Our members

The Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics is an academic-led centre built upon the cutting edge research of our scientists from Chemistry and Pharmacology. Our cross-faculty collaboration enables our research to to be fast-paced, versatile and ever-evolving.

Our varied team of investigators lead multiple transformational projects. Find out about our research leads below. You can click through to their group page to discover more about their members and the work conducted in the team.

Pharmacology Group

Led by CELT Co-Director, Professor Andrew Owen, the Pharmacology Group bring to bear cutting-edge preclinical expertise to a diverse portfolio of projects. The team work closely with local, national, and international partners to better understand mechanisms that underpin clinical phenotypes and to translate new interventions through the preclinical and clinical challenges. The teams’ expertise spans in vitro, in vivo, bioanalytical and pharmacokinetic modelling capability that is harmonised to achieve maximum value for their projects.

Professor Steve Rannard is smiling into the camera

Materials Chemistry Group

CELT Co-Director, Professor Steve Rannard's group focuses on novel polymeric synthesis and materials, and long-acting therapeutics for unmet clinical needs. The aim is to develop novel technologies that address real-world industrial and healthcare challenges. Through a mixture of fundamental studies and the application of new science, the group creates new understanding, develops new materials and investigates applications across a diverse range of scale-able end-uses.

Dr Helen Cauldbeck is smiling into the camera

Radio Chemistry Group

Dr Helen Cauldbeck's group is a team of interdisciplinary scientists focused on the use of radiochemistry to provide deeper insights into the fields of nanomedicine, polymer chemistry, formulation and biomaterials science.

Dr Marco Giardiello is smiling into the camera

Inorganic/Organic Nanocomposite Particles Group

The research aims of Dr Marco Giardiello's group are to develop novel Inorganic/Organic Nanocomposite Particles (I/O-NP) for use in both diagnostic and therapeutic nanomedicine, as well the development of hybrid nanoparticle structures that combine both therapeutic and diagnostic components, known as theranostics. Current research programmes are aimed at several emerging healthcare applications, including Proton Beam Therapy (PBT), Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI), Optical Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with a focus towards strategies for image guided therapy, targeted delivery and drug release monitoring.

Professor Saye Khoo is smiling into the camera

Infection Pharmacology Group

The Infection Pharmacology group, led by Professor Saye Khoo, investigates drug interactions and develops clinical trials for CELT. The group works intensively in the Liverpool Bioanalytical Facility.

Neill is smiling into the camera. He is wearing glasses and has a neat close shaven beard.

Immunocompatibility Group

Professor Neill Liptrott manages the Immunocompatibility Group, investigating the interactions between complex medicines and advanced materials and the biological systems, particularly the immune system. Their work bridges the gap between fundamental biology and clinical translation, driving the design of next-generation materials for therapeutics, biologics, diagnostics, drug delivery, and immune engineering.

A photograph of Dr Adeniyi Olagunju standing in the corridor of a building at the University of Liverpool

Perinatal Pharmacology Group

Dr Adeniyi Olagunju leads the research within the Perinatal Pharmacology Group. Research within the group is focused on broadening our understanding of drug safety and efficacy during pregnancy and lactation. Working across three domains (human-relevant in vitro modelling, in silico modelling and clinical research), our goal is to generate actionable knowledge that will facilitate early recommendations for safe use of long-acting medicines during the perinatal period.

Systems Medicine Group

Overseen by Dr Two You, the Systems Medicine Group supports robust decision-making in drug discovery and development with advanced modelling of all accessible data. We aim to detect disease early, deliver the right drug to the right patients at the right dose, and find new cures to deadly diseases.

Dr James Stewart is stood in his lab looking into the camera

Virology Group

Led by Professor James Stewart, this is a diverse group of researchers using molecular techniques to study virus infection and interventions in man and animals. This includes COVID-19, Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).