Yr Athro James Birchall
Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Ysgol Fferylliaeth a Gwyddorau Fferyllol
- Sylwebydd y cyfryngau
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Qualifications
- PhD: Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University (1998)
- MRPharmS: Professional registration (1994)
- Pharmacy degree (BPharm): First Class Honours, Bath University (1993)
Public engagement
Gower College Swansea, March 2015
I was involved with this years theme 'Genetics and DNA extractions', giving a talk/workshop on pharmaceutical science research, focusing on microneedle delivery of drugs and vaccines.
The event was well attended by around 40 students. Gower College is the largest centre in Wales teaching AS and A levels in the sciences. One of our schemes, run in partnership with Cambridge University, is HE+. HE+ is designed to provide the brightest students from across the county an opportunity to engage in science activities that stretch the students beyond what they learn at A level, and (hopefully) get them into some of the best Universities in the UK such as Cardiff. We have been allocated the only HE+ scheme in Wales. For more information on the scheme visit HE+.
Career profile
- August 2014 - Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- July 2013 - Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University.
- Aug 2010 - June 2013 Reader in Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University.
- Aug 2007 - July 2010 Senior Lecturer in Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University.
- Feb 2001 - July 2007 Lecturer in Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University.
- Mar 2006 - Present Honorary Senior Lecturer and Research Pharmacist, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust.
- Jul 2005 - Aug 2005 Visiting Researcher, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Feb 2000 - Feb 2001 Teaching Fellow, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University.
- Mar 1998 - Feb 2000 Research Associate, Drug Delivery Research Group, Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff University.
- Aug 1994 - Present Locum Pharmacist, Various locations.
- Aug 1993 - Jul 1994 Pre-Registration Pharmacist, Abbott Laboratories Ltd., Kent; St. Georges Hospital, London.
Pwyllgorau ac adolygu
Research and Engagement Committee
2020
- Bolton, C. J. W.et al. 2020. Hollow silicon microneedle fabrication using advanced plasma etch technologies for applications in transdermal drug delivery. Lab on a Chip (10.1039/D0LC00567C)
- Arikat, F.et al. 2020. Targeting proinsulin to local immune cells using an intradermal microneedle delivery system; a potential antigen-specific immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes. Journal of Controlled Release 322, pp. 593-601. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.02.031)
2019
- Maarifi, G.et al. 2019. Langerin (CD207) represents a novel interferon-stimulated gene in Langerhans cells. Cellular and Molecular Immunology 17, pp. 547-549. (10.1038/s41423-019-0302-5)
- Dul, M.et al. 2019. Conjugation of a peptide autoantigen to gold nanoparticles for intradermally administered antigen specific immunotherapy. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 562, pp. 303-312. (10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.03.041)
2018
- Price, A.et al. 2018. Topical propranolol for infantile haemangiomas: A systematic review. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 32(12), pp. 2083-2089. (10.1111/jdv.14963)
- Gualeni, B.et al. 2018. Minimally-invasive and targeted therapeutic cell delivery to the skin using microneedle devices. British Journal of Dermatology 178(3), pp. 731-739. (10.1111/bjd.15923)
- Davies, L.et al. 2018. Accelerating topical anaesthesia using microneedles. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 30(6), pp. 277-283. (10.1159/000479530)
2017
- Moreno, E.et al. 2017. Skin vaccination using microneedles coated with a plasmid DNA cocktail encoding nucleosomal histones of Leishmania spp.. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 533(1), pp. 236-244. (10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.09.055)
- Zhao, X.et al. 2017. Formulation of hydrophobic peptides for skin delivery via coated microneedles. Journal of Controlled Release 265, pp. 2-13. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.03.015)
- Dul, M.et al. 2017. Hydrodynamic gene delivery in human skin using a hollow microneedle device. Journal of Controlled Release 265, pp. 120-131. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.02.028)
- McGrath, M.et al. 2017. Editorial. Journal of Controlled Release 265, pp. 1-1. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.10.030)
- Martin, C.et al. 2017. Development and evaluation of topical gabapentin formulations. Pharmaceutics 9(3), pp. 31. (10.3390/pharmaceutics9030031)
- Jones, B.et al. 2017. Imaging techniques for dry powder inhaler capsules. Inhalation
2016
- Nishio Ayre, W.et al. 2016. A novel liposomal drug delivery system for PMMA bone cements. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials 104(8), pp. 1510-1524. (10.1002/jbm.b.33488)
- Czubala, M. A.et al. 2016. TGFβ induces a SAMHD1-independent post-entry restriction to HIV-1 infection of human epithelial Langerhans cells. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 136(10), pp. 1981-1989. (10.1016/j.jid.2016.05.123)
- Caucheteux, S. M.et al. 2016. Polypropylene sulfide nanoparticle p24 vaccine promotes dendritic cell-mediated specific immune responses against HIV-1. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 136(6), pp. 1172-1181. (10.1016/j.jid.2016.01.033)
- Teagle, A. R., Birchall, J. C. and Hargest, R. 2016. Gene therapy for pyoderma gangrenosum: optimal transfection conditions and effect of drugs on gene delivery in the HaCaT cell line using cationic liposomes. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 29, pp. 119-129. (10.1159/000444859)
- Chong, R. H.et al. 2016. Evaluating the sensitivity, reproducibility and flexibility of a method to test hard shell capsules intended for use in dry powder inhalers. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 500(1-2), pp. 316-325. (10.1016/j.ijpharm.2016.01.034)
- Zhao, X.et al. 2016. Microneedle delivery of autoantigen for immunotherapy in type 1 diabetes. Journal of Controlled Release 223, pp. 178-187. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.12.040)
2015
- Alhadj Ali, M.et al. 2015. Topical steroid therapy induces pro-tolerogenic changes in Langerhans cells in human skin. Immunology 146(3), pp. 411-422. (10.1111/imm.12518)
- Choi, H.et al. 2015. Design and in vitro interference test of microwave noninvasive blood glucose monitoring sensor. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 63(10), pp. 3016-3025. (10.1109/TMTT.2015.2472019)
- Ivory, M. O., Birchall, J. C. and Piguet, V. 2015. Early dengue virus infection in human skin: a cycle of inflammation and infectivity [Commentary]. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 135(7), pp. 1711-1712. (10.1038/jid.2014.544)
2014
- Rattanapak, T.et al. 2014. Dynamic visualization of dendritic cell-antigen interactions in the skin following transcutaneous immunization. PLOS ONE 9(2), article number: e89503. (10.1371/journal.pone.0089503)
2013
- Rattanapak, T.et al. 2013. Transcutaneous immunization using microneedles and cubosomes: Mechanistic investigations using Optical Coherence Tomography and Two-Photon Microscopy. Journal of Controlled Release 172(3), pp. 894-903. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.08.018)
- Pearton, M.et al. 2013. Host responses in human skin after conventional intradermal injection or microneedle administration of virus-like-particle influenza vaccine. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2(10), pp. 1401-1410. (10.1002/adhm.201300006)
- Chong, R.et al. 2013. Gene silencing following siRNA delivery to skin via coated steel microneedles: In vitro and in vivo proof-of-concept. Journal of Controlled Release 166(3), pp. 211-219. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.12.030)
- Tatovic, D.et al. 2013. Topical steroid has the potential of modulating skin dendritic cells to tolerogenic antigen presenting cells in human organ skin bath culture [Abstract]. Diabetic Medicine 30(s1), pp. 53-53. (10.1111/dme.12091_1)
- Groves, R. B.et al. 2013. An anisotropic, hyperelastic model for skin: experimental measurements, finite element modelling and identification of parameters for human and murine skin. Journal of the Mechanical Behaviour of Biomedical Materials 18, pp. 167-180. (10.1016/j.jmbbm.2012.10.021)
- Torrisi, B. M.et al. 2013. Pocketed microneedles for rapid delivery of a liquid-state botulinum toxin A formulation into human skin. Journal of Controlled Release 165(2), pp. 146-152. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.11.010)
- Torrisi, B. M.et al. 2013. The development of a sensitive methodology to characterise hard shell capsule puncture by dry powder inhaler pins. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 456(2), pp. 545-552. (10.1016/j.ijpharm.2013.08.011)
- Chong, R. H.et al. 2013. Gene silencing following siRNA delivery to skin via coated steel microneedles: In vitro and in vivo proof-of-concept. Journal of Controlled Release 166(3), pp. 211. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.12.030)
2012
- Yildiz, A.et al. 2012. Inhaled extended-release microparticles of heparin elicit improved pulmonary pharmacodynamics against antigen-mediated airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation. Journal of Controlled Release 162(2), pp. 456-463. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.07.008)
- Birchall, J. C. 2012. Overcoming the stratum corneum barrier: microneedle delivery of macromolecules and vaccines [Abstract]. International Journal of Cosmetic Science 34(4), pp. 361-361. (10.1111/j.1468-2494.2012.00720.x)
- Pearton, M.et al. 2012. Microneedle delivery of plasmid DNA to living human skin: Formulation coating, skin insertion and gene expression. Journal of Controlled Release 160(3), pp. 561-569. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.04.005)
- Martin, C.et al. 2012. Low temperature fabrication of biodegradable sugar glass microneedles for transdermal drug delivery applications. Journal of Controlled Release 158(1), pp. 93-101. (10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.10.024)
- Groves, R. B.et al. 2012. Quantifying the mechanical properties of human skin to optimise future microneedle device design. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering 15(1), pp. 73-82. (10.1080/10255842.2011.596481)
2011
- Gonzalez-Gonzalez, E.et al. 2011. Visualization of plasmid delivery to keratinocytes in mouse and human epidermis. Scientific Reports 1, pp. 158. (10.1038/srep00158)
- Chong, R.et al. 2011. Nucleic acid delivery to skin for the potential treatment of dermatopathogenic conditions [Abstract]. Human Gene Therapy 22(10), pp. A82-A82.
- Teagle, A., Birchall, J. C. and Hargest, R. 2011. The effect of drugs commonly used for pyoderma gangrenosum on the efficiency of gene transfer to human keratinocytes. Human Gene Therapy 22(10), pp. A94-A94.
- Smith, M. W., Birchall, J. C. and Coulman, S. 2011. The wider contribution of microbiology to the pharmaceutical sciences. In: Denver, S. P. et al. eds. Hugo and Russell's Pharmaceutical Microbiology 8th Edition. Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 463-482.
- Teagle, A., Birchall, J. C. and Hargest, R. 2011. The effect of drugs commonly used for pyoderma gangrenosum on the efficiency of gene transfer to human keratinocytes [Abstract]. British Journal of Surgery 98, pp. 40-40. (10.1002/bjs.7577/abstract)
- Birchall, J. C.et al. 2011. Microneedles in clinical practice- an exploratory study into the opinions of healthcare professionals and the public. Pharmaceutical Research 28(1), pp. 95-106. (10.1007/s11095-010-0101-2)
- Coulman, S.et al. 2011. In vivo, in situ imaging of microneedle insertion into the skin of human volunteers using optical coherence tomography. Pharmaceutical Research 28(1), pp. 66-81. (10.1007/s11095-010-0167-x)
- Groves, R. B.et al. 2011. Using inverse finite element modeling to identify the anisotropic mechanical properties of human and mouse skin in tension. Presented at: International Conference on the Mechanics of Biomaterials and Tissues, Hawaii, USA, 11-15 December 2011.
2010
- Pearton, M.et al. 2010. Immune stimulation following microneedle delivery of influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines to human skin [Abstract]. Drug Discovery Today 15(23-24), pp. 1111-1111.
- Song, J. M.et al. 2010. Microneedle delivery of H5N1 influenza virus-like particles to the skin induces long-lasting B- and T-Cell responses in mice. Clinical and Vaccine Immunology 17(9), pp. 1381-1389. (10.1128/CVI.00100-10)
- Pearton, M.et al. 2010. Changes in human Langerhans cells following intradermal injection of influenza virus-like particle vaccines. PLoS ONE 5(8), article number: e12410. (10.1371/journal.pone.0012410)
- Pearton, M.et al. 2010. Influenza virus-like particles coated onto microneedles can elicit stimulatory effects on Langerhans cells in human skin. Vaccine 28(37), pp. 6104-6113. (10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.05.055)
- Bains, B. K.et al. 2010. In vitro reporter gene transfection via plasm ID DNA delivered by metered dose inhaler. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 99(7), pp. 3089-3099. (10.1002/jps.22085)
- Martin, C.et al. 2010. Biodegradable sugar glass microneedles for macromolecular drug delivery [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 62(6), pp. 799-799. (10.1211/jpp.62.06.0016)
- Ng, K. W.et al. 2010. Biodegradable microneedles for intra-epidermal vaccination [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 62(6), pp. 798-798. (10.1211/jpp.62.06.0016)
2009
- Ng, K. W.et al. 2009. Development of an ex vivo human skin model for intradermal vaccination: Tissue viability and Langerhans cell behaviour. Vaccine 27(43), pp. 5948-5955. (10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.07.088)
- Ng, K. W.et al. 2009. Tissue viability and Langerhans cell behaviour in an ex-vivo human skin model for cutaneous DNA vaccination [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 61(S1), pp. A1-A5. (10.1211/002235709789037044)
- Coulman, S.et al. 2009. Microneedle mediated delivery of nanoparticles into human skin. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 366(1-2), pp. 190-200. (10.1016/j.ijpharm.2008.08.040)
- Haq, M.et al. 2009. Penetration and wound-healing responses following application of microneedles and hypodermic needles to human volunteers. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 61(S1)
- Ng, K. W.et al. 2009. Ex vivo immunological studies using excised human skin. British Journal Of Dermatology 160(4), pp. 921-921.
- Haq, M. I.et al. 2009. Clinical administration of microneedles: skin puncture, pain and sensation. Biomedical Microdevices 11(1), pp. 35-47. (10.1007/s10544-008-9208-1)
2008
- Pearton, M.et al. 2008. Gene delivery to the epidermal cells of human skin explants using microfabricated microneedles and hydrogel formulations. Pharmaceutical Research 25(2), pp. 407-416. (10.1007/s11095-007-9360-y)
- Birchall, J. C., Jones, B. and Morrissey, A. 2008. A comparison of the puncturing properties of gelatin and hypromellose capsules for use in dry powder inhalers. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy 34(8), pp. 870-876. (10.1080/03639040801928903)
2007
- Bains, B. K.et al. 2007. Novel nanoparticles for pulmonary gene delivery [Abstract]. Pharmacy and Pharmacology 59(S1), pp. A31-A32. (10.1211/002235707781850140)
- Collins, E.et al. 2007. Nuclear localisation and pDNA condensation in non-viral gene delivery. The Journal of Gene Medicine 9(4), pp. 265-274. (10.1002/jgm.1015)
- Haq, M. I.et al. 2007. An assessment of pain, penetration efficiency and trans-epidermal water loss in human subjects following application of microfabricated microneedle arrays [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 59(S1), pp. A54. (10.1211/002235707781850168)
- Birchall, J. C. 2007. Pulmonary delivery of nucleic acids. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery 4(6), pp. 575-578. (10.1517/17425247.4.6.575)
- Seville, P. C.et al. 2007. Amino acid-modified spray-dried powders with enhanced aerosolisation properties for pulmonary drug delivery. Powder Technology 178(1), pp. 40-50. (10.1016/j.powtec.2007.03.046)
2006
- Li, H. and Birchall, J. C. 2006. Chitosan-modified dry powder formulations for pulmonary gene delivery. Pharmaceutical Research 23(5), pp. 941-950. (10.1007/s11095-006-0027-x)
- Birchall, J. C.et al. 2006. Cutaneous gene expression of plasmid DNA in excised human skin following delivery via microchannels created by radio frequency ablation. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 312(1-2), pp. 15-23. (10.1016/j.ijpharm.2005.12.036)
- Coulman, S.et al. 2006. Minimally invasive cutaneous delivery of macromolecules and plasmid DNA via microneedles. Current drug delivery 3(1), pp. 65-75.
- Pearton, M.et al. 2006. Microneedle facilitated delivery of pDNA encoding HBsAg to human skin: potential for genetic vaccination [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 58(S1), pp. A65. (10.1211/002235706778251483)
2005
- Pearton, M.et al. 2005. Hydrogels based on PLGA-PEG-PLGA triblock co-polymers as sustained release reservoirs for the delivery of pDNA to microneedle treated human skin [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 57(S1), pp. S83-S84. (10.1211/002235705778248352)
- Li, H.et al. 2005. Nanoparticles for pulmonary drug delivery [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 57(S1), pp. S20. (10.1211/002235705778248569)
- Birchall, J. C.et al. 2005. Cutaneous DNA delivery and gene expression in ex vivo human skin explants via wet-etch microfabricated microneedles. Journal of drug targeting 13(7), pp. 415-421. (10.1080/10611860500383705)
- Li, H.et al. 2005. The use of absorption enhancers to enhance the dispersibility of spray-dried powders for pulmonary gene therapy. The Journal of Gene Medicine 7(8), pp. 1035-1043. (10.1002/jgm.749)
2004
- Li, H.et al. 2004. Dispersibility of spray-dried formulations for pulmonary drug delivery [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 56(S1), pp. S10. (10.1211/002235704777489375)
- Coulman, S. A.et al. 2004. Microneedle facilitated cutaneous delivery of a non-viral gene complex to the viable epidermis [Abstract]. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 56(S1), pp. S10-S11. (10.1211/002235704777489375)
- Birchall, J. C.et al. 2004. Microfabricated silicon microneedles for nonviral cutaneous gene delivery. British Journal of Dermatology 150(5), pp. 869-877. (10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05921.x)
2002
- Birchall, J. C., Kellaway, I. and Seville, P. 2002. Preparation of dry powder dispersions for non-viral gene delivery by freeze-drying and spray-drying. The Journal of Gene Medicine 4(4), pp. 428-437. (10.1002/jgm.282)
2001
- Birchall, J. C.et al. 2001. Statistical modelling of the formulation variables in non-viral gene delivery systems. Journal of Drug Targeting 9(3), pp. 169-184. (10.3109/10611860108997926)
2000
- Ramsay, E.et al. 2000. Examination of the biophysical interaction between plasmid DNA and the polycations, polylysine and polyornithine, as a basis for their differential gene transfection in-vitro. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 210(1-2), pp. 97-107. (10.1016/S0378-5173(00)00571-8)
- Birchall, J. C.et al. 2000. Gene expression in an intact ex-vivo skin tissue model following percutaneous delivery of cationic liposome-plasmid DNA complexes. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 197(1-2), pp. 233-238. (10.1016/S0378-5173(00)00336-7)
- Birchall, J. C., Kellaway, I. W. and Gumbleton, M. 2000. Physical stability and in-vitro gene expression efficiency of nebulised lipid-peptide-DNA complexes. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 197(1-2), pp. 221-231. (10.1016/S0378-5173(00)00339-2)
- PH1121 Molecule to patient
- PH1122 The role of the pharmacist in professional practice
- PH1123 Structure and function of cells and microbes
- PH2113 Diseases and drugs I
- PH3110 Optimisation of pharmaceutical care
- PH3113 Diseases and drugs II
- PH3114 Design, formulation and quality assurance of medicinal products
- PH4116 Pharmacy research or scholarship project
- PH4117 Pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice and the population
- PH4118 Pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacy practice and the patient
Research interests
Enhanced delivery of therapeutic macromolecules to the skin via microfabricated microneedles
The skin epidermis represents an appropriate target for the delivery of low molecular weight drugs, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals and gene based therapies. The skin, however, is characterised by poor permeability. Microfabricated microneedle arrays are designed to pierce the stratum corneum skin barrier layer in a minimally invasive and pain-free manner to provide transient pathways for the delivery of macromolecules to the underlying skin epidermis.
Delivery of formations via pulmonary routes
Although non-viral gene vectors are capable of mediating gene transfer both in vitro and in vivo following nebulisation, the delivery efficiency of conventional nebuliser systems is greatly reduced due to the restrictions of the device and the physico-chemical characteristics of the particles at elevated concentrations in the nebuliser reservoir. While newer nebuliser technologies are under development, pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and dry powder inhalers (DPIs) may provide more viable alternatives for delivering therapeutically active macromolecules, particularly genes, to the lung.
PhD students
- Mathew Ivory
- Xin Zhao
- Farah AriKat
Collaborators
Local
- Dr Alexander Anstey (Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust)
- Dr Chris Gateley (Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust)
International
- Dr Mark Prausnitz (Georgia Institute of Technology), Founder member of European Barrier Research Network
Key expertise
- Ex vivo human skin organ culture
- Light and electron microscopy
- Immunohistochemistry
- Pharmaceutical formulation
- Cell transfection and gene expression analysis
Research funding
Over £10 million in external grant funding from a broad range of sources including Research Councils (BBSRC and EPSRC postgraduate and postdoctoral funding), the pharmaceutical industry, government bodies and charities.
