The field of pharmacology studies the interactions between drugs and biological tissues. Research in this area examines how drugs affect tissues (pharmacodynamics), how tissues process drugs (pharmacokinetics) and drug toxicity to tissues (adverse drug reactions). Understanding these relationships is crucial when developing new drug therapies in order to provide the most benefit to the patient with the least amount of adverse reactions.
The central theme of pharmacology and toxicology research being undertaken at the School of Pharmacy is infection. Our research focus is understanding virulence associated with respiratory, bladder and central nervous system bacterial infections. In addition our group examines approaches to overcome antibiotic resistance.
The image on the left shows astrocytes (a type of glial cell) undergoing autophagy (cellular breakdown) as a result of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.
Other streams of research being conducted within the group include:
- Pharmacokinetic modelling of virulence factors and other drugs
- Examining the effects of antihistamines on motor and cognitive function
- Identifying mechanisms underlying tumour resistance to chemotherapy
Pharmacology research staff
Pharmacology research students
Selected research articles
- Tan, A., Davey, A.K., & Prestidge, C.A. (2011). Silica-lipid hybrid (SLH) versus non-lipid formulations for optimising the dose-dependent oral absorption of celecoxib. Pharmaceutical Research, 28, 2273-2287.
- McFarland, A.J., Anoopkumar-Dukie, S., Perkins, A.V., Davey, A.K., & Grant, G.D. (2011). Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine protects 1321N1 astrocytoma cells against pyocyanin and 1-hydroxyphenazine induced toxicity. Archives of Toxicology, accepted September 2011.
- Grant, G.D., Zhang, T.T., Gloyne, L.S., Perkins, A.V., Kiefel, M.J., & Anoopkumar-Dukie, S. (2010). Exogenous pyocyanin alters Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. American Journal of Microbiology, 1(1), 9-13.
- Gloyne, L.S., Grant, G.D., Perkins, A.V., Powell, K.L., McDermott, C.M., Johnson, P.V., Anderson, G.J., Kiefel M., & Anoopkumar-Dukie, S. (2011). Pyocyanin-induced toxicity in A549 respiratory cells is causally linked to oxidative stress. Toxicology In Vitro, 25(7), 1353-1358.