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

Dr Gareth Owain Richards
Dr Gareth Owain Richards
Profile picture of Dr Gareth Owain Richards
g.richards@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9216

Full contact details

Dr Gareth Owain Richards
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
DU30, D Floor
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
Profile

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

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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Journal articles

All publications

Journal articles

Patents

  • Richards G, Skerry TM, Harrity JPA, Zirimwabagabo J-O, Tozer MJ, Gibson KR, Porter RA, Blaney PM & Glossop PA (2018) WO2018211275 - COMPOUNDS. Appl. 22 Nov 2018. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Richards GO & Skerry TM (2008) Therapeutic Agents. WO2007/045927 A2 (US,RU,JP,EP,CN,CA,AU). Appl. 27 Jun 2008. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Richards G (2008) ANTIBODIES AGAINST RAMP3. WO 2008132453 Appl. 06 Nov 2008. RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Research group
  • 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
  • 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

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

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
  • 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:

Prof Tim Skerry
Prof Joe Harrity 
Dr Tim Craggs