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Title: 'The Microbiome and Stress' – Related Psychiatric Disorders - A prescription for therapeutic targeting of the gut/brain axis
Overview of Webinar
The gut microbiome can signal along the gut-brain axis to influence many fundamental aspects of brain function and behaviour of relevance to Psychiatry. This includes depression, anxiety and pain as well as host stress physiology. Many of the behaviours influenced by the gut microbiota rely on intact serotonergic neurotransmission and serotonin is a key neurotransmitter at both terminals of this bidirectional communication network. Moreover, many commonly used drugs in Psychiatry may exert effects on the bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract. Research efforts continue to identify the precise mechanisms underpinning these effects and possible routes of communication include the vagus nerve, the neuroendocrine system and immune factors. There is now an increasing focus on microbial regulation of tryptophan metabolism and the serotonergic system arising from a number of key observations taken from a variety of strategies used to parse the role of microbiota in brain function. Psychiatric disorders, including depression, are also now linked to compositional alterations in the gut microbiome associated with prominent symptomatic features. These translational insights will be critical as we move promising preclinical research towards mechanisms and clinical interventions such as psychobiotics to confer mental health benefits.
About the Speaker
Dr Gerard Clarke is a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science and a faculty investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland. Gerard graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Chemistry from NUI, Galway followed by a M.Sc in Neuropharmacology from the same institution. He subsequently received a Ph.D (Department of Psychiatry) from University College Cork (UCC). Gerard was a visiting scientist in the University of Mississippi Medical Centre in Jackson prior to working for a number of pharmaceutical companies in both Ireland and Australia, including Wyeth, Pfizer and 3M. His research interests include translational biomarkers of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, the impact of the gut microbiome on brain and behaviour across the life span and microbial regulation of tryptophan metabolism. His research has been recognised internationally by travel awards from the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) as well as a prestigious career development award from the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS) and a NARSAD award from the Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation. He is a co-author of over 120 peer-reviewed papers (h-index = 49), 5 book chapters and has recently edited a book titled ‘The Gut Microbiome and Behaviour’
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this presentation, you will be able to:
- Define the impact of the gut microbiome on brain function and behaviour;
- Understand the possible routes of communication between the gut and the brain;
- Identify the options for therapeutic targeting of the gut microbiome.
To Join the Webinar
Please register for the event by filling out the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvBx8pq07TaXAMH0d9QYrrAXX-_R1ANqbT5h5zxqSnYysXOQ/viewform. Further instructions will then be sent by e-mail.
See flyer for the event EIPG PIER Microbiome & Stress webinar_17th June 2019.
The TCP Group is a healthcare service provider, specialising in ‘direct to patient services’ which include the dispensing and distribution of pharmaceutical products, homecare nursing services and sharps waste management, facilitating a unique turnkey solution for the delivery of hospital care in the patient’s home.
TCP Homecare is currently recruiting for a Quality Manager position based in their Head Office in Dublin. The role of the Quality Manager/Responsible Person will be to develop and maintain a QMS whilst meeting the requirements of regulatory and quality standards for GDP/PSI/Nursing services. For further information, see the job description TCP Quality Manager position
Posted 5th June 2019
Join the PIER committee for the annual BBQ in D Two, 60 Harcourt St, Dublin 2 on Thursday 27th June 2019 from 6.30pm.
Dr Gerard (Ger) Clarke from the School of Psychiatry & APC University College Cork will present on 'The Microbiome and Stress' – Related Psychiatric Disorders - A prescription for therapeutic targeting of the gut/brain axis.
Further information will be available re registration in the near future.
TCD are currently taking applications for the Postgrad Diploma/MSc in Pharmaceutical Medicine. This course has been developed to provide medical and science graduates with specialist knowledge and skills in the area of clinical pharmacology and pharmaceutical medicine. Many pharmacists who have transitioned to industry in recent years have undertaken this course. Components of the course include principles of:
- Pharmacology and biostatistics
- New drug development and the regulatory environment
- Pharmacoeconomics and rational use of drugs
- Pharmacovigilance and drug information
The course involves completion of taught modules and the additional undertaking of a research project. The modules consist of formal teaching and personal assignments and are run over five terms on a part-time basis (approximately two modules per term). Some of the modules are undertaken by way of distance learning. In addition, the students are assigned a research project (including field work), to be submitted as a dissertation for the MSc degree only.
Closing date for applications is 31st July 2019.
See course flyer TCD Pharmaceutical Medicine flyer.
PIER is organising a career information event for pharmacists interested in making the transition to an industry role in RCSI on Wed evening 15th May 2019 from 7pm PIER Career Transition Information Evening RCSI_15th May 2019.
The outline agenda is as follows:
18.30-19.00 Registration & Refreshments
19.00-19.10 Welcome: RCSI
19.10-19.30 Welcome & Overview of the Life Sciences Industry: PIER Committee
19.30-20.00 Creating Your Future Vision: Leonie Clarke, IMVO
20.00-20:30 Practical Advice about CVs, Interviews: Fionnuala Rahilly, RCSI Career Development Manager
20.30-21.20 Panel discussion with pharmacists who have recently transitioned into industry roles: Chaired by Leonie Clarke
21.20-21.30 Closing Remarks
21.30 Networking (retire to local hostelry).
To register, email piercareerevents@gmail.com. Non-PIER members welcome.
The support of the RCSI Career Development Manager Fionnuala Rahilly in organising this event is acknowledged.
GSK are recruiting for a number of quality roles based at their Citywest office.
Two of the roles are LOC (Market Affiliate) Quality roles:QA Manager (WD206231) and Quality Executive (WD206232) will act as RP and Deputy RP on the GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) Ltd. WDA and manage/support all MAH GxP activities.
The third role is a Quality Specialist role (WD204069), supporting the new Trading Partners Quality function based in Dublin.
Previous GDP experience desirable.
Applications to be made via GSK Job portal https://ie.gsk.com/ie/careers/search-jobs-and-apply/ and search for the Job ID as above.
Posted 26th April 2019
The first PIER CPD meeting of 2019 will take place in the Houston Lecture Theatre, RCSI on Wednesday evening 1st May 2019 from 7.00pm. The theme of the CPD meeting is 'Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs)'. The speakers include:
- Ms Vicky McGrath (CEO Rare Diseases Ireland)
- Dr Maura O'Donovan (Senior Medical Officer HPRA & Member Committee for Advanced Therapies (EMA))
- Dr Ronan Desmond (Consultant Haematologist, Tallaght University Hospital).
Register before Monday 29th April 2019 via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cpd-event-on-advanced-therapy-medicinal-products-atmps-pharmacistspharmacy-students-tickets-59794300362?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Attendance at this meeting is free for PIER members. If any HPAI member is interested in this meeting, they would be most welcome to attend.
PIER in collaboration with EIPG is delighted to organise a webinar on 3D printing on Tuesday 30th April 2019 at 4pm. Our speaker is pharmacist Dr Alice Melocci from Milan who was selected as one of the "Inspiring Fifty -Italy" , i.e. the 50 women of greatest inspiration in technology in Italy in 2018.
See flyer for further information 3D printing webinar_30th April 2019.
The Baxter Healthcare Ltd Compounding Facility in Dublin operates to a Manufacturing Authorization awarded by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Sterile batch and patient specific products are manufactured using isolator technology in a clean room environment. Baxter provides a broad portfolio of essential renal and hospital products, including home, acute and in-centre dialysis; sterile IV solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition.
Baxter Healthcare are currently recruiting for both a Quality Specialist and a Quality Batch Releaser at their Deansgrange site.
For more details on these roles, visit https://jobs.baxter.com/ListJobs/All/Search/Job-Country/Ireland/?lang=en
Useful Links
- Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (APS)
- European Industrial Pharmacist Group (EIPG)
- European Industrial Pharmacists Group Newsletter
- European Medicines Agency (EMA)
- Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA)
- Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP)
- Irish Medical Device Association (IMDA)
- Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Assocation (IPHA)
- Pharmaceutical Managers Institute (PMI)
- BioPharmaChem Ireland
- The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI)
- UK & Ireland Controlled Release Society (UKICRS)
- The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA)
Find out more about the PBF and the work they do 