RESEARCH INTERESTS
Deirdre D’Arcy is a registered pharmacist with post graduate diplomas in Clinical Pharmacy (2002) and Quality Improvement (2004), and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology (2007). While working as a hospital pharmacist and undertaking her diploma in clinical pharmacy, she developed an interest in clinical pharmacokinetics and drug delivery. Her subsequent PhD involved use of mathematical modelling to simulate fluid flow, dissolution and drug release. This combination of pharmaceutical technology and clinical expertise enables a range of exciting patient-focussed research questions to be explored. She was appointed as a lecturer in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in TCD in October 2005.
Following this she continued to focus her research on simulation of dissolution conditions, in particular in low velocity hydrodynamic environments, and also on simulation of dissolution and drug release from particulate systems in collaboration with the School of Engineering in TCD. Concurrently, she merged her knowledge of modelling and simulation with her clinical background, and became lead PI of the clinical pharmacokinetics research group. The research of this group has focussed to date on pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials in specific patient groups such as the critically ill, haematology patients and cystic fibrosis patients, with collaborations in Tallaght Hospital and St. Vincent’s University Hospital. Further recent dissolution research involves establishing clinically relevant dissolution conditions and further developing dissolution simulation models. Other research interests include application of pharmacokinetic principles to everyday clinical situations, such as drug interactions on smoking cessation and drug use in breast feeding.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Meath Foundation (Tallaght Hospital Collaboration), Irish Research Council (IRCSET), Trinity College (Start-up grant), Pfizer academic contribution.
Biography
Deirdre D'Arcy (M Pharm, PhD, MPSI); Deirdre is a qualified pharmacist (1999) and holds post graduate diplomas in both Clinical Pharmacy and Quality Improvement, and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology. She is a registered pharmacist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the General Pharmaceutical Council (UK). After spending 3 years training as a specialist clinical pharmacist, during which time she developed an interest in Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Deirdre spent some time in community pharmacy. Following this she undertook a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology, exploring methods to mathematically simulate pharmaceutical processes. Concurrently, she undertook a diploma in quality improvement and also worked part-time as a community pharmacist. She embarked on her academic career in 2005, in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) TCD.
This unique combination and breadth of experiences, and her professional status as a qualified, registered pharmacist, has equipped Deirdre with a distinctly valuable perspective on the interplay between clinical aspects of pharmacy practice and the use of pharmaceutical technology in medicines development.
This extensive background has facilitated a range of teaching roles, didactic and experiential, at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Furthermore, it has enabled her to develop and lead the novel role of Integration Co-ordinator for the new Pharmacy (Integrated) Programme, promoting integrative teaching and learning between core science, clinical, and experiential learning; and the embedding of graduate attributes and competences within the curriculum.
Context for Integration Co-ordinator role: The new Pharmacy (Integrated) Programme (first intake 2015) results from a change in the national pharmacy education requirements of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. A minimum of 12 months experiential placement-based learning, which used to take place post-graduation and before pharmacist registration, is now integrated within the core 5-year academic programme. Thus the new Pharmacy (Integrated) programme represents a mammoth shift in educational delivery by the SOPPS, with significantly different, advanced programme learning outcomes. Formal, structured integration of campus-based and experiential placement-based learning was thus novel to SOPPS pharmacy education. Furthermore, modern pedagogical perspectives on education in all health care settings have a focus on the integration of core science learning with more applied therapeutics/clinical learning content.
Deirdre has been involved in 3 International EU-funded educational projects (Institutional lead on one of these), prompting innovations in Technology Enhanced Learning and assessment methodologies. These roles and innovations are fully aligned with the recommendations of the Trinity Education Project.
Deirdre is also an active researcher, again supported by her unique combined experience of Patient-Facing practice and Pharmaceutical Technology.
Current research includes 2 main strands: 1: Application of computational modelling and simulation techniques in pharmacy and pharmaceutical technology to improve processes and practice, including pharmacokinetic and dissolution modelling 2: Clinically relevant drug development and delivery to special populations.
She was an academic PI on several clinical PK research projects in collaboration with associated teaching hospital
She is involved in several international collaborations, with relevance to access to medicines and personalised medicines. Research outputs have resulted in peer reviewed publications, invited presentations at national and international level, partaking in national policy submission groups, and tangible outputs in the form of changes to medicines dosing policy and software development. Research funding sources include IRCSET, the Meath Foundation, Pharmaceutical Industry.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Sabina Mason, Evelyn Deasy, Maria Donnelly, Deirdre M D'Arcy,Julio L Chevarria,Yvelynne P Kelly, Troponin Clearance via Continuous Kidney Replacement Therapies in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, ASN Kidney Week, San Diego, CA, USA, October 23-27 20224, 35, 2024, pp164 - 165
Harahsheh MM, Mukattash TL, Al-Shatnawi SF, Abu-Farha RK, D'Arcy DM, Jarab AS, Abuhammad SH., Community Pharmacists' Identifying and Counseling of Breastfeeding Women: A Study from Jordan., Korean journal of family medicine, 2024
Taseva AR, Persoons T, Healy AM, D'Arcy DM., Application of shadowgraph imaging (SGI) particle characterisation data to interpret the impact of varying test conditions on powder dissolution and to develop an automated agglomeration identification method (AIM) in the USP flow-through apparatus., International journal of pharmaceutics, 666, 2024, p124778
Alexandra R Taseva, Tim Persoons, Deirdre M D'Arcy, An AI and imaging approach for improved insight into paediatric oral suspension dissolution behaviour in the flow-through apparatus (FTA), 15th European Paediatric Formulations Initiative (EuPFI), Glasgow, Scotland, September 19th-21st, 2023
Navas-Bachiller, Marina, Persoons, Tim, D'Arcy, Deirdre M., In vitro and in silico methods to investigate the effect of moderately increasing medium viscosity and density on ibuprofen dissolution rate, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 193, 2023, p74-88
Mea'ad M Harahsheh and Tareq L Mukattash and Samah Al-shatnawi and Rana Abu-Farha and Deirdre D'Arcy and Anan Jarab and Sawsan Abuhammad, Breastfeeding friendly pharmacy from pharmacists perspective, Electronic Journal of General Medicine, 20, (3), 2023, pem469
Alexandra R Taseva, Tim Persoons, Deirdre M D'Arcy, An AI and imaging approach for improved insight into paediatric oral suspension dissolution behaviour in the flow-through apparatus (FTA), 15th European Paediatric Formulation Initiative (EuPFI), Glasgow Scotland, 19-21 09 2023, 2023
Harahsheh, Mea"ad M., Mukattash, Tareq L., Al-shatnawi, Samah, Abu-Farha, Rana, Abuhammad, Sawsan, D'Arcy, Deirdre, Jarab, Anan, Community Pharmacists" Current Practice and Educational Needs in Breastfeeding Support in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Journal of Human Lactation, 2023
Taseva AR, Persoons T, D'Arcy DM., Application of an AI image analysis and classification approach to characterise dissolution and precipitation events in the flow through apparatus., European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, 2023, pS0939-6411(23)00108-X
Marina Navas-Bachiller, Tim Persoons, Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Exploring bulk volume, particle size and particle motion definitions to increase the predictive ability of in vitro dissolution simulations, European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2022, p106185
Marina Navas Bachiller, Tim Persoons, Anne-Marie Healy, Deirdre Maria D'Arcy, Assessing the effect of moderately increasing medium viscosity on the intrinsic dissolution rate and diffusion coefficient of ibuprofen particles, 2022
Alexandra Taseva, Tim Persoons, Deirdre Maria D'Arcy, Challenges and considerations of automated agglomeration detection method development with image analysis in dissolution testing, 2022
Ryan TJ, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, Quigley JM, Ng NN, Ong WQ, Tey ZH, O'Dwyer M, Walsh JJ., Development of Professional Attributes through Integration of Science and Practice at First-Year Pharmacy Level, Pharmacy, 2021
D'Arcy, Deirdre M, Van Pham, Thi Thanh, Bachiller, Marina Navas, Fotaki, Nikoletta, Persoons, Tim, Using in silico process simulation tools in pharmacy education: Considerations for pivoting to online learning, Pharmacy Education, 2021, p124-135
Kirwan Marcus, Munshi Reema, O'Keeffe Hannah, Judge Conor, Coyle Mary, Deasy Evelyn, Kelly Yvelynne P, Lavin Peter J, Donnelly Maria, D'Arcy Deirdre M, Exploring population pharmacokinetic models in patients treated with vancomycin during continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) , Critical care (London, England) , 25 , (1 ), 2021, p443 -
Díaz de León-Ortega R, D'Arcy DM, Lamprou DA, Fotaki N., In vitro - in vivo relations for the parenteral liposomal formulation of Amphotericin B: A clinically relevant approach with PBPK modeling., European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, 2020
Díaz de León-Ortega R, D'Arcy DM, Fotaki N., In vitro conditions for performance evaluation of products for intravascular administration: Developing appropriate test media using Amphotericin B as a model drug., European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 143, 2020, p105174
D'Arcy, D.M., Persoons, T., Understanding the Potential for Dissolution Simulation to Explore the Effects of Medium Viscosity on Particulate Dissolution, AAPS PharmSciTech, 20, (2), 2019
Ms. Cliodhna McDonald, Mr. Grant Carroll, Ms. Margaret Triggs, Dr. Patrick G Morris, Dr. Deirdre D'Arcy., An Investigation into the Factors that Determine the Clearance of High-Dose Methotrexate in Patients with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma, Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland Annual Conference, Dublin, Ireland, April 5-7 2019, 2019
Ryan, T.J.; Grimes, T.; Henman, M.C.; Sheachnasaigh, E.N.; O'Dwyer, M.; Roche, C.; Ryder, S.A.; Sasse, A.; Walsh, J.J. & D'Arcy, D.M, Design and Implementation of an Integrated Competency-Focused Pharmacy Programme: A Case Report., Pharmacy, 7, (3), 2019, pdoi.org/10.3390/pharmacy703012
D.M. D'Arcy, R. Duignan, S. McCarthy, M.C. Henman, Exploring the potential for improved community pharmacy breastfeeding support-expectations and priorities of breastfeeding parents and community pharmacists, International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 47th ESCP symposium on clinical pharmacy , Belfast, Ireland, 24-26 October, 2018, 41, (289), 2019, pp323-
Ricardo Díaz de León-Ortega, Deirdre M D'Arcy, Abert Bolhius, Nikoletta Fotaki, Investigation and simulation of dissolution with concurrent degradation under healthy and hypoalbuminaemic simulated parenteral conditions- case example Amphotericin B, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 127, 2018, p423 - 431
Diaz de Leon-Ortega R, D'Arcy DM., Fotaki N, Use Of PBPK Modeling To Identify In Vivo Predictive Release Tests For Parenteral Liposomal Formulations., AAPS PharmSci 360, Washgington DC, USA, Nov 4-7 2018, 2018
Byrne CJ, Parton T, McWhinney B, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Egan S, Enright H, Desmond R, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, Roberts JA, Population pharmacokinetics of total and unbound teicoplanin concentrations and dosing simulations in patients with haematological malignancy, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 73, (4), 2018, p995 - 1003
Hugh Connors, Tim Persoons, Deirdre M D'Arcy, Exploring the feasibility of using simulation and imaging to elucidate the effects of medium viscosity on dissolution, 11th World Meeting on Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Granada, Spain, March 19-22, 2018, 2018
David McDonnell, D. M. D"Arcy, L. J. Crane, Brendan Redmond, A mathematical analysis of drug dissolution in the USP flow through apparatus, Heat and Mass Transfer, 54, (3), 2018, p793--801
Diaz de Leon-Ortega R, D'Arcy DM., Fotaki N, Investigating Factors That Affect In vitro Drug Release From A Parenteral Liposomal Formulation, AAPS PharmSci 360, Washington DC, USA, Nov 4-7 2018, 2018
Byrne CJ, Roberts JA, McWhinney B, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Egan S, Desmond R, Enright H, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, Variability in trough total and unbound teicoplanin concentrations and achievement of therapeutic drug monitoring targets in adult patients with haematological malignancy, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 61, (6), 2017, pe02466-16
Deirdre M D'Arcy, Rose Duignan, Martin C Henman, Suzanne McCarthy, Exploring the potential for a community pharmacy based breastfeeding support service - scope for bidirectional education?, All Irreland Pharmacy Conference, Dundalk, Ireland, 17th October, 2017
William H. Marks, Lydia N. Drumright, Nigel K.H. Slater and Deirdre M. D'Arcy , Using CFD Simulations of USP4 Flow Through Cell to Visualize Fluid Movement through a Novel Drug Delivery System, FIP PSWC 2017 6th pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress, Stockholm Sweden, May 22nd-24th, 2017
William H. Marks, Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Nigel K.H. Slater, Lydia N. Drumright, Novel Drug Release Test Using USP4 Flow Through Cell for Nipple Shield Delivery System, 8th APS International PharmSci Conference 2017, University of Hertfordshire, UK, 5th-7th September, 2017
Todaro, V, Persoons, T, Groves, G, Healy, AM, D'Arcy, DM, Characterisation and simulation of hydrodynamics in the paddle, basket and flow-through dissolution testing apparatuses - a review, Dissolution Technologies, 24, (3), 2017, p24 - 36
Anne Marie Liddy, Gavin McLaughlin, Susanne Schmitz, Deirdre D'Arcy, Michael Barry, The Pharmacokinetic Interaction between Ivacaftor and Ritonavir in Healthy Volunteers, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 83, (10), 2017, p2235 - 2241
Diaz de Leon-Ortega R, D'Arcy DM., Fotaki N., Towards The Development Of Clinically Relevant Dissolution Media For Parenteral Formulations, AAPS annual meeting, San Diego, USA, Nov 12-15, 2017, 2017
Byrne CJ, Roberts JA, McWhinney B, Ryder SA, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Egan S, Desmond R, Enright H, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, Population pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin and attainment of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic targets in adult patients with haematological malignancy, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 23, (9), 2017, p674.e7-674.e13
William H. Marks; Deirdre M. D'Arcy; Nigel K. H. Slater; Lydia N. Drumright, Analysing Novel Nipple Shield Drug Delivery System with CFD Simulations, 9th European Paediatric Formulation Initiative International Conference, Warsaw, Poland, 20th-21st September, 2017
Munshi R, O'Keeffe H, Coyle M, Deasy E, Fitzpatrick GJ, Lavin PJ, Donnelly M, D'Arcy DM, Exploring population pharmacokinetic models in patients treated with vancomycin during continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on different anticoagulant modalities. , Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine 30th Annual Congress, Vienna, Austria, 23rd- 27th September, edited by . , 5 (Suppl 2), (44), 2017
O'Keeffe, Hannah Marie, Munshi, Reema Mohammad, Coyle, Mary, Deasy, Evelyn, Donnelly, Maria B, Fitzpatrick, Gerard J, Lavin, Peter J., D'Arcy, Deirdre M, Exploring population Pharmacokinetics of Vancomycin While Using Different Anticoagulant Modalities during Continuous Venovenous Haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF), Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week, New Orleans, LA, USA, Oct 31-Nov 5 2017, 28, (October), 2017
William H. Marks, Lydia Drumright, Nigel K. H. Slater and Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Novel Imaging Platform for Predicting Efficacy of Nipple Shield Delivery System Designs via High-Speed Photography, 14th IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging, Melbourne, Australia, April 2017, 2017
Diaz de Leon-Ortega R, D'Arcy DM., Fotaki N, Simulating Dissolution Profiles Of A Poorly Soluble Drug With Concurrent Degradation In Simulated Plasma Representing Patients And Healthy Subjects, AAPS annual meeting, San Diego, USA, Nov 12-15, 2017, 2017
Judge, C; Drew, T; Misran, H; Figuet, C; McGovern, L; Coyne, M; Dunne, L; Deasy, E; Lavin, P; Fahy, A; D'Arcy, DM; Donnelly, M, Experience of data extraction from multiple sources for a CVVHDF and pharmacokinetic retrospective analysis, 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Irish Nephrology Society, Dublin, Ireland, 11th March, 2016
Judge, C; Drew, T; Misran, H; Munshi, R; McGovern, L; Coyle, M; Dunne, L; Deasy, E; Lavin, P; Fahy, A; D'Arcy, DM; Donnelly, M, Development of an automated data extraction process for use in retrospective pharmacokinetic analyses: initial application to vancomycin dose and concentration data in patients using citrate and heparin CVVHDF anticoagulation modalities, Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, Milan, Italy, 1st-5th October 2016, 4(Suppl 1), (30), 2016, ppA632-
Byrne CJ, Roberts JA, McWhinney B, Ryder SA, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Egan S, Enright H, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, The impact of serum albumin concentrations on the pharmacokinetics of unbound teicoplanin in patients with haematological malignancy, 26th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infections Diseases (ECCMID), Amsterdam, Netherlands, 9-12 April 2016, 2016
Serrano DR, Persoons T, D'Arcy DM, Galiana C, Dea-Ayuela MA, Healy AM, Modelling and shadowgraph imaging of cocrystal dissolution and assessment of in vitro antimicrobial activity for sulfadimidine/4-aminosalicylic acid cocrystals, European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 89, 2016, p125-36
Ricardo Díaz de León-Ortega, Deirdre M D'Arcy, Nikoletta Fotaki, Effect of biorelevant albumin concentration in simulated plasma on the solubility and stability of Amphotericin B, 10th World Meeting on Pharmaceutics Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology , Glasgow, April 4-7 , 2016
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
Byrne CJ, Roberts JA, McWhinney B, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Egan S, Enright H, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, Population pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in haematological malignancy patients, Abstracts of the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Joint 55th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and 28th International Congress of Chemotherapy Meeting (ICAAC/ICC), San Diego, California, USA, 17-21 September 2015, 55, 2015, pp1627-
Byrne CJ, Roberts JA, McWhinney B, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Egan S, Enright H, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, Evaluation of teicoplanin loading dose regimens in patients with haematological malignancy: a population pharmacokinetic study, Haematology Association of Ireland Annual Meeting, Galway, Ireland, 16-17 October 2015, 2015
D. R. Serrano, T. Persoons, D. M. D'Arcy, C. Galiana, M. A. Dea-Ayuela, A. M. Healy, Shadowgraph Imaging of Cocrystal Dissolution and In Vitro Activity Determination , AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition, Orlando, Florida, USA, Oct 25-29, 2015, ppW5128-
Byrne CJ, Egan S, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Enright H, Deasy E, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, Teicoplanin use in adult patients with haematological malignancy: Exploring relationships between dose, trough concentrations, efficacy and nephrotoxicity, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 46, (4), 2015, p406 - 412
:Correa, JCR (Ruela Correa, Josilene Chaves) ; D'Arcy, DM (D'Arcy, Deirdre M.); Serra, CHD (dos Reis Serra, Cristina Helena) ; Salgado, HRN (Nunes Salgado, Herida Regina), A Critical Review of Properties of Darunavir and Analytical Methods for Its Determination, CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, 44, (1), 2014, p16 - 22
Byrne CJ, Egan S, D'Arcy DM, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Fennell JP, Enright H, McHugh J, Ryder SA, Teicoplanin usage in adult patients with haematological malignancy in the UK and Ireland: Is there scope for improvement, Eur J Hosp Pharm, 21, (5), 2014, p301 - 305
Gervais, Brian; D'Arcy, Deirdre M., Quality risk analysis in a cGMP environment: multiple models for comprehensive failure mode identification during the computer system lifecycle, DRUG DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL PHARMACY, 40, (1), 2014, p46 - 60
Byrne C, Egan S, D'Arcy DM, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Fennell J, Enright H, McHugh J, Ryder SA, Teicoplanin usage in adult patients with haematological malignancy in the UK and Ireland: Is there scope for improvement?, Haematology Association of Ireland Annual Meeting, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 18-19 October 2013, 2013
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
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-
Santos-Martinez MJ, Inkielewicz-Stepniak I, Medina C, Rahme K, D'Arcy DM, Fox D, Holmes JD, Zhang H, Radomski MW., The use of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) for studying nanoparticle-induced platelet aggregation., International Journal of Nanomedicine, 7, 2012, p243 - 255
Josilene Chaves Ruela Correa, Deirdre M D'Arcy, Cristina Helena dos Reis Serra, Herida Regina Nunes Salgado, Darunavir: A critical review of its properties, use and drug interactions, Pharmacology (International Journal of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology), 90, 2012, p102 - 109
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
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-
Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Bo Liu, Owen I. Corrigan, Investigating the effect of solubility and density gradients on local hydrodynamics and drug dissolution in the USP 4 dissolution apparatus, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 419, (1-2), 2011, p175-185
Deirdre M D'Arcy, Tim Persoons, Mechanistic Modelling and Mechanistic Monitoring: Simulation and Shadowgraph Imaging of Particulate Dissolution in the Flow-Through Apparatus, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 100, (3), 2011, p1102-1115
D'Arcy, Deirdre M.; Liu, Bo; Persoons, Tim; Corrigan, Owen I., Hydrodynamic Complexity Induced by the Pulsing Flow Field in USP Dissolution Apparatus 4 , Dissolution Technologies, 18, (4), 2011, p6 - 13
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
D'Arcy DM, Liu B, Bradley G, Healy AM, Corrigan OI, Hydrodynamic and species transfer simulations in the USP 4 dissolution apparatus: considerations for dissolution in a low velocity pulsing flow, Pharmaceutical Research, 27, (2), 2010, p246-58
C. F. Mahon, A. McLaughlin, J. Canavan, D. Darcy, C. Gowing, M. Donnelly, A Description Of The Methodology To Measure Concentrations Of Vancomycin In Bronchial Secretions Of Ventilated ICU Patients, Am J Respir Crit Care Med , Annual Meeting of the American Thoracic Society , New Orleans, USA, May 2010, 181, (1), 2010, ppA4564-
B. Liu, D. D'Arcy, I. Kovacevic, J. Parojcic, O. Corrigan, Investigating the role of the flow through apparatus (USP4) in In vitro in vivo correlation using a BCS class II model drug., AAPS Journal, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting, New Orleans, USA, 12, ((S2)), 2010
M.E. Malone, D.M. D'Arcy, O.I. Corrigan, P. Kavanagh, M. Donnelly, Determination of the timescale to reach therapeutic concentrations in tracheal aspirate, following parenteral administration of liposomal amphotericin B., AAPS Journal, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Annual Meeting, New Orleans, USA, 12 , ((S2)), 2010
Jelena Parojčić, Mira Zečević, Deirdre D'Arcy, Milan Antonijević, Simon Walker, Mila Bo ič and Stane Srčič, Qualified Person Learning Programme Development: An Example of the Tempus Joint Project Activity, Annual Conference of the European Association of Faculties of Pharmacy Annual Conference, Catania, Italy, June 24-26, 2010, 2010
D'Arcy DM, Healy AM, Corrigan OI, Towards determining appropriate hydrodynamic conditions for in vitro in vivo correlations using computational fluid dynamics, European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 37, (3-4), 2009, p291 - 299
David McDonnell, Brendan Redmond, Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Anne Marie Healy, Owen I. Corrigan, An Analysis of Drug Dissolution Rates in the USP 24 Type 2 Apparatus, Proc. Appl. Math. Mech., 9, 2009, p691 - 692
Niall M. McMahon, Lawrence J. Crane, Heather J. Ruskin, Martin Crane, Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Anne Marie Healy, Owen I. Corrigan, A numerical model of a drug particle dissolving in a dissolutoin test apparatus, Proc. Appl. Math. Mech., 9, 2009, p655 - 656
B. Liu, D.M. D'Arcy, O.I. Corrigan, Can a soluble excipient increase drug dissolution under mild hydrodynamic conditions by enhancing natural convection?, PharmSciFair, Nice, France, June 2009, 2009
D'Arcy D.M., Liu B., O'Dwyer R., Bradley G., Corrigan, O.I., Dissolution in the flow through apparatus - use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate hydrodynamiceffects, AAPS Journal, AAPS Annual Conference, 10, (S2), 2008
D'Arcy, D.M., Corrigan, O.I., Healy, A.M., Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to investigate hydrodynamics involved in in vitro in vivo correlations (IVIVC) , EUFEPS/COST B 25 conference on Bioavailability (BA) and Bioequivalence (BE): Focus on physiological factors and variability., Athens, Greece, October, 2007
D'Arcy D.M., Corrigan, O.I., Healy, A.M., Investigating the hydrodynamics involved in early in vito in vivo correlations - computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of hydrodynamics in the Levy beaker apparatus., PSWC 3rd World congress of the Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the FIP., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April, 2007
Deirdre D'Arcy, Owen Corrigan, Anne Marie Healy, Evaluation of hydrodynamics in the basket dissolution apparatus using compuational fluid dynamics - Dissolution rate implications, European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 27, 2006, p259 - 267
Deirdre D'Arcy. Owen Corrigan, Anne Marie Healy, hydrodynamic simulation (Compuational fluid dynamics) of asymmetrically positioned tablets in the paddle dissolution apparatus: impact on dissolution rate and variability, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 57, 2005, p1243 - 1250
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Matthias G. Wacker, Sandra Klein, Vivek Shah, Matthew D. Burke, Gregory Hunter, and Hao Xu, In-Vitro Product Performance of Parenteral Drug Products: View of the USP Expert Panel , Dissolution Technologies, Nov, 2022, p204 - 218
O'Dwyer M, Ryan T, Ryder S, D'Arcy DM, Walsh J. , Innovative Development and Evaluation of Professional Attributes through Integration of Science and Practice at First Year Pharmacy Level , Irish Network of Healthcare Educators Conference, TBSI, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland , February 2020, 2020
Deirdre D'Arcy, UKCPA: Medication while breastfeeding, Pharmacy Magazine, 28th September, 2018, p(Extend your learning)
Munshi R, O'Keeffe H, Coyle M, Deasy E, Lavin P, Donnelly M, D'Arcy DM., Exploring population pharmacokinetic models in patients treated with vancomycin during continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on different anticoagulant modalities. , 39th All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy Conference, Cork, Ireland, April 24-25, 2017, 2017
Deirdre M D'Arcy, Simulation and Comparison of Hydrodynamics in Compendial Dissolution Apparatuses Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), USP Workshop on Computer Modeling - In vitro and In vivo Studies, USP Meetings Center, Rockville, MD USA, October 23-25, 2017, 2017, US Pharmacopeial Convention
Byrne CJ, Roberts JA, McWhinney B, Ryder SA, Fennell JP, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Egan S, Enright H, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, Population pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin and attainment of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic targets in adult patients with haematological malignancy, Trinity College Dublin: Faculty of Health Sciences Research Day, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 15 September 2016, 2016
Byrne CJ, McWhinney B, Roberts JA, Fennell JP, Egan S, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Enright H, Ryder SA, McHugh J, D'Arcy DM, Pharmacokinetic analysis of teicoplanin in patients with haematological malignancy, 37th All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy Research Seminar, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 30-31 March 2015, 2015
Byrne C, McHugh J, Egan S, Fennell J, Enright H, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, Teicoplanin dosage in adult patients with haematological malignancy: Can we improve on current practices?, Irish Antimicrobial Pharmacists Group, Dublin, Ireland, 22 October 2014, 2014
Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, McHugh J, 'A prospective, single-centre, cohort study to determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of teicoplanin in adult patients with haematological malignancy', Dublin, Ireland, 2014, -
Byrne C, Egan S, D'Arcy DM, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Fennell J, Enright H, McHugh J, Ryder SA, Teicoplanin usage in adult patients with haematological malignancy in the UK and Ireland: Is there scope for improvement?, Tallaght Hospital Research Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland, 20 November 2014, 2014
Catherine J. Byrne, Sheila A. Ryder, Jerome P. Fennell, Philomena O'Byrne, Evelyn Deasy, Sean Egan, Helen Enright, Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Johnny McHugh, Teicoplanin dosing in haematological malignancy - is it time to reconsider?, TBSI annual symposium, Dublin, May 2014, 2014
Byrne C, McHugh J, Egan S, Fennell JP, Enright H, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, Teicoplanin dosage in haematological malignancy: Is it time to reconsider?, 36th All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy Research Seminar, Dublin, Ireland, 14-15 April 2014, 2014
Catherine Byrne, Sean Egan, Deirdre D'Arcy, Philomena O'Byrne, Evelyn Deasy, Jérôme Fennell, Helen Enright, Johnny McHugh, Sheila Ryder, Teicoplanin Usage in Adult Patients with Haematological Malignancy in the UK and Ireland: Is there scope for improvement? , Haematology Association of Ireland Conference 2013, Belfast, Ireland, 2013, 2013
Byrne C, McHugh J, Egan S, Fennell JP, Enright H, O'Byrne P, Deasy E, Ryder SA, D'Arcy DM, Teicoplanin dosing in haematological malignancy - is it time to reconsider?, Tallaght Hospital Pharmacy Department Education Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, 26 September 2013, 2013
M.E. Malone, C. Gowing, M. Barry, E. Deasy, P.V. Kavanagh, O.I. Corrigan, D.M. D'Arcy, M. Donnelly, Do plasma protein levels influence the volume of distribution of Amphotericin B Lipid Complex?, Intensive Care Society of Ireland Annual Scientific Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, June 2012, 2012
Deirdre M. D'Arcy, Tim Persoons, 'Simulation of dissolution rate profiles of pharmaceutical systems', School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dept. of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, 2012, -
Malone M.E., Gowing C., Barry M., Deasy E., Kavanagh P.V., Corrigan O.I., D'Arcy D.M., Donnelly M. Clinical pharmacokinetics research group, Pharmacokinetics of amphotericin B lipid complex in critically ill patients on and off continuous venovenous heeamodiafiltration, All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Conference, Cork, 2012, 2012
M.E. Malone, C. Gowing, M. Barry, E. Deasy, P.V. Kavanagh, O.I. Corrigan, D.M. D'Arcy, M. Donnelly, Determination of pharmacokinetic parameters of amphotericin B in critically ill patients during continuous venovenous haemodiafiltration-analytical methodology and clinical trial design, All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Conference, Belfast, Northern Ireland, April 2010, 2010
Deirdre M. D'Arcy, CFD in dissolution testing: considerations for the design and use of hydrodynamic simulations, Dissolution Testing, Prague, Czech Republic, 20-21 October 2009, 2009
Deirdre M D'Arcy, The role of hydrodynamics in dissolution testing, Dissolution Testing, Bioequivalence and Bioavailability Strategies Conference 2008, London, UK, 26-27 June, 2008, 2008
Research Expertise
Description
My research interests can be presented as 2 main themes: 1. Application of computational modelling and simulation techniques in pharmacy and pharmaceutical technology, to improve processes and practice. I have used a number of different computational modelling and simulation approaches and packages in 2 main contexts: A) Clinical Pharmacokinetics: Clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) involves modelling the time course of a medicine in the body, in order to understand the medicine's journey through the body. This then facilitates design of optimal dosing regimens (dose and interval) to achieve therapeutic goals. My clinical PK work to date has focussed on optimising antibiotic use. I am the academic PI for the Clinical Pharmacokinetics Research Group, a collaboration with Tallaght Hospital. I have worked with both the Intensive Care Unit and Haematology Departments, and the hospital Pharmacy Department. B) Pharmaceutical Drug Development: My modelling and simulation in Pharmaceutical Drug Development has focussed on dissolution modelling. Dissolution testing involves determination of the rate and extent of drug dissolution and release from any dosage form. It is an essential component of early stage drug formulation development, and also quality control (QC). Of global research interest are i) the development of dissolution testing methodologies which best reflect the in vivo environment for drug release, to support early stage formulation development, and ii) understanding sources of variability in dissolution testing to minimise risk of failure to meet specifications in QC testing of manufactured batches. I have developed significant expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling of fluid dynamics within different dissolution test apparatuses, assisting determination of sources of variability from a QC perspective and also in vivo relevant dissolution method development. Furthermore, I have co-developed a dissolution simulation package with Dr. Tim Persoons (Dept. of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, TCD). We have accompanied this simulation package with a novel investigational tool for visualisation of dissolution, based on the principles of shadowgraph imaging. 2. Clinically relevant drug development and delivery to special populations. The dual concepts of access to medicines and personalised medicines are highly relevant in today's global pharmaceutical environment. Based on a combination of my clinical and pharmaceutical technology experience and expertise, my research addresses both of these concepts.Relevant international collaborations include those with Cambridge University and University of Bath, UK, exploring the development of dissolution and drug release testing methodologies which will support drug development for two specific populations: critically ill patients and neonates/infants. My collaboration with Cambridge University focussed on the development of a dissolution testing environment from a nipple shield designed specifically with the aim of drug delivery to neonates while breastfeeding. My collaboration with University of Bath focusses on the development of dissolution testing for lipid-based parenteral formulations, with the dissolution medium representing the characteristics of plasma in critically ill patients. Of topical significance is my collaboration with the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics and the School of Medicine, TCD, investigating the role of pharmacokinetic "boosting" drugs in reducing dosing (cost) of expensive medicines. Finally I have had an intereset in investigating the potential for provision of breastfeeding support in a community pharmacy environment. Primarily this focusses on support for medication use (in either baby or mother) during breastfeeding, but with a general health promotion angle also.Projects
- Title
- An investigation to determine an appropriate teicoplanin dosage regimen for the treatment of Gram-positive infection in patients with haematological malignancy.
- Summary
- Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that has bactericidal activity against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria including multi-resistant staphylococci. Along with vancomycin, it has become one of the treatments of choice for Gram-positive sepsis, including infections caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Teicoplanin has a structure and spectrum of activity similar to that of vancomycin but its pharmacokinetic properties are quite distinct. For these reasons, teicoplanin is often the preferred choice over vancomycin for the treatment of Gram-positive infection in patients with haematological malignancy. Despite this, specific dosage guidelines and an appropriate target trough level for this patient group have not been determined. Higher doses have been suggested for patients with haematological malignancy, but increasing the dose not only increases the risk of adverse effects but also reduces the cost-effectiveness when compared to vancomycin. Therefore, most patients with haematological malignancy continue to receive standard doses of teicoplanin and therapeutic drug monitoring is not widely practised. As patients with haematological malignancy are at high risk for developing severe Gram-positive infections, underdosing of teicoplanin is of great concern. The aims of this project are to determine current teicoplanin prescribing practices, to investigate whether certain clinical or patient factors contribute to efficacy or toxicity of teicoplanin or to trough levels attained, and to conduct a prospective trial to determine pharmacokinetic characteristics of teicoplanin in patients with haematological malignancy. Phase 1, a survey of teicoplanin practice in all Irish/UK haematology services, was completed in June 2013. Findings revealed that the majority of hospitals rely on the manufacturer's standard dosage regimen rather than therapeutic drug monitoring as an indicator for therapeutic dosing and that local practices lack a clear evidence base. Data gathering for Phase 2, a retrospective study of teicoplanin dosage and clinical outcomes in teicoplanin-treated patients with haematological malignancy at Tallaght Hospital, was completed in November 2013. Results suggested a positive relationship between teicoplanin concentration and treatment outcome. Findings also suggested a risk of underexposure if conventional doses of teicoplanin are used in patients with haematological malignancy. A model was developed for dosage optimisation of teicoplanin in patients with haematological malignancy. Nephrotoxicity analysis suggested that teicoplanin is well tolerated at the renal level. Phase 3, a clinical trial to determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of teicoplanin in patients with haematological malignancy, was commenced in subjects in March 2014.
- Funding Agency
- Meath Foundation (In collaboration with Tallaght hospital Haematology and PHarmacy departments).
- Date From
- March 2012
- Title
- Simulation of dissolution rate profiles of pharmaceutical systems
- Summary
- This project involves the development of software code which allows generation of a simulated profile of particles dissolving over time. It includes simulation of dissolution under a range of pharmaceutical industry-standard test conditions. Dissolution testing is a routine testing process in the pharmaceutical industry. Both instrumentation and operational characteristics of the dissolution test are rigidly defined. It is a recognised problem that dissolution results can fall out of specification,suggesting that a drug is being released too slowly or too quickly. These out of specification results could be due to (unintentional) changes in many stages of the manufacturing process, or could be as a result of a change in the operation or specifications of the dissolution testing apparatus itself. Existing solutions concern either running experimental tests, or use of certain dissolution theory and models, which do not always take the detailed operational characteristics of the test procedure into account. This technology allows insight into effects of the testing conditions on the dissolution rate, without having to run real-time dissolution tests to check each effect.
- Date From
- October 2008
- Date To
- Present
- Title
- A clinical pharmacokinetic evaluation of amphotericin B lipid complex in critically ill patients
- Summary
- Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) has been used extensively to treat proven or suspected severe fungal infections. In this project, the effect of continuous renal replacement therapy - continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) on the pharamcokinetics of ABLC in critically ill patients was examined. Sixteen patients (21 profiles) were recruited to the study; 9 profiles undergoing CVVHDF and 12 profiles not undergoing CVVHDF, during their ABLC treatment. Non compartmental analysis was performed to calculate the following PK parameters of AMB: clearance (Cl), volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) and half life (t1/2). In the current study, wide variability was observed in both intra- and inter-patient PK of AMB, after the administration of ABLC. Multiexponential kinetics of AMB, after the administration of ABLC, were also observed. The median values of Cl, Vss and t1/2 calculated within a sampling interval of AMB were determined to be 27 L/h and 44 L/h, 1500 L and 2000 L, 34 hours and 33 hours for patients undergoing CVVHDF and not undergoing CVVHDF respectively. No statistical difference was found between PK parameters of AMB in patients undergoing and not undergoing CVVHDF. Also, the maximum amount cleared by CVVHDF was less than 1% of ABLC dose. Statistically significant relationships were observed between Vss and albumin and C reactive protein (CRP), where a decrease in albumin and an increase in CRP levels were related to an increase in Vss. In addition, a trend effect was demonstrated where an increase in the daily dose of noradrenaline administered was related to an increase in plasma AMB concentrations.
- Funding Agency
- In collaboration with the ICU, Tallaght hospital (part funded by Cephalon Ireland Ltd).
- Date From
- October 2008
- Date To
- July 2013
- Title
- Effect of hydrodynamics in the USP apparatus 4 on dissolution/drug release rates
- Summary
- The dissolution rates of model compounds of low- to intermediate-solubility were examined under conditions of no forced convection (natural convection) and at low flow rates in the USP 4 dissolution apparatus (Flow-through apparatus). The hydrodynamics of the flow-through apparatus were simulated using the CFD software, Fluent. The effect of low, time-dependent fluid velocities on dissolution was being examined, in particular with relevance to the estimated magnitude of fluid velocities in the GI tract. The effect of natural convection was found to have a signfiicant impact on dissolution rate under low velocity conditions.
- Funding Agency
- IRCSET
- Date From
- October 2007
- Date To
- July 2012
Recognition
Representations
Member of USP Expert Panel in Product Performance Testing
Member of accreditation committee for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme for Pharmacists
Irish Institute of Pharmacy: Member of Peer Review Panel for Assessment of CPD Programmes
Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP): Member of working group for IIOP submission to National Maternity Strategy
Committee for Women's Health group, United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association
Regular peer-reviewer for relevant scientific and clinical journal (13)
External examiner -PhD thesis - University of Barcelona
External examiner- MSc thesis - University of Western Cape, South Africa
Adjudicator at Hospital Pharmacy Association of Ireland (HPAI) annual meeting -poster competition
Member of the Accreditation Working Group for the Five-Year Integrated Pharmacy Programme
Institutional Lead -PQPharm (Postgraduate Qualification in Pharmacy) International educational project funded under the the EU Tempus Programme
Awards and Honours
Sotax Award for Dissolution Innovation
Tocher Medal from Robert Gordon University 1st place final year pharmacy exams
Memberships
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
United Kingdom Clinical Pharmacy Association
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC-UK)