Metadata
Title
Roberta Burden
Category
undergraduate
UUID
03aea397d3b94cc985a693731d9ad158
Source URL
https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/
Parent URL
https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/pharmaceutical-biotechnology-sandwic...
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T18:59:06+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Roberta Burden

**Source**: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/
**Parent**: https://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/pharmaceutical-biotechnology-sandwich-bsc-b213/

[View Scopus Profile](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=16315302800)

# Roberta Burden

Dr

- Senior Lecturer, [School of Pharmacy](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/school-of-pharmacy/)
- [Material and Advanced Technologies for Healthcare](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/organisations/material-and-advanced-technologies-for-healthcare/)

- Phone+44 (0)28 9097 2176
- Email[r.burden@qub.ac.uk](#)

- Room 0G.008 - Pharmacy & MCI

  United Kingdom

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

Open to PhD applications in the fields of protease biology and inhibitor development (small molecule and biological inhibitors).

2003Research output 2003: 1Research output 2004: 1Research output 2007: 2Research output 2008: 3Research output 2009: 1Research output 2010: 1Research output 2011: 2Research output 2012: 2Research output 2013: 1Research output 2015: 4Research output 2016: 4Research output 2017: 1Research output 2018: 4Research output 2019: 9Research output 2020: 4Research output 2021: 6Research output 2022: 2Research output 2023: 3Projects 2024: 1Research output 2024: 22024

Research activity per year

## Personal profile

### Research Statement

Dr Burden began her scientific career by achieving a BSc (Hons) 2.1 degree in Biochemistry at Queen’s University Belfast in 2002. Following this she undertook a Masters degree in Medical Sciences within the Department of Haematology at the university, where her research was focused on delineating a molecular signature in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. In 2003, Dr Burden transferred to the School of Pharmacy when she was awarded a DEL CAST award to commence her PhD studies in the area of protease biochemistry. This work was focused on the development of novel inhibition strategies for targeting the cysteine cathepsin family of proteases. During this time, Dr Burden developed and characterized several biologic-based inhibitors (recombinant protein and antibodies) that resulted in a number of patent applications and publications.

Upon completion of her PhD, Dr Burden embarked upon her postdoctoral career in 2007 when she was appointed as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership associate in a collaboration between the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology and Fusion Antibodies Ltd. This project was focused on the further development of the therapeutics that had been developed during her PhD studies in a number of tumour models and the identification of novel therapeutic targets in lung carcinomas that could also be amenable to antibody based targeting. Within Fusion Antibodies, Dr Burden was promoted to Team Leader within the R&D department and was responsible for liaising with the company directors and investors, giving regular updates on the scientific research that was being undertaken within the company.

After her time in industry, Dr Burden returned to academic research to undertake postdoctoral positions in the Drug Discovery research group within the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology and the Molecular Therapeutics Research cluster within the School of Pharmacy. Her research in the Drug Discovery group was focused on characterizing novel targets for breast cancer treatment, whilst in the School of Pharmacy she undertook a MRC-funded postdoctoral position focused on the molecular and pharmacological evaluation of Cathepsin S as a target for disease treatment.

In June 2012, Dr Burden was appointed as a Lecturer in Pharmacology in the Molecular Therapeutics research cluster within the School of Pharmacy. Her research interest is primarily centered around the cellular microenvironment (in both health and disease) and regulatory mechanisms mediated by proteases and chemokines. Currently, Dr Burden’s work is focused on ageing and inflammatory maladies such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and fibrosis.

### Research Interests

- Microenvironment
- Inflammation
- Ageing
- Tumourigenesis
- Fibrosis
- Proteases
- Therapeutics
- Angiogenesis
- Chemokines
- Senescence

### Teaching

- PMY1014: Introduction to Pharmacy Practice Skills
- PMY2002: Medicinal Substances: Structure and Function
- PMY2104: The Pharmacological basis of Therapeutics
- PMY2105: Clinical Therapeutics 1
- PMY3082: Applied Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Design
- PMY3174: Clinical Therapeutics 2

### Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)](https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

1. SDG 3
   Good Health and Well-being

## Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where Roberta Burden is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

- [5](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/similar/)
  Similar Profiles

- Cathepsin S
  Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Cathepsin
  Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Protease
  Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Neoplasm
  Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
- Cathepsin V
  Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
- Cysteine Proteinase
  Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
- Antibody
  Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
- Cysteine
  Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

[View full fingerprint](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/fingerprints/)

## Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or Select a country/territory from the list\

# Dive into details

Select a country/territory to view shared publications and projects

Close

[Explore network further](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/network/)

## Projects

- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/projects/?status=RUNNING)
  Active

- ### [R1300CNR: Future Medicines Institute](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/projects/future-medicines-institute/)

  [Scott, C.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-scott/) (PI), [Bruce, I.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/ian-bruce/) (CoI), [Burden, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/) (CoI), [Burrows, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/james-burrows/) (CoI), [Collins, B.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/bernard-collins/) (CoI), [Harrison, T.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/tim-harrison/) (CoI), [James, J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/jacqueline-james/) (CoI), [Kennedy, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/richard-kennedy/) (CoI), [Lawler, M.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/mark-lawler-2/) (CoI), [Longley, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/daniel-longley/) (CoI), [Maguire, S.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/sarah-maguire/) (CoI), [Malinova, D.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/dessi-malinova/) (CoI), [Maule, A.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/aaron-maule/) (CoI), [McCloskey, K.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/karen-mccloskey/) (CoI), [McDade, S.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/simon-mcdade/) (CoI), [Salto-Tellez, M.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/manuel-salto-tellez/) (CoI), [Savage, K.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/kienan-savage/) (CoI), [Stitt, A.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/alan-stitt/) (CoI) & [Williams, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/richard-williams/) (CoI)

  15/10/2024 → …

  Project: Research

## Research output

- [27](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Farticle)
  Article
- [11](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoconference%2Fposter)
  Poster
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Fsystematicreview)
  Review article
- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontobookanthology%2Fchapter)
  Chapter
- 2
  More

  - [**1** Abstract](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontoconference%2Fabstract)
  - [**1** Editorial](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/publications/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Fresearchoutput%2Fresearchoutputtypes%2Fcontributiontojournal%2Feditorial)

- ### [Editorial: Peptidases as a therapeutic target in anti-cancer management](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/editorial-peptidases-as-a-therapeutic-target-in-anti-cancer-manag/)

  Mitrović, A., [Burden, R. E.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/), Softič, A. & Kavčič, N., 11 Apr 2024, In: [Frontiers in Pharmacology.](#) 15, 3 p., 1394018.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  46
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Optimising intracellular delivery of antibiotic loaded PLGA nanoparticles to macrophages](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/optimising-intracellular-delivery-of-antibiotic-loaded-plga-nanop/)

  Alsa'd, A. A., [Greene, M. K.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/michelle-greene/), Tayyem, M., [Elmore, B.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/bronagh-elmore/), Abed, A., [Burden, R. E.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/), [Gilmore, B. F.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/brendan-gilmore/), [Scott, C. J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-scott/) & [Burrows, J. F.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/james-burrows/), 25 Oct 2024, In: [International Journal of Pharmaceutics.](#) 664, 15 p., 124567.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Macrophage
  - Nanoparticle
  - Staphylococcus Aureus
  - Infection
  - Host Cell

  [6](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85201859470#tab=citedBy)
  Citations
  (Scopus)

  49
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Cathepsin V regulates cell cycle progression and histone stability in the nucleus of breast cancer cells](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/cathepsin-v-regulates-cell-cycle-progression-and-histone-stabilit/)

  Sereesongsaeng, N., [Burrows, J. F.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/james-burrows/), [Scott, C. J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-scott/), Brix, K. & [Burden, R. E.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/), 06 Nov 2023, In: [Frontiers in Pharmacology.](#) 14, 13 p., 1271435.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Breast
  - Cancer Cell
  - Cell Cycle Progression
  - Cathepsin
  - Histone

  [15](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85177176692#tab=citedBy)
  Citations
  (Scopus)

  78
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Evaluation of variable new antigen receptors (vNARs) as a novel cathepsin S (CTSS) targeting strategy](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/evaluation-of-variable-new-antigen-receptors-vnars-as-a-novel-cat/)

  [Smyth, P.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/peter-smyth/), Ferguson, L., [Burrows, J. F.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/james-burrows/), [Burden, R. E.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/), [Tracey, S. R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/shannon-tracey-2/), [Herron, Ú. M.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/una-herron-2/), Kovaleva, M., [Williams, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/richard-williams/), Porter, A. J., [Longley, D. B.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/daniel-longley/), Barelle, C. J. & [Scott, C. J.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-scott/), 05 Dec 2023, In: [Frontiers in Pharmacology.](#) 14, 13 p., 1296567.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  Open Access

  File

  - Antigen
  - Clone
  - Cathepsin S
  - Lymphocyte Antigen Receptor
  - Cell Invasion

  [2](https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85180124183#tab=citedBy)
  Citations
  (Scopus)

  79
  Downloads
  (Pure)
- ### [Personalised pharmacy: embedding pharmacogenomics in the curriculum](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/personalised-pharmacy-embedding-pharmacogenomics-in-the-curriculu/)

  [Murray, C.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/clare-murray/), [Burden, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/), [Buckley, N. E.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/niamh-buckley/) & [Hanna, L.-A.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/lezley-anne-hanna/), 07 Nov 2023.

  Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

  File

  70
  Downloads
  (Pure)

[View all 53 research outputs](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/publications/)

## Activities

- [6](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Foral_presentation)
  Oral presentation
- [2](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Ftalk%2Finvited_talk)
  Invited talk
- [1](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/activities/?type=%2Fdk%2Fatira%2Fpure%2Factivity%2Factivitytypes%2Fconsultancy%2Fconsultancy)
  KTP & Consultancy in kind

- ### [Cathepsin V in the pathogenesis of luminal breast cancer: a bimodal approach.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/cathepsin-v-in-the-pathogenesis-of-luminal-breast-cancer-a-bimoda/)

  Murray, A. (Presenter) & [Burden, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/) (Advisor)

  27 Jun 2023 → 29 Jun 2023

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
- ### [Dissecting the role of Cathepsin V in breast cancer](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/dissecting-the-role-of-cathepsin-v-in-breast-cancer/)

  [Burden, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/) (Invited speaker)

  Sept 2022

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
- ### [Dissecting the role of cathepsin S in dna damage repair deficient tumours.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/dissecting-the-role-of-cathepsin-s-in-dna-damage-repair-deficient-2/)

  [Gallaher, S.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/samantha-gallaher/) (Speaker), [Burden, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/) (Advisor), [Williams, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/richard-williams/) (Advisor) & [Scott, C.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-scott/) (Advisor)

  Feb 2021

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
- ### [Investigation into the Modulation of Intracellular Protease Activities by Accumulation of Non-Biodegradable Silica Particulates](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/investigation-into-the-modulation-of-intracellular-protease-activ/)

  Ishaq, F. (Presenter), [Scott, C.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-scott/) (Advisor) & [Burden, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/) (Advisor)

  Apr 2018

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
- ### [Silica Nanoparticles Modulates Intracellular Protease Activities and Toxicity in Macrophages.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/activities/silica-nanoparticles-modulates-intracellular-protease-activities-/)

  Ishaq, F. (Presenter), Hughes, C. (Contributor), Cogo, F. (Contributor), [Burden, R.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/) (Advisor) & [Scott, C.](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-scott/) (Advisor)

  Mar 2017

  Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

[View all 10 activities](https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/roberta-burden/activities/)