Pharmacy graduate awarded national recognition for pioneering research in genetics

Oct 19 2010

A young pharmacy graduate has been awarded national recognition for her pioneering research in the field of genetics which has the potential to treat diseases such as cancer and Parkinson's.

Human genetic diseases are caused by mutation or deletion of genes, leading to the impairment of the cell cycle. The aim of gene therapy is to treat the cause rather than the symptoms of the disease via the insertion of DNA into an individual's cell nucleus to treat genetic and acquired disease - where harmful mutated genes are replaced with healthy ones.

Although the technology is still in its infancy, scientific breakthroughs continue to move gene therapy towards mainstream medicine. But one of the major challenges for health professionals lies in the development of a means to deliver stable and effective genetic material to the appropriate cells, so that DNA will be reproduced in the normal course of cell division.

University of Sunderland pharmacy graduate Hannah Beba has been working on a formula to stabilise and protect genes during the delivery process.
 
As a result of her research, the College of Mental Health Pharmacists (CMHP) has awarded the 28-year-old this year's Undergraduate Pharmacy Bursary.

Dr Amal Ali Elkordy, a senior lecturer in pharmaceutics whose research area is gene delivery and has been working alongside Hannah, says: "The research on delivery of stable and effective genes in the body is important, as successful DNA delivery can help in the treatment of genetic diseases and acquired diseases such as cancer and Parkinson's.

"There was a feeling that the outcome of this research would be outstanding and deserved to take part in the CMHP competition. However, the achievement of this award would not be without Hannah's critical thinking, motivation and hard work.

"The facilities available in the university's department helped her as well in the success of this project. She solved problems and generated results on scientific basis by relating her findings to the previously published research in the field of gene delivery.

"One day I hope to see one of her formulations in the market for the benefit of patients. I am proud of Hannah and wish her every success in the future."

Hannah, who is now working as a pharmacist at Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital as part of her pre-registration, says: "The bursary was totally unexpected and I'm honoured this research has received recognition for the university," says

She added: "DNA is so fragile, so getting it to the cell where it needs to be without having to inject it directly is very tricky. In past research there has been experimentation with viruses, which are extremely efficient at infecting cells. But during the delivery process the virus switched on cells which were precursors to cancers - so it was actually causing malignancies, and hadn't reached the stage of treating a patient as yet.

"As part of our research we started looking at non-viral elements to deliver the gene, formulating a protective coating around the DNA to stabilise it. We looked at cyclodextrins, which are sugars that form a three-dimensional space, acting almost like a bucket, so you can drop DNA inside, stabilising it so it can get to where it needs to go.

"This research is in its very early stages, but if it does prove effective in the future, it could be used in the treatment of all sorts of diseases."

The CMHP bursary, awarded for the best final-year project undertaken in mental health, gives Hannah the opportunity to present her work at the organisation's annual conference this month in Leicester, before an audience of the UK's leading pharmacists. She has also been given a two-year-membership of the prestigious organisation.

Hannah's research was selected because of the impact could have in the treatment of mental health illnesses, both neurological and psychiatric.

A CMHP spokesperson said: "Hannah Beba's undergraduate project was very scientific and explored the possibility of a new medicine delivery system using gene therapy based on a non-viral carrier to reduce immunological risk to future patients. Although this research is in its early stages there is the potential for an enormous impact on pharmacy practice and patient safety.

"It is very encouraging that pharmacy undergraduate students are engaged in robust, scientific pre-clinical studies with the potential to effect future directions of medicines utilisation. We congratulate Hannah on her excellent work which resulted in the winner's award of the CMHP Undergraduate Pharmacy Bursary Award."

The gene delivery research will be continued this year by another pharmacy undergraduate at the university.

Hannah, from Sunderland, who also has a degree in bio-chemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, plans to pursue a career in hospital pharmacy.

This, and other types of applied research, are expected to grow considerably with the opening later this year of the University of Sunderland's new £7.5m sciences complex.

The new facility, which opens in December, will deliver research with 'real world' impact - research that quickly transfers from the laboratory into the public domain, be it new drugs and therapies, improved health practices or benefits to the environment. 

A range of health issues will be supported through the new development.

The university will work closely with businesses and organisations in the health sector to allow them access to leading science experts and some of the most up-to-date facilities in the UK.