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Clinical Pharmacokinetics

The aim of the Clinical Pharmacokinetics Research Group is to determine and use pharmacokinetic parameters to optimise dosing, pharmacodynamic response, and ultimately patient outcomes in specific patient subgroups. Research is multidisciplinary involving medical, nursing, clinical pharmacy and analytical expertise. Research interests include:

  • Assessing the effect of renal replacement therapies on the pharmacokinetics of commonly used antimicrobials in the intensive care setting
  • Exploring the impact of patient and clinical characteristics on distribution and clearance of antimicrobials
  • Dose optimisation through pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials, patient characteristics and clinical response.

Research is currently focussed on two clinical areas - ICU (critical illness) and Haematology.

Head of Research Group

  • Dr. Deirdre D'Arcy (School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, TCD)

Members of the Research Group (TCD)

  • Owen Corrigan FTCD, FPSI, BSc Pharm, MA, PhD (Professor Emeritus)
  • Dr. Sheila Ryder (School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, TCD)
  • Dr Pierce Kavanagh (Chief Technical Officer, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, TCD)

Collaborators

  • Evelyn Deasy (Pharmacy Education and Research Manager, Tallaght University Hospital)
  • Dr. Maria Donnelly (ICU Consultant, Tallaght University Hospital)
  • Dr. Johnny McHugh (Consultant Haematologist, Tallaght University Hospital)
  • Dr. Jerome Fennell (Consultant Microbiologist, Tallaght University Hospital)
  • Philomena O’Byrne (Haematology pharmacist, Tallaght University Hospital)
  • Helen Enright (Consultant Haematologist, Tallaght University Hospital)
  • Dr. Peter Lavin, (Consultant Nephrologist, Tallaght University Hospital)

Current Research Projects & Funding

Clinical Pharmacokinetics Research group- ICU

Academic PI Dr Deirdre D’Arcy. Collaborating academic researcher: Prof. Owen Corrigan and Clinical PI Tallaght University Hospital Dr. Maria Donnelly

Determination of Pharmacokinetic Parameters of commonly used drugs, such as Amphotericin B in critically ill patients. Research emphasis to date has been on the effect of continual renal replacement therapies on pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials. Amphotericin B research component was part-funded by (formerly) Cephalon Ireland Ltd. through the Intensive Care Unit, Tallaght University Hospital.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics Research group- Haematology

Academic PIs Dr Deirdre D’Arcy, Sheila Ryder. Clinical PI Tallaght University Hospital: Dr. Johnny McHugh

An investigation to determine an appropriate teicoplanin dosage regimen for the treatment of Gram-positive infection in patients with haematological malignancy. Funded by the Meath Foundation through Tallaght Hospital. Commenced 2012.
This project is a collaborative project between the Clinical Pharmacokinetics Research Group and the Pharmacy Practice Research Group

Selected Publications

  • Deirdre M D'Arcy, Owen I Corrigan, Evelyn Deasy, Caitríona M Gowing, Maria B Donnelly, Gentamicin pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients during treatment with continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 71, (3), 2015, p377 - 378
  • Catherine J Byrne, Sean Egan, Deirdre M D'Arcy, Philomena O'Byrne, Evelyn Deasy, Jerome P Fennell, Helen Enright, Johnny McHugh, Sheila A Ryder, Teicoplanin usage in adult patients with haematological malignancy in the UK and Ireland: Is there scope for improvement, Eur J Hosp Pharm, doi:10.1136/ejhpharm, 2014 http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2014/04/15/ejhpharm-2013-000412.abstract
  • Malone, M.E., Corrigan, O.I., Kavanagh, P.V., Gowing, C., Donnelly, M., D'Arcy, D.M., Pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B lipid complex in critically ill patients undergoing continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 42, (4), 2013, p335-342 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924857913002343
  • M.E. Malone, C. Gowing, M. Barry, E. Deasy, P. Kavanagh, O.I. Corrigan, D.M. D’Arcy, M. Donnelly, Can routine clinical chemistry results be related to the volume of distribution of amphotericin B lipid complex in critically ill patients?, Intensive Care Medicine, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, 25th Annual Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, October 13-17 2012, 38, (Supplement 1), 2012, pp0548-
  • D'Arcy, D.M., Casey, E., Gowing, C.M., Donnelly, M.B., Corrigan, O.I., An open prospective study of amikacin pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients during treatment with continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration, BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology, 13, 2012 http://www.biomedcentral.com/2050-6511/13/14
  • Malone, M.; Gowing, C.; Barry, M.; Kavanagh, P; Corrigan, O. I.; D'Arcy, D. M.; Donnelly, M., Plasma concentrations of amphotericin B in critically ill patients, on switching from the liposomal to the lipid complex formulation , International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, European Society of Clinical Pharmacy, October 2011, 34, (1), 2012, pp147-
  • Spooner AM, Deegan C, D'Arcy DM, Gowing CM, Donnelly MB, Corrigan OI, An evaluation of ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients undergoing continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration., BMC Clinical Pharmacology, 11, (1), 2011, p11 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/11/11

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