Dr Janet Maguire

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed on the surface of cells and found throughout the body. This class of proteins has clinical relevance as they are the target for about a third of currently prescribed medicines.  However, to date only a small number of the GPCRs predicted to exist in the human genome have been exploited therapeutically.  My aim is to understand the role of recently discovered receptor proteins in normal cardiovascular physiology and how alterations in receptor expression and function may contribute to disease progression.  I have a particular interest in the emerging pharmacological paradigm of biased signalling and how the design of biased ligands may be an important mechanism by which target selectivity and improved efficacy may be built into novel peptides and small molecules. In collaboration with other group members, colleagues within the wider Clinical School cardiovascular network and the Department of Chemistry the group is currently investigating the role of GPCRs (specifically endothelin and apelin receptors) in cardiovascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension.  Focus is particularly on elucidating whether biased apelin ligands may have an advantage over current therapies.