Ewch i’r prif gynnwys
Elaine Ferguson  MRPharmS, PhD, SFHEA

Dr Elaine Ferguson MRPharmS, PhD, SFHEA

Uwch ddarlithydd mewn Therapiwteg Polymer

Ysgol Deintyddiaeth

Email
FergusonEL@caerdydd.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29225 10663
Campuses
Ysbyty Deintyddol y Brifysgol, Ystafell Room 5F.08, Parc y Mynydd Bychan, Caerdydd, CF14 4XY
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Trosolwyg

Research Theme

Tissue Engineering & Reparative Dentistry

Research Group

Microbial Effects on Tissue Function, and Tissue Repair and Remodelling

Repair and Regeneration in the Oral Mucosa

Research Interests

  • Bioresponsive polymer therapeutics for tissue repair and regeneration
  • Biomaterials
  • Tissue engineering
  • Physicochemical characterisation of polymer therapeutics in solution and at interfaces

Selected Publications

  • Ferguson EL, Richardson SCW and Duncan R (2010) Investigating the Mechanism of Action of Dextrin-phospholipase A2 and Pre-clinical Studies on its Suitability for Combination Therapy with Doxorubicin. Molecular Pharmaceutics. (In press, DOI: 10.1021/mp9002656)
  • Ferguson EL and Duncan R (2009) Dextrin-phospholipase A2: A Novel Bioresponsive Anticancer Conjugate. Biomacromolecules, 10: 1359-1364.
  • Hardwicke J, Ferguson EL, Moseley R, Schmaljohann D, Stephens P, Duncan R and Thomas D (2008) Bioresponsive Dextrin-rhEGF Conjugates to Modify Cellular Responses in Impaired Human Wound Healing. Journal of Controlled Release, 130: 275-283.
  • Richardson S, Wallom K, Ferguson EL, Deacon SP, Davies MW, Powell AJ, Piper RC, and Duncan R (2007) The Use of Fluorescence Microscopy to Define Polymer Conjugate Localisation to Late Endocytic compartments in Fixed and Live Target Cells. Journal of Controlled Release, 127: 1-11.

Selected Projects

  • Stability of polymer conjugates in solution.
  • Investigating Hyaluronic Acid as a Polymeric Carrier for Polymer-Masked Unmasked Protein Therapy (PUMPT) and its use in Tissue Repair.
  • Polymer Therapeutics to Modify Cellular Responses in Impaired Human Wound Healing.
  • Polymer-Phospholipase Conjugates as Novel Anti-cancer Agents: Dextrin-Phospholipase A2.

Cyhoeddiad

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2011

2010

2009

2008

Adrannau llyfrau

Erthyglau

Gosodiad

Ymchwil

Current Projects

Dextrin-colistin conjugates as a model bioresponsive treatment for multi-drug resistant bacterial infections
Aim: To develop a novel nanomedicine-based delivery system to target the delivery of colistin to sites of inflammation; increasing bioactivity/ bioavailability, decreasing systemic toxicity and improving clinical effectiveness.

Physicochemical analysis of the solution behaviour of 'nanoantibiotic' polymer conjugates and their interaction with biological structures
Aim: To predict the three-dimensional arrangements of the polymer chains and their conjugates (their conformation) and how quickly they diffused in biological tissues, and to determine the endotoxin binding capacity of conjugates to help predict their ability to modulate bacterial lipopolysaccharide in the treatment of sepsis.

Polymer therapeutics to modify cellular responses in impaired human wound healing
Aim: To develop a bioresponsive polymer-drug conjugate designed specifically to promote tissue repair by controllable liberation of growth factors.

Bioresponsive polymer conjugates for stem cell expansion and transplantation
Aim: To combine the potential of polymer therapeutics and stem cell therapy, to support the expansion of stem cells in vitro and explore the feasibility of enhancing stem cell transplantation efficiency using bioresponsive polymer conjugates.

Funding

  • 2016-2019: MRC New Investigator Research grant (MR/N023633/1): ‘Accumulation and nephrotoxicity of dextrin-colistin conjugates’ (£406,496, principal investigator).
  • 2013-2013: Microbiology and Infection Translational Research Group (MITReG) Research Development Group grant: "Nanoantibiotic approaches to antibiotic delivery' (£4,000, principal investigator).
  • 2012: EPSRC grant (EP/K031635/1): 'Small items of research equipment at Cardiff University' (£498,293, co-investigator).
  • 2012: SANS study at ILL facility: 'Investigating the solution conformation and mechanism of action of antimicrobial alginate oligosaccharides (OligoG)' (£19,699, principal investigator).
  • 2011: SANS study at ILL facility: 'Novel polymer-antimicrobial conjugates; their solution conformation, self-association behavior and interaction with lipopolysaccharides' (£19,172, co-investigator).
  • 2010-2011: Wellcome Trust Value in People Award (£41,000 awarded, principal investigator).
  • 2009-2010: MRC Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme: 'Bioresponsive polymer-peptide conjugates as novel antibacterial agents' (£27,000 awarded, principal investigator).
  • 2008: SANS study at ISIS facility: 'Investigating a Dextrin-Phospholipase A2 Conjugate as a Trigger for Polymer Enzyme Liposome Therapy (PELT)' (£22,120 awarded, principal investigator).
  • 2008: SANS study at ISIS facility: 'Structural Characterisation of a Series of Polymer-Protein Conjugates for Chronic Wound Treatments' (£10,870, co-investigator).

ORCID ID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0125-0234

Addysgu

Module leader for DET002 (Tissue Engineering From Concept to Clinical Practice) of the MSc in Tissue Engineering & Repair.
Provide tutorials & lecture on 'Engineering Advanced Materials' and 'Nanotechnology' for the MSc in Tissue Engineering & Repair.
Provide lectures and research project supervision for the MSc in Implantology.
External lecturer at University of Kent.
STEM Ambassador.

Bywgraffiad

I graduated from the University of Manchester with a First class Master of Pharmacy degree, having gained a broad knowledge of the principles and techniques of pharmaceutical sciences. This led me to work within the pharmaceutical industry sector  (AstraZeneca) where I acquired practical experience of these skills. After qualification as a registered pharmacist I decided to pursue my growing interest in developing novel drug delivery systems since my clinical pharmacy experiences had highlighted the clinical need for new treatments. I completed a PhD with Professor Ruth Duncan at Cardiff University in 2008, in which I developed a bioresponsive polymer-phospholipase conjugate for the treatment of breast cancer. This research 'cemented' my long-standing interest in using natural biodegradable polymers as novel carriers for bioactive agents.

Having demonstrated the feasibility of bioresponsive polymer therapeutics in cancer, my interests focused on exploring new clinical applications. Having identified regenerative medicine as a field in which bioresponsive polymer conjugates could have great potential, I joined an interdisciplinary EPSRC Nanomedicine Platform-led consortium. Employing highly sophisticated analytical techniques to develop and test dextrin-growth factor conjugates, we developed the first polymer therapeutics for tissue repair.

More recently, my funding from MRC and Wellcome Trust enabled my group to design and deliver the first bioresponsive 'nanoantibiotic' based on dextrin-colistin conjugates, which show improved drug stability, pharmacokinetics and retention of antimicrobial activity. This funding has supported the development of a small consortium, led by myself, of clinicians, postgraduates and a research assistant.

I was appointed as Lecturer of Polymer Therapeutics in January 2013, and promoted to Senior Lecturer in August 2017.

Anrhydeddau a dyfarniadau

  • Jun 2016: Poster prize. Cardiff and Vale UHB International Clinical Trials Conference. Cardiff, UK (3rd prize awarded).
  • Jun 2015: Poster prize. Cardiff and Vale UHB Research and Development Conference. Cardiff, UK (3rd prize awarded).
  • May 2014: Oral presentation. 10th International Symposium on Polymer Therapeutics: From Laboratory to Clinical Practice. Valencia, Spain (2nd prize awarded).
  • Dec 2012: Competitive travel grant. Microbiology and Infection Translational Research Group (MITReG) (£400).
  • May 2011: Science team award for ‘Best Interdisciplinary Dynamics’, SARTRE Science Showcase. Newport, UK.
  • Nov 2010: Oral presentation. Association of British Academic Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Annual Meeting. Cardiff, UK (1st prize awarded).
  • 2007: Competitive travel grants. Merck Sharp & Dohme (£500), Controlled Release Society ($125).
  • Jun ’06: Oral presentation. Highlights of student posters, 33rd Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Controlled Release Society. Vienna, Austria (1st prize awarded).
  • 2006: Competitive travel grants. Graduate School of Biomedical and Life Sciences travel grant (£300), Thomas Morgan travel grant (£200).
  • Apr 2004: Poster prize. Postgraduate research day, Welsh School of Pharmacy. Cardiff, UK (1st prize awarded).
  • 8 prizes awarded to PhD students under my supervision.

Aelodaethau proffesiynol

Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS)General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)


Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering & Repair (CITER)

Microbiology and Infection Translational Research Group (MITReG)European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)


British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC)

Safleoedd academaidd blaenorol

  • Jan 2012 - Jul 2017: Lecturer in Polymer Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK.
  • Nov 2008 - Dec 2012: Research Associate in Polymer Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Cardiff, UK.
  • May 2008 - Oct 2008: Postdoctoral Research Scientist (Nanomedicines EPSRC Platform Grant), Schools of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Cardiff, UK.

Pwyllgorau ac adolygu

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • 2021 - present: Director of Research (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2018 - present: Impact Lead (UoA3), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2018 - present: Senior Management Committee (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2016 - present: Wellcome Trust ISSF3 grant panel member, Cardiff University, UK
  • 2016 - present: Research Committee (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2015 - 2016: Enterprise, Engagement and Impact Committee (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2014 - present: Postgraduate Research Admissions and Monitoring Committee (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2014 - present: Impact and Innovation Committee (College of Biological and Life Sciences), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2014 -present: Impact Lead (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2013 - 2017: Research Ethics Committee (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2012 - 2018: People, Equality and Diversity Committee (Dentistry), Cardiff University, UK

COMMISSIONS OF TRUST

  • 2019 - present: Associate Editor, Nano-Based Drug Delivery - Frontiers in Medical Technology
  • 2019 - present: Editorial board member, Scientific Reports
  • 2019: External examiner, Monash University
  • 2018: External examiner, University of Strathclyde
  • 2016 - present: Chair of PhD examination panel (x2), Cardiff University, UK
  • 2011 - present: Grant reviewing: BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, UKRI, Wellcome Trust and British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
  • 2010 - present: Reviewer for over 20 journals, e.g.: Nature, Biomacromolecules, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine, PLoS ONE, International Journal of Nanomedicine, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Macromolecular Bioscience

Meysydd goruchwyliaeth

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

  • Polymer therapeutics
  • Drug delivery
  • Nanomedicine
  • Antimicrobial resistance