biomedical sciences research institute - Research - University of Ulster

These areas are the subject of several national and international patents. Patents linked to stable GIP receptoragonists have been licensed to a major USA based pharmaceutical company through the spin-out company DiabeticaLtd. It is hoped that clinical studies will start shortly and ultimately lead to new agents for diabetes therapy which willhave a significant impact on the end users.Indicators of Research Esteem:Member of the Editorial Board of British Journal of Pharmacology (2005-2009)Member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Endocrinology (2004-2009)Member of committee for Irish Endocrine Society (2006-present)Member of HPSS R&D Office Clinical Research Fellowship Review Panel (2005-2007)Professor O’Harte is a co-founder with 4 other selected academic/clinical colleagues in the UK of a unique advancedtraining program entitled Innovators in Diabetes (IDia) for young research scientists and clinicians working in thediabetes field in the UK and N. Ireland (rolling program 2008-onwards). The inaugural meeting for this initiativesponsored by a Novo Nordisk education grant was held at the Barnsdale Lodge Hotel near Oakham, Rutland, UK for3 days (8-10 May 2008 inclusive) and will continue annually in May 2009 and thereafter.Publications:Alana I, Malthouse JP, O’Harte FPM and Hewage CM; The bioactive conformation of glucose-dependent insulinotropicpolypeptide by NMR and CD spectroscopy; Proteins: Structure, Function and Bioinformatics, 68: 92-99, 2007Duffy NA, Green BD, Irwin N, Gault VA, McKillop AM, O’Harte FPM and Flatt PR; Effects of antidiabetic drugson dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity: Nateglinide is an inhibitor of DPP IV and augments the antidiabetic activity ofglucagons-like peptide-1; European Journal of Pharmacology, 568: 278-286, 2007Irwin N, McClean PL, Cassidy RS, O’Harte FPM, Green BD, Gault VA, Harriott P and Flatt PR; Comparison of the antidiabeticeffects of GIP- and GLP-1-receptor activation in obese diabetic (ob/ob) mice: studies with DPP IV resistantN-AcGIP and exendin(1-39)amide; Diabetes Metab. Research Reviews, 23: 572-579, 2007Irwin N, McClean PL, O’Harte FPM, Gault VA, Harriott P and Flatt PR; Early administration of the glucosedependentinsulinotropic polypeptide receptor antagonist (Pro 3 )GIP prevents the development ofdiabetes and related metabolic abnormalities associated with genetically inherited obesity in ob/ob mice;Diabetologia, 50: 1532-1540, 2007McKillop AM, Duffy NA, Lindsay JR, O’Harte FPM, Bell PM and Flatt PR; Decreased dipeptidyl peptidase-IV activityand glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide degradation in type 2 diabetic subjects; Diab. Res. Clin. Pract, 79: 79-85, 2008Dr NH McClenaghanHead of School of Biomedical SciencesContact details:T: +44 (0)28 70323011nh.mcclenaghan@ulster.ac.ukBrief profile:Conducted research at the University of Uppsala, Sweden (1991-92) before graduating with a BSc Hons and PhDfrom the University of Ulster. Research Fellow at Hannover Medical School (1996-98), before taking up an academicappointment at the University of Ulster in 1998. Promoted to Senior Lecturer and recipient of University of UlsterDistinguished Research Fellowship Award in 2001. Dr McClenaghan has over 110 peer-reviewed publications, hasbeen invited to speak at many national and international conferences. Patent holder, academic co-founder and ChiefOperating Officer of Diabetica Limted, a UU start-up company focused on innovative diabetes therapeutics.46