معرفی
Dr Garry Laverty is a Reader in Pharmaceutical Science and Practice at the School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast. He leads the Biofunctional Nanomaterials group and is a Royal Society Leverhulme Trust Senior Research Fellow. His research focuses on peptide-based hydrogels, long-acting injectable drug delivery systems, and antimicrobial biomaterials, with applications in HIV/AIDS prevention, contraception, and treatment of resistant infections.
Education:
- MPHARM (First Class Honours), Queen's University Belfast, 2005
- PhD in Pharmaceutics, Queen's University Belfast
- Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice, University College Dublin
Research Interests:
Dr Laverty’s research centers on the design and development of self-assembling peptide hydrogels for healthcare applications. These include:
- Long-acting injectable drug delivery systems for HIV, contraception, cancer, and tuberculosis
- Antimicrobial hydrogels targeting hospital superbugs and biofilm-associated infections
- Peptide-based nanomaterials for crossing biological barriers like the blood-brain barrier
- Stimuli-responsive hydrogels triggered by pH, temperature, or enzymes
Funding & Projects:
His work is supported by major UK and European funding bodies, including EPSRC, MRC, Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, Leverhulme Trust, and Innovate UK. He has led several high-impact projects totaling over £1.65 million, focusing on peptide hydrogels for drug delivery and antimicrobial applications.
Awards & Recognition:
- Controlled Release Society People's Choice Award (2020)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2015)
- FUSION Project Exemplar Award (2012)
- Multiple STFC ISIS beamtime awards (2022, 2023)
Teaching & Supervision:
Dr Laverty is actively involved in teaching across MPharm, BSc, and MSc programs. He coordinates and lectures on modules including pharmaceutical technology, drug delivery, and biotechnology. He is also a PhD supervisor and external examiner for Trinity College Dublin and other institutions.
Professional Roles:
- Associate Editor, Royal Society Open Science (Biomaterials & Drug Delivery)
- Treasurer, Royal Society of Chemistry Education Community Ireland
- Expert Member, MHRA & British Pharmacopoeia Commission Biological Products Advisory Group
- Member of EPSRC, UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships, and European Science Foundation Peer Review Colleges
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