Dr Alastair Barr

Dr Alastair Barr

  • 1989 - BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, University of Glasgow
  • 1994 - DPhil Pharmacology, University of Oxford

I joined the University of Westminster in 2011 as a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and Physiology.  I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology from the University of Glasgow and worked at Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company in Cambridge before starting a DPhil in Pharmacology at the University of Oxford.  For my DPhil I investigated cell signalling pathways of a neuropeptide receptor and I continued this theme in post-doctoral research with Professor David Manning at the University of Pennsylvania on G protein-coupled receptor signalling supported by an American Heart Association fellowship.  After this I worked as post-doctoral researcher at Duke University, USA in the laboratory of Professor Ralph Snyderman on chemoattractant receptor signalling in immune cells and was subsequently appointed as an Assistant Research Professor.

After a short period in the biotech sector I took up a Team Leader position in the phosphorylation-dependent signalling group with Professor Stefan Knapp at the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) Oxford.  At the SGC, I led a project on large-scale structural biology of protein tyrosine phosphatases and also contributed to kinase and membrane protein structural biology projects prior to joining the University of Westminster.

Current Research Interests

My research interests are centred around cell signalling proteins, mainly phosphatases, kinases and receptors, and their physiological roles, disease association and potential as drug targets.  Specific projects:

  • The human receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase CD148.  This protein is widely expressed and is found in platelets where is plays a role in platelet activation and thrombosis.  It has been proposed as an anti-thrombotic drug target.  The structure and function of the large extracellular domain of this protein is poorly understood.  Current studies are investigating loss-of-function polymorphisms in CD148.
  • As part of our Quintin Hogg Trust-funded Open-source nematode DrugBase project the research group is investigating kinase and other drug targets from parasitic nematodes that cause the neglected tropical diseases lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis.  We are pleased to be hosting Dr Abdulhakeem Sulyman on an Africa Research Excellence Fund fellowship as part of this project.    

Former PhD students: Myrsini Tsimon, Olga Dorofejeva, Lina El-Badaoui

Current PhD students: Safoora Arkian.  co-supervised: Neha Thomas, Gabriela M. Moraes

Applicants to lab

If you wish to pursue a PhD or post-doc fellowship in the above please get in touch (a.barr1@westminster.ac.uk)

Research Groups / Key memberships

  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (2022)
  • Member of the British Pharmacological Society
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2014)

  • Medicines Diagnostics and Disease Modelling
  • Research Centre for Optimal Health

Sustainable Development Goals
In brief

Research areas

cell signalling proteins, phosphatases, kinases, drug discovery, platelets, thrombosis, pharmacology and neglected tropical diseases

Skills / expertise

protein expression, protein purification, molecular pharmacology and in vitro & cell-based assays

Supervision interests

PhD, post-doc, MSc, visiting students