Dr Gareth Owain Richards
PhD, SFHEA
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
Senior Research Fellow and I&KE Lead for Seed Innovation, IP and Commercialisation
+44 114 215 9216
Full contact details
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
DU30, D Floor
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
- Profile
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I joined the University of Sheffield in 2005 as a PhD student in Molecular Pharmacology and have been closely involved in research focused on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling and its implications in endocrinology, cancer, blood pressure regulation, and bone biology. After completing my PhD in 2008, I took up a position as a Medalla Research Fellow and later as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Oncology and Metabolism.
I am currently leading research projects investigating the interactions between receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) and GPCRs, developing novel small molecules and antibodies targeting these complexes, and translating these findings into potential therapies for conditions such as pancreatic cancer and septic shock. I have close collaborations with Prof Tim Skerry Division of Clinical Medicine and Professor Joe Harrity in the Department of Chemistry, working together on the development of novel small molecules targeting GPCR/RAMP complexes.
As a member of the Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI) Executive Board and the Workstream Lead for Drug Discovery, I am actively involved in promoting interdisciplinary research and driving innovation in the field of healthy aging.
As the I&KE Lead for Seed Innovation, IP, and Commercialisation, I am passionate about fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the school of medicine and population health.
- Research interests
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My research interests lie in the molecular pharmacology of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their interactions with receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). I am particularly focused on understanding how these interactions influence signalling functions and their subsequent impact on cellular, physiological, and pathological processes. My work spans from fundamental biology to translational research, including the development of novel small molecules and antibodies targeting GPCR/RAMP complexes for potential therapeutic applications.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation:
I have a strong track record in entrepreneurship and innovation, having spun out two university companies: Medella Therapeutics, focused on therapeutic antibody development, and Modulus Oncology, targeting novel GPCR therapies for cancer. I actively engage colleagues and foster collaboration through supervising MRC DIMEN CASE PhD studentships with external industrial partners. As the I&KE Lead for Seed Innovation, IP, and Commercialisation, I am committed to driving change and innovation within the school and beyond.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- Accelerated development with increased bone mass and skeletal response to loading suggest receptor activity modifying protein-3 as a bone anabolic target. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12.
- Discovery of a first-in-class small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor: structure–activity relationships and optimization. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64(6), 3299-3319. View this article in WRRO
- Cross-species RNA-seq study comparing transcriptomes of enriched osteocyte populations in the tibia and skull. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11.
- Discovery of a first-in-class potent small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 3(4), 706-719. View this article in WRRO
- Analysis of RAMP3 gene polymorphism with body composition and bone density in young and elderly women. Gene, 721(Supplement).
- The Role of the Calcitonin Peptide Family in Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastasis. Current Molecular Biology Reports, 3(3), 197-203. View this article in WRRO
- Modulation of Glucagon Receptor Pharmacology by Receptor Activity-modifying Protein-2 (RAMP2). Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(38), 23009-23022. View this article in WRRO
- Role of receptor activity modifying protein 1 in function of the calcium sensing receptor in the human TT thyroid carcinoma cell line.. PLoS One, 9(1), e85237.
- Research resource: Haploinsufficiency of receptor activity-modifying protein-2 (RAMP2) causes reduced fertility, hyperprolactinemia, skeletal abnormalities, and endocrine dysfunction in mice.. Mol Endocrinol, 25(7), 1244-1253.
- Neighbor of Brca1 gene (Nbr1) functions as a negative regulator of postnatal osteoblastic bone formation and p38 MAPK activity.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(29), 12913-12918.
All publications
Journal articles
- Targeting the adrenomedullin-2 receptor for the discovery and development of novel anti-cancer agents. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 17(8), 839-848. View this article in WRRO
- Accelerated development with increased bone mass and skeletal response to loading suggest receptor activity modifying protein-3 as a bone anabolic target. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12.
- Discovery of a first-in-class small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor: structure–activity relationships and optimization. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64(6), 3299-3319. View this article in WRRO
- Cross-species RNA-seq study comparing transcriptomes of enriched osteocyte populations in the tibia and skull. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11.
- Discovery of a first-in-class potent small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 3(4), 706-719. View this article in WRRO
- Analysis of RAMP3 gene polymorphism with body composition and bone density in young and elderly women. Gene, 721(Supplement).
- The Role of the Calcitonin Peptide Family in Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastasis. Current Molecular Biology Reports, 3(3), 197-203. View this article in WRRO
- Modulation of Glucagon Receptor Pharmacology by Receptor Activity-modifying Protein-2 (RAMP2). Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(38), 23009-23022. View this article in WRRO
- Role of receptor activity modifying protein 1 in function of the calcium sensing receptor in the human TT thyroid carcinoma cell line.. PLoS One, 9(1), e85237.
- Correction for Whitehouse et al., Neighbor of Brca1 gene (Nbr1) functions as a negative regulator of postnatal osteoblastic bone formation and p38 MAPK activity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(11), 4428-4428.
- Research resource: Haploinsufficiency of receptor activity-modifying protein-2 (RAMP2) causes reduced fertility, hyperprolactinemia, skeletal abnormalities, and endocrine dysfunction in mice.. Mol Endocrinol, 25(7), 1244-1253.
- Analysis of mouse models with loss or mutations in Nbr1 demonstrate an age-dependent high bone mass due to altered osteoblast activity. Bone, 47, S43-S43.
- Neighbor of Brca1 gene (Nbr1) functions as a negative regulator of postnatal osteoblastic bone formation and p38 MAPK activity.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(29), 12913-12918.
- Receptor activity-modifying protein modulation of parathyroid hormone-1 receptor function and signaling. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 15, 1455231.
- ENO2, a Glycolytic Enzyme, Contributes to Prostate Cancer Metastasis: A Systematic Review of Literature. Cancers, 16(14), 2503-2503.
- Role of receptor activity modifying proteins in skeletal regulation. Bone Abstracts.
Patents
- View this article in WRRO WO2018211275 - COMPOUNDS. Appl. 22 Nov 2018.
- Therapeutic Agents. WO2007/045927 A2 (US,RU,JP,EP,CN,CA,AU). Appl. 27 Jun 2008.
- ANTIBODIES AGAINST RAMP3. WO 2008132453 Appl. 06 Nov 2008.
Preprints
- Receptor activity modifying protein modulation of parathyroid hormone-1 receptor function and signalling, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Research group
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- Dr Paris Avgoustou, Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Dr Ameera Jailani, Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Joseph Egan, PhD Student
- Georgia Taylor-Vine, PhD Student
- Josephine Cadman, PhD Student
- Alistair Keys, PhD Student
- Anne-Sofie M Albretsen, Technician
- Anna Geere, Placement Student
- Amy Wyatt, Placement Student
- Grants
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- 2023-2024 MRC UKRI Innovation IAA £75,149 (PI)
- 2021-2023 MRC Confidence in Concept, £68,123 (PI)
- 2022-2024 Prostate Cancer UK, £490,000 (Co-PI)
- 2017-2019 Wellcome Trust, £2,900,000 (Co-I)
- Teaching interests
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My teaching interests focus on delivering high-quality, engaging, and inclusive education in the areas of molecular medicine, drug discovery, and research skills. I am committed to adopting innovative teaching methods and incorporating experiential learning to enhance student learning outcomes and employability.
- Teaching activities
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I am the module lead for MED6098 "Practical Laboratory Skills and Statistics" for the MSc in Molecular Medicine and Drug Discovery programs. This module to incorporates hands-on, experiential learning opportunities and align its objectives with the Sheffield Graduate Attributes. I also contribute to various other MSc and MBChB modules as a guest lecturer, project supervisor, and assessor.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- 2022: Guest editor for special edition on GPCR and bone, Frontiers in Endocrinology
- 2018-2022: Associate editor, Frontiers in Endocrinology
- Current projects
- Investigating the interaction of RAMPs with the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R).
- Examining the role of RAMPs in modulating the cell surface estrogen receptor (GPER) and its implications in breast cancer.
- Developing novel AM2R antagonists for potential applications in acute myeloid leukaemia and septic shock.
- Role of adrenomedullin and its signalling system in endothelial cell aging
- High-throughput Screening of Functional CGRP Receptors for Drug Discovery
Collaborators: