Designing and evaluating novel nanotherapeutics to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy in the treatment of solid cancers.

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

One in two cancer patients will receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment. For patients with a localised cancer diagnosis effective radiotherapy represents the best chance of a curative outcome, however, is not without risk. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Coulter

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Synthetic Protein-Transporters for Enhanced Transduction Activity

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Intracellular protein delivery is key to probing important cellular processes and developing advanced biotherapeutics. However, protein trafficking into the cell, and more specifically to the cytosol remains a significant challenge. Read more

Supervisor: Dr S Carmali

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Investigation of novel protease-antiprotease imbalances associated with cystic fibrosis and the effect of CFTR correction.

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive life-limiting airways disease that affects over 162,000 people worldwide. Read more

Supervisor: Prof L Martin

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Selective targeting of furin for the treatment of fibrotic lung disease.

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Furin, a proprotein convertase has been established as a therapeutic target across several disease areas to include chronic airways diseases and infectious disease, such as COVID-19 (reviewed in our recent publication, Douglas et al, 2023). Read more

Supervisor: Prof L Martin

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Developing biodegradable long acting drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic conditions

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Non-adherence to treatment costs the NHS more than £500M each year. Adherence is especially important when treating patients with chronic conditions that require lifetime pharmacological treatment, such as schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, HIV and Alzheimer’s disease. Read more

Supervisors: Dr E Larraneta, Prof R Donnelly

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Peptide-based nanoparticles for brain targeted gene delivery.

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Gene therapy has the potential to provide therapeutic benefit to millions of people with neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Delivery into the brain is hampered by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which limits the efficacy of both conventional and novel therapies at the target site. Read more

Supervisors: Dr E McErlean, Prof H McCarthy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Genetic Engineering of Immune Effector Cells for CAR therapies using a Peptide Technology

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapies have demonstrated remarkable treatment outcomes and several CAR-T therapies now approved for treatment of haematological malignancies. Read more

Supervisors: Dr E McErlean, Prof H McCarthy

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Characterising biofilm-forming microbes in endotracheal tubes to direct a new strategy for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill adults

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Endotracheal tubes (ETTs) are employed for invasive mechanical ventilation of critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure. Read more

Supervisors: Dr L Sherrard, Dr M Wylie

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Developing novel therapeutic strategies to better treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

One in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime and it is a leading cause of death. While significant progress has been made in the treatment of some cancers, there still remain some forms of the disease with limited treatment options and poor outcome. . Read more

Supervisor: Dr N Buckley

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Self-regulating, self-cleaning biomaterials

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

A major problem associated with medical devices is infection. With infection rates of approaching 100% in some devices, ways to prevent formation of bacterial biofilm on medical device surfaces are urgently required. Read more

Supervisors: Prof C McCoy, Dr M Wylie

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Enzyme-responsive peptide hydrogels as in situ forming long-acting drug delivery implants

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

One of the key issues in the treatment and prevention of disease is that patients struggle to adhere to the complex dosage regimens of therapies, which often require multiple dosing at very specific times each day. Read more

Supervisor: Dr G Laverty

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Self-Navigating Nanocarriers for Intracellular Protein Delivery

Queen’s University Belfast School of Pharmacy

Protein-based therapeutics have shown remarkable success in modulating extracellular targets; however, effective intracellular delivery remains a key challenge in biotherapeutics. Read more

Supervisor: Dr W Al-Jamal

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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We have 39 Queen’s University Belfast Pharmacy PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Queen’s University Belfast Pharmacy PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

We have 39 Queen’s University Belfast Pharmacy PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Microfluidic technologies applied to respiratory diseases

Novel strategies and innovative technologies to produce amorphous solid dispersion

Multipurpose gel formulations containing antiretroviral-loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles and antibiotics for combination HIV prevention and treatment of bacterial vaginosis

Breaking the resistance: alternative approaches to antibiotics discovery

Breaking the resistance: alternative approaches to antibiotics discovery

3D-printed drug-eluting auxetic meshes for preventing biofilm formation and capsular contracture associated with breast implants

Infection-responsive coatings for the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections

Biomaterial coatings with lubricious, slippery coatings for improved urinary catheter performance

Designing next-generation urinary catheter materials for clean intermittent self-catheterisation through control of the urinary microbiome

Development of carbohydrate-functionalised materials for detection and prevention of medical device-associated infections

Microneedle delivery systems for minimally-invasive patient diagnosis/monitoring

Microneedle delivery systems for next-generation antibody therapeutics

Does one size fit all for antimicrobial delivery via nanoparticles

Regulation of CaaX protein processing

The role of carers in medicines management for people living with dementia

Structure-based design of allosteric modulators for G protein-coupled receptors using molecular modelling and pharmacology experiments

High throughput exploration of the design space for antifungal nanocarrier development

A systematic screening tool for nanocarrier design and efficient drug delivery against biological barriers.

Designing and evaluating novel nanotherapeutics to enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy in the treatment of solid cancers.

Synthetic Protein-Transporters for Enhanced Transduction Activity

Investigation of novel protease-antiprotease imbalances associated with cystic fibrosis and the effect of CFTR correction.

Selective targeting of furin for the treatment of fibrotic lung disease.

Developing biodegradable long acting drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic conditions

Peptide-based nanoparticles for brain targeted gene delivery.

Genetic Engineering of Immune Effector Cells for CAR therapies using a Peptide Technology

Characterising biofilm-forming microbes in endotracheal tubes to direct a new strategy for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill adults

Developing novel therapeutic strategies to better treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Self-regulating, self-cleaning biomaterials

Enzyme-responsive peptide hydrogels as in situ forming long-acting drug delivery implants

Self-Navigating Nanocarriers for Intracellular Protein Delivery

We have 39 Queen’s University Belfast Pharmacy PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Queen’s University Belfast Pharmacy PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

We have 39 Queen’s University Belfast Pharmacy PhD Research Projects PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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