Dr Gareth Owain Richards

PhD, SFHEA

Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Research Fellow and IKKE Lead for Seed Innovation, IP and Commercialisation

g.richards@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9216

DU30, D Floor, The Medical School

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 IKKE 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 IKKE Lead for Seed Innovation, IP, and Commercialisation, I am committed to driving change and innovation within the school and beyond.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Pacharne S, Livesey M, Kadmiel M, Wang N, Caron KM, Richards GO & Skerry TM (2022) Accelerated development with increased bone mass and skeletal response to loading suggest receptor activity modifying protein-3 as a bone anabolic target. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12.
Zirimwabagabo J-O, Jailani ABA, Avgoustou P, Tozer MJ, Gibson KR, Glossop PA, Mills JEJ, Porter RA, Blaney P, Wang N , Skerry TM et al (2021) Discovery of a first-in-class small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor: structure–activity relationships and optimization. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64(6), 3299-3319. View this article in WRRO
Wang N, Niger C, Li N, Richards GO & Skerry TM (2020) Cross-species RNA-seq study comparing transcriptomes of enriched osteocyte populations in the tibia and skull. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11.
Avgoustou P, Jailani ABA, Zirimwabagabo J-O, Tozer MJ, Gibson KR, Glossop PA, Mills JEJ, Porter RA, Blaney P, Bungay P , WANG N et al (2020) Discovery of a first-in-class potent small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 3(4), 706-719. View this article in WRRO
Prakash J, Herlin M, Kumar J, Garg G, Akesson KE, Grabowski PS, Skerry TM, Richards GO & McGuigan FEA (2019) Analysis of RAMP3 gene polymorphism with body composition and bone density in young and elderly women. Gene, 721(Supplement).
Warrington JI, Richards GO & Wang N (2017) The Role of the Calcitonin Peptide Family in Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastasis. Current Molecular Biology Reports, 3(3), 197-203. View this article in WRRO
Weston C, Lu J, Li N, Barkan K, Richards GO, Roberts DJ, Skerry TM, Poyner D, Pardamwar M, Reynolds CA , Dowell SJ et al (2015) Modulation of Glucagon Receptor Pharmacology by Receptor Activity-modifying Protein-2 (RAMP2). Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(38), 23009-23022. View this article in WRRO
Desai AJ, Roberts DJ, Richards GO & Skerry TM (2014) Role of receptor activity modifying protein 1 in function of the calcium sensing receptor in the human TT thyroid carcinoma cell line.. PLoS One, 9(1), e85237.
Kadmiel M, Fritz-Six K, Pacharne S, Richards GO, Li M, Skerry TM & Caron KM (2011) Research resource: Haploinsufficiency of receptor activity-modifying protein-2 (RAMP2) causes reduced fertility, hyperprolactinemia, skeletal abnormalities, and endocrine dysfunction in mice.. Mol Endocrinol, 25(7), 1244-1253.
Whitehouse CA, Waters S, Marchbank K, Horner A, McGowan NWA, Jovanovic JV, Xavier GM, Kashima TG, Cobourne MT, Richards GO , Sharpe PT et al (2010) Neighbor of Brca1 gene (Nbr1) functions as a negative regulator of postnatal osteoblastic bone formation and p38 MAPK activity.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(29), 12913-12918.

All publications

Journal articles

Jailani ABA, Bigos KJA, Avgoustou P, Egan JL, Hathway RA, Skerry TM & Richards GO (2022) Targeting the adrenomedullin-2 receptor for the discovery and development of novel anti-cancer agents. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 17(8), 839-848. View this article in WRRO
Pacharne S, Livesey M, Kadmiel M, Wang N, Caron KM, Richards GO & Skerry TM (2022) Accelerated development with increased bone mass and skeletal response to loading suggest receptor activity modifying protein-3 as a bone anabolic target. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12.
Zirimwabagabo J-O, Jailani ABA, Avgoustou P, Tozer MJ, Gibson KR, Glossop PA, Mills JEJ, Porter RA, Blaney P, Wang N , Skerry TM et al (2021) Discovery of a first-in-class small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor: structure–activity relationships and optimization. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64(6), 3299-3319. View this article in WRRO
Wang N, Niger C, Li N, Richards GO & Skerry TM (2020) Cross-species RNA-seq study comparing transcriptomes of enriched osteocyte populations in the tibia and skull. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11.
Avgoustou P, Jailani ABA, Zirimwabagabo J-O, Tozer MJ, Gibson KR, Glossop PA, Mills JEJ, Porter RA, Blaney P, Bungay P , WANG N et al (2020) Discovery of a first-in-class potent small molecule antagonist against the adrenomedullin-2 receptor. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 3(4), 706-719. View this article in WRRO
Prakash J, Herlin M, Kumar J, Garg G, Akesson KE, Grabowski PS, Skerry TM, Richards GO & McGuigan FEA (2019) Analysis of RAMP3 gene polymorphism with body composition and bone density in young and elderly women. Gene, 721(Supplement).
Warrington JI, Richards GO & Wang N (2017) The Role of the Calcitonin Peptide Family in Prostate Cancer and Bone Metastasis. Current Molecular Biology Reports, 3(3), 197-203. View this article in WRRO
Weston C, Lu J, Li N, Barkan K, Richards GO, Roberts DJ, Skerry TM, Poyner D, Pardamwar M, Reynolds CA , Dowell SJ et al (2015) Modulation of Glucagon Receptor Pharmacology by Receptor Activity-modifying Protein-2 (RAMP2). Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290(38), 23009-23022. View this article in WRRO
Desai AJ, Roberts DJ, Richards GO & Skerry TM (2014) Role of receptor activity modifying protein 1 in function of the calcium sensing receptor in the human TT thyroid carcinoma cell line.. PLoS One, 9(1), e85237.
(2013) Correction for Whitehouse et al., Neighbor of Brca1 gene (Nbr1) functions as a negative regulator of postnatal osteoblastic bone formation and p38 MAPK activity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(11), 4428-4428.
Kadmiel M, Fritz-Six K, Pacharne S, Richards GO, Li M, Skerry TM & Caron KM (2011) Research resource: Haploinsufficiency of receptor activity-modifying protein-2 (RAMP2) causes reduced fertility, hyperprolactinemia, skeletal abnormalities, and endocrine dysfunction in mice.. Mol Endocrinol, 25(7), 1244-1253.
Whitehouse⁎ CA, Waters S, Marchbank K, Horner A, McGowan N, Richards G, Burford J, Sharpe P, Skerry T, Grigoriadis A & Solomon E (2010) Analysis of mouse models with loss or mutations in Nbr1 demonstrate an age-dependent high bone mass due to altered osteoblast activity. Bone, 47, S43-S43.
Whitehouse CA, Waters S, Marchbank K, Horner A, McGowan NWA, Jovanovic JV, Xavier GM, Kashima TG, Cobourne MT, Richards GO , Sharpe PT et al (2010) Neighbor of Brca1 gene (Nbr1) functions as a negative regulator of postnatal osteoblastic bone formation and p38 MAPK activity.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107(29), 12913-12918.
Pacharne S, Richards G, Wang N, Skerry T & Caron K () Role of receptor activity modifying proteins in skeletal regulation. Bone Abstracts.

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
Richards GO & Skerry TM (2008) Therapeutic Agents. WO2007/045927 A2 (US,RU,JP,EP,CN,CA,AU). Appl. 27 Jun 2008.
Richards G (2008) ANTIBODIES AGAINST RAMP3. WO 2008132453 Appl. 06 Nov 2008.

Preprints

Avgoustou P, Jailani ABA, Desai AJ, Roberts DJ, Lilley E, Stothard G, Richards GO & Skerry TM (2024) Receptor activity modifying protein modulation of parathyroid hormone-1 receptor function and signalling, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

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