biomedical sciences research institute - Research - University of Ulster

Professor Anthony P McHaleProfessor of Medical BiotechnologyContact Details:T: +44 (0)28 70324616ap.mchale@ulster.ac.ukIn addition to ongoing interests in the therapeutic application of electric and ultrasonic fields in the treatment ofcancer, Professor McHale’s recent work has expanded specifically upon the application of modified ultrasonic fieldsin areas such as site-specific delivery of active cancer chemotherapeutic agents and in site-specific delivery of genesfor applications in gene therapy approaches to the treatment of cancer.Recently active research collaboration has been established with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimentaland Clinical Traumatology in Vienna where Professor McHale delivered a guest lecture on ‘Cell membrane poration:Selected Applications’. In addition to the above areas of research Prof. McHale also serves as a member of theEditorial Board for Biotechnology Letters and has served as a reviewer for a wide range of scientific journalsincluding Cancer Letters, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology and theJournal of Orthopaedic Research.During this time, Professor McHale also received a short-term grant from Gendel Limited to work on ‘The interactionof ultrasound with human skull bone’ .Publications:Li YS, Reid CN, McHale AP; Enhancing ultrasound-mediated cell membrane permeabilisation (sonoporation) using ahigh frequency pulse regime and implications for ultrasound-aided cancer chemotherapy; Cancer Letters, 266: 256-262,2008European Patent Granted:Ablation device: EP 1506039 McHale AP & Russell, LJ (2008)Professor Valerie McKelvey-MartinProfessor of Molecular BiosciencesDeputy-Head, Department of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical SciencesContact Details:T: +44 (0)28 70324771v.mckelvey@ulster.ac.ukProfessor McKelvey-Martin has a research interest in the area of DNA damage and repair, particularly in the role ofThymidine kinase in these processes. Using comet technology and in particular Comet Fish technology, new insightsinto this role have been discovered and are being further investigated using other molecular techniques. ProfessorMcKelvey-Martin also has an interest in the mechanism by which aspirin is involved in cancer prevention, and indeedin the public health debate on the use of prophylactic aspirin. Her research interests also include developing effectiveways to engage the public in science, particularly in scientific issues which have implications for health and wellbeing.In May 2008, Valerie was appointed as a Member of an Expert Committee to advise a government-commissionedproject on “Emerging Technologies and Health” with regard to policy. She is also a Member of the Department ofEducation and Learning (Northern Ireland) Working Group on ‘Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)”;32