Elsewhere on Ulster
Transforming brain cancer treatment with localised drug delivery.
Brain tumours remain one of the deadliest forms of cancer, especially for children and adults under 40. At Ulster University, Professor Christopher McConville, Professor of Biomedical Innovation, is leading groundbreaking research to change that reality through his pioneering work on localised delivery of chemotherapy.
Chris is the driving force behind ChemoSeed, a novel implantable drug delivery platform technology designed to administer chemotherapy directly into cancer tissue. By overcoming the blood-brain barrier—a major obstacle in brain cancer treatment—ChemoSeed allows high concentrations of chemotherapy to be administered directly into the tumour while sparing the rest of the body from toxic side effects. This approach has the potential to significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with aggressive brain cancers like high grade gliomas.
With an internationally recognised research portfolio in pharmaceutics, drug delivery, pharmaceutical engineering, and personalised medicine, Chris has dedicated his career to turning lab discoveries into real-world treatments. He has secured over £20 million in research funding, published extensively in leading journals, and built impactful collaborations with academic, clinical, and industry partners.
Beyond academia, Chris has extensive experience in moving biomedical innovations into the clinic. As Chief Scientific Officer for CRISM Therapeutics Corp—a company he founded and took public onto the London Stock Exchange—he is actively translating his research into therapies that benefit patients. His leadership has connected researchers, clinicians, regulators, and industry partners to accelerate the path from bench to bedside.
Brain tumours, particularly high grade gliomas, are notoriously difficult to treat. Because these tumours grow into healthy brain tissue, complete surgical removal is impossible, leading to high rates of recurrence. Standard chemotherapy struggles to reach the brain due to the protective blood-brain barrier, forcing patients to endure high systemic doses with severe side effects and limited benefit.
Chris’s ChemoSeed technology aims to solve these challenges. By delivering chemotherapy directly into the tumour site, ChemoSeed can increase drug effectiveness while minimising harmful side effects. The first ChemoSeed device, designed for brain tumours, has completed preclinical testing and is set to enter Phase II clinical trials soon—an important milestone towards offering new hope to patients with this devastating disease.
To support ChemoSeed’s development, Chris founded Extruded Pharmaceuticals Ltd, raising significant investment and eventually transforming it into CRISM Therapeutics Corp, a publicly listed company dedicated to innovative drug delivery technologies.
Through his research and entrepreneurial leadership, Chris exemplifies the power of biomedical innovation to create life-changing treatments. His work has the potential to transform outcomes for patients facing some of the most challenging cancers.
