Dr Alice McCloskey
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: A.P.McCloskey@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 1921
ORCID
Dr McCloskey is a Reader of Pharmacy, MPharm Programme leader, and co-lead of the Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics research group. She is a registered pharmacist of the GPhC and PSNI with a range of experience working across the three main sectors of pharmacy- clinical practice, academia and industry. Upon successful completion of her pre-registration training Dr McCloskey returned to Queen's University Belfast and completed a PhD in pharmaceutics where she developed 'Self-assembled Peptide Nanomaterials for the Prevention of Biomaterial Infection'. This was followed by an industry-academia collaborative post-doc between the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI, Dublin) and the Galway-based nebuliser company Aerogen, a global leader in aerosol delivery. This work was also linked with a national patient focused medical device research centre, CURAM based at The National University of Ireland, Galway. Dr McCloskey is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Fellow of HEA. Links are maintained with clinical pharmacy through regular days in practice both in hospital and community settings.
Research interests:
- Self-assembling nanostructures for biomedical applications
- Nanomaterials for drug delivery
- Pharmacy education- preparing students for 'real-life' practice
- Managing medicines in patients at the extremes of age
Degrees
2016, Queen's University Belfast, N. Ireland, PhD
2012, Queen's University Belfast, N. Ireland, MPharm
Certifications
RCSI, PgDip Health Professions Education
Highlighted publications
Hindley B, Lip GYH, McCloskey AP, Penson PE. 2023. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of direct oral anticoagulants Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism and Toxicology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Penson PE, McCloskey A. 2023. Therapeutic drug monitoring: applying the ‘Goldilocks Principle’ to clinical pharmacology Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Bracken L, Vasey N, Ehtezazi T. 2023. 3D printing–an alternative strategy for pediatric medicines Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 16 :613-616 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Malabar L, McCabe PG, Gitsham A, Jarman I. 2023. Antibiotic prescribing trends in primary care 2014–2022 Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Journal article
Putri KASSIEGRACELLA, Sampath SUNIL, Richardson CHARLOTTELUCY, McCloskey ALICE, Rathbone ADAMPATTISON. 2025. A qualitative study exploring experiences of treatment in paediatric rheumatology - children’s, young people’s, parents’ and carers’ perspectives Pediatric Rheumatology, 23 :1-12 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Pickles J, Griffiths L, McCloskey AP, Vasey N, Lim E, Rathbone AP. 2025. Developing a behaviour change intervention using information about greenhouse gas emissions to reduce liquid antibiotic prescribing Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 21 :277-286 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Keshavarz Shahbaz S, Koushki K, Keshavarz Hedayati S, McCloskey AP, Kesharwani P, Naderi Y, Sahebkar A. 2024. Polymer nanotherapeutics: A promising approach toward microglial inhibition in neurodegenerative diseases. Medicinal research reviews, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Ehtezazi T, Kteich A, Abdulkarim R, Anderson V, Algellay M, McCloskey AP, Carter N, Roberts M, Assi S, Al-Jumeily D, Thompson M, Mohamed FA, Sarker SD. 2024. Reducing temperature of fused deposition modelling 3D printing for linalool fast dissolving oral films by increasing printer nozzle diameter Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Pordel S, McCloskey AP, Almahmeed W, Sahebkar A. 2024. The protective effects of statins in traumatic brain injury Pharmacological Reports, 76 :235-250 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Chamani S, Mobasheri L, Zerehpoosh S, Naghizadeh A, McCloskey AP, Rizzo M, Jamialahmadi T, Sahebkar A. 2024. The Effect of Statins on the Differentiation and Function of Central Nervous System Cells Current Medicinal Chemistry, 31 :1348-1360 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Harland E, Alhusban D, Abdoubaki R, Marfing D, Simm A, McCloskey AP, Ehtezazi T, Ross K. 2023. A novel peptide for microRNA delivery to medulloblastoma cells Biomolecular Research Reports, 1 :1-11 Publisher Url Public Url
Hindley B, Lip GYH, McCloskey AP, Penson PE. 2023. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of direct oral anticoagulants Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism and Toxicology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ehtezazi T, Kteich A, Abdulkarim R, Lynch R, Algellay M, McCloskey AP, Roberts M, Sarker SD. 2023. Quantification of Linalool in 3D Printed Fast-Dissolving Oral Films by A High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography Method Journal of Natural Products Discovery, 2 :1-9 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
McCloskey AP, Bracken L, Vasey N, Ehtezazi T. 2023. 3D printing–an alternative strategy for pediatric medicines Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, 16 :613-616 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Malabar L, McCabe PG, Gitsham A, Jarman I. 2023. Antibiotic prescribing trends in primary care 2014–2022 Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Rajabian A, McCloskey AP, Jamialahmadi T, Moallem SA, Sahebkar A. 2023. A review on the efficacy and safety of lipid-lowering drugs in neurodegenerative disease Reviews in the Neurosciences, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Lunn A, Traynor MJ, Lim EJ, Tse Y, McCabe PG, Mistry RD, Vasey N, Pickering A, Rathbone AP. 2023. KidzMed e-learning to upskill student pharmacists to teach pill swallowing to children Peña-Fernández A. PLoS One, 18 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Mohammadpour F, Kamali H, Gholami L, McCloskey AP, Kesharwani P, Sahebkar A. 2022. Solid lipid nanoparticles: a promising tool for insulin delivery Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 19 :1577-1595 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Chamani S, Kooshkaki O, Moossavi M, Rastegar M, Soflaei SS, McCloskey AP, Banach M, Sahebkar A. 2022. The effects of statins on the function and differentiation of blood cells Archives of Medical Science, 19 :1314-1326 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Hatamipour M, Hadizadeh F, Jaafari MR, Khashyarmanesh Z, Kesharwani P, McCloskey AP, Sahebkar A. 2022. Formulation development and in vitro–in vivo anticancer potential of novel nanoliposomal fluorinated curcuminoids Process Biochemistry, 122 :250-257 DOI Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Penson PE, Tse Y, Abdelhafiz MA, Ahmed SN, Lim EJ. 2022. Identifying and addressing pill aversion in adults without physiological‐related dysphagia: A narrative review British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Odeh M, Alkhader E, McCloskey A, Aljabra R, Al-sharayri M, Al-Noimi F, Alarmooti M, Alzu’bi M. 2021. Postgraduate pharmacist development- an evaluation of Jordanian pharmacist experiences to inform and shape an evidence-based professional development policy PLoS One, 16 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McCloskey AP, Brown J, Haughey S, O'Hare R. 2019. Pharmacy student and pharmacist perceptions of professional socialism and communication in a real-life clinical setting International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 27 :286-294 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gaul R, Murphy R, McCloskey AP, De Santi C, Ramsey JM, Heise A, Greene CM, Cryan S-A. 2019. P023 Development of an anti-inflammatory star-polypeptide microRNA delivery system with therapeutic applications in cystic fibrosis Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 18 :S63-S63 DOI Publisher Url
Sweeney L, McCloskey AP, Higgins G, Ramsey JM, Cryan SA, MacLoughlin R. 2019. Effective nebulization of interferon-γ using a novel vibrating mesh Respiratory Research, 20 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McCloskey AP, Lee M, Megaw J, McEvoy J, Coulter SM, Pentlavalli S, Laverty G. 2019. Investigating the In Vivo Antimicrobial Activity of a Self-Assembling Peptide Hydrogel Using a Galleria mellonella Infection Model ACS Omega, 4 :2584-2589 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
McCloskey AP, Draper ER, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2017. Ultrashort self-assembling Fmoc-peptide gelators for anti-infective biomaterial applications JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, 23 :131-140 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Huwaitat R, McCloskey AP, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2016. Potential strategies for the eradication of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY, 11 :955-972 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Rafferty J, Nagaraj H, McCloskey AP, Huwaitat R, Porter S, Albadr A, Laverty G. 2016. Peptide Therapeutics and the Pharmaceutical Industry: Barriers Encountered Translating from the Laboratory to Patients CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, 23 :4231-4259 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Gilmore SM, Zhou J, Draper ER, Porter S, Gilmore BF, Xu B, Laverty G. 2016. Self-assembling ultrashort NSAID-peptide nanosponges: multifunctional antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory materials RSC ADVANCES, 6 :114738-114749 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Laverty G, McCloskey AP, Gorman SP, Gilmore BF. 2015. Anti-biofilm activity of ultrashort cinnamic acid peptide derivatives against medical device-related pathogens JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, 21 :770-778 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2014. Evolution of antimicrobial peptides to self-assembled peptides for biomaterial applications Pathogens, 3 :792-821 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Laverty G, McCloskey AP, Gilmore BF, Jones DS, Zhou J, Xu B. 2014. Ultrashort Cationic Naphthalene-Derived Self-Assembled Peptides as Antimicrobial Nanomaterials BIOMACROMOLECULES, 15 :3429-3439 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Editorial/letter to the editor
Penson P, McCloskey A. 2024. Could siRNA therapeutics change the way we treat dyslipidemia? Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Penson PE, McCloskey A. 2023. Therapeutic drug monitoring: applying the ‘Goldilocks Principle’ to clinical pharmacology Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Penson PE, Banach M, McCloskey AP. 2023. Which Statin is Best for the Kidneys? Current Vascular Pharmacology, 21 :1-3 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Conference publication
McCloskey A, Shemilt K, Cuevas OA, Reemi F, Brace H, Aspinall L, Obaide M, Cheraghi M, Pidduck M, Rathbone A. 2024. P19 To what extent are paediatric patients accounted for in primary care formularies? Abstracts form the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacy Conference 2023, Abstracts from the NPPG Conference 2023 :A16.2-A17 DOI Publisher Url
Audi H, Swithenbank Z, McCloskey A, Hay G. 2024. E-cigarette knowledge of undergraduate pharmacy students International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 32 :i56-i57 DOI Publisher Url
Ehtezazi T, Kelly N, McCloskey A, Sarker S. 2023. USE OF NATURAL PRODUCTS IN 3D PRINTING OF MEDICINAL TEDDY BEARS Journal of Natural Products Discovery, 4th Annual CNPD (Centre for Natural Products Discovery) Conference 2 :7-7 DOI
Parker E, Sawyer M, McCloskey A, Vasey N, Tse Y, Lim E. 2023. 729 EcoKidzMed: Measuring the carbon emissions of packaging, distribution and waste disposal of liquid and capsule amoxicillin Climate Change Working Group, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Abstracts of the RCPCH Conference, Glasgow, 23–25 May 2023 :A295-A296 DOI Publisher Url
Ireland C, Aragon Cuevas O, McCloskey A. 2023. P08 Precision medicines in practice: the connection between CFTR modulators and deranged liver enzymes Archives of Disease in Childhood, 108 :5.1-5 DOI Publisher Url
Thompson M, Assi S, Obe DAJ, McCloskey AP, Sarker SD, Tang L, Mohamed FA, Wilson M, Ehtezazi T. 2023. Use of Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy as a Quality Control of 3D printed Linalool Fast Dissolving Oral Films Proceedings - International Conference on Developments in eSystems Engineering, DeSE, :498-503 DOI Publisher Url
Traynor M, Kinder L, Penson P, McCloskey A, Aragon Cuevas O. 2022. 1300 Transfer of outpatient paediatric prescriptions to primary care via the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)- community pharmacist views Abstracts, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Abstracts of the RCPCH Conference, Liverpool, 28–30 June 2022 DOI Publisher Url
McCloskey A, Upadhyay B, Leonard O, Parker H, Traynor M, Aragon O. 2022. 1313 Has COVID-19 impacted the global fight against adolescent obesity? British Association of Child and Adolescent Public Health, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Abstracts of the RCPCH Conference, Liverpool, 28–30 June 2022 :A62.1-A62 DOI Publisher Url
McCloskey AP, Maxwell S, Do H, Sabbagh L, Rathbone AP. 2021. 761 Optimal management of minor ailments in children: healthcare professionals’ views Abstracts, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Abstracts of the RCPCH Conference–Online, 15 June 2021–17 June 2021 :A104.2-A105 DOI Publisher Url
Brogan NM, McCloskey AP. 2021. 823 Pharmacy KIDS – pharmacy students’ knowledge identifying and managing minor ailments in children Abstracts, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Abstracts of the RCPCH Conference–Online, 15 June 2021–17 June 2021 :A125-A126 DOI Publisher Url
Gaul R, Murphy R, McCloskey A, De Santi C, Joanne R, Andreas H, Sally Ann C. 2019. Development of an anti-inflammatory star-polypetide microRNA delivery system with therapeutic applications in cystic fibrosis. 42nd European Cystic Fibrosis Conference
Sweeney L, Higgins G, Ramsey J, McCloskey A, MacLoughlin R, Cryan S-A. 2017. HARNESSING NEW PROTOTYPE VIBRATING MESH NEBULIZER'S FOR EFFECTIVE RESPIRATORY DELIVERY OF IFN-Y JOURNAL OF AEROSOL MEDICINE AND PULMONARY DRUG DELIVERY, 30 :32-32 Author Url
Rowley R, Gill A, MacFarlane K, McCloskey A. P14 Identification of prescribing errors in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU): an audit Archives of Disease in Childhood, The 27th annual THE NEONATAL AND PAEDIATRIC PHARMACISTS CONFERENCE 2021 Publisher Url
McCloskey A, Davies J, Traynor M, Tse Y, Lim E, Vasey N. Embedding ‘pill’ swallowing training across a UK School of Pharmacy Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Conference 2022
McCloskey A, Traynor M, Lunn A, lim E, tse Y, vasey N, rathbone A. Teaching pharmacy students how to support patients who struggle swallowing solid oral dosage forms (SODFs) The 80th World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dataset
McCloskey A, Lunn A, Traynor M, Lim E, Tse Y, McCabe P, Mistry R, Vasey N, Pickering A, Rathbone A. 2023. KidzMed E-learning to upskill student pharmacists to teach pill swallowing to children questionnaire data DOI Public Url
Chapters
McCloskey A, Penson PE. 2023. Long COVID-19 - Definition, Epidemiology, and Clinical Implications Banach M. Cardiovascular Complications of COVID-19: Acute and Long-Term Impacts :367-367 Springer Nature 978-3031154775 DOI Publisher Url
Ramsey J, McCloskey A, Gaul R, Fernandez Fernandez E, Sweeney L, Greene C, MacLoughlin R, Cryan S-A. 2020. Respiratory Drug/Vaccine Delivery Using Nanoparticles Muttil P, Kunda N. Mucosal Delivery of Drugs and Biologics in Nanoparticles :125-154 Springer 9783030359096 DOI Publisher Url
Poster
Ireland C, Aragon Cuevas O, McCloskey A. 2022. Precision Medicines in Practice: The Connection Between CFTR Modulators and Deranged Liver Enzymes The NPPG 29th annual professional conference & exhibition
Gitsham A, Rainsley A, Shemilt K, McCloskey A, Gibson J. 2022. Changes in breast cancer patients’ weight with adjuvant palbociclib treatment – a retrospective review. The 25th BOPA Annual Symposium
Lunn AM, Burkle DM, Ward R, McCloskey AP, Rathbone A, Courtenay A, Mullen R, Manfrin A. 2021. Spoken propositional idea density, a measure to help second language English speaking students: A multicentre cohort study Author Url Public Url
McCloskey AP, Gilmore SM, Porter S, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2016. Ultrashort Peptides as Bifunctional Nanomaterials. Congrès PepMat 2016
McCloskey AP, Lee M, McCallion J, Gartland K, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2015. Ultrashort Self-assembling Peptide Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides, Royal Society of Chemistry, London
McCloskey AP, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2015. Fulfilling the 3Rs: Galleria mellonella as an In Vivo Model to Assess the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Self-assembling Peptide Hydrogels 37th All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy Conference
McCloskey AP, Glass E, Catterson P, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2015. Self-assembled Fmoc Peptide Hydrogels as Potential Antimicrobials. Nanopeptide 2015, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow
McCloskey A, Gilmore SM, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2015. Self-assembling Ultrashort Cationic Peptides as Dual Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory Nanomaterials Nanopeptide 2015, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow,
McCloskey A, Gilmore BF, Laverty G. 2014. Ultrashort Cationic Self-assembled Peptides for the Prevention of Medical Device Related Infection. 36th All Ireland Schools of Pharmacy Conference, Trinity College, Dublin,
Shaw G, Gilmore BF, McCloskey AP. 2013. Sortase Inhibition- An Antibiofilm Strategy in Streptococci. 3rd European Congress on Microbial Biofilms- Basic and Clinical Aspects, Ghent, Belgium
Gitsham A, Mack L, Shemilt K, McCloskey A, Gibson J. Changes in breast cancer patients’ weight with adjuvant goserelin treatment – a retrospective review The 25th BOPA Annual Symposium
Film
Tomlin S, Terry D, Lim E, McCloskey A. 2022. RCPCH and RPS joint College webinar: The why and how of pill swallowing- patient and safety considerations Publisher Url
Other
McCloskey A, Tse Y, Lim E. PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021227095 Identifying and addressing pill aversion in adults without physiological-related dysphagia: a systematic review Publisher Url
Lim E, Tse Y, McCloskey A. RCPCH Conference 2022 Lunchtime Workshop: KidzMed- The why, how to, and what next of taking pills
McCloskey A. Heart UK Conference 2022: Meet the Expert Taster Session: Discussing the barriers to medication adherence as a result of difficulties taking lipid-lowering medication.
McCloskey A. LJMU Institute for Health Research Children, Young People and Families Health Research Showcase - KidzMed: Supporting children and young people to swallow pills
Editorial boards:
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology. 2023
Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy, Editorial Board Member. 2020
Membership of professional bodies:
Fellow, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 2023
Member, The Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group. 2019
Member, Society for Applied Microbiology. 2013
Fellowships:
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy., Advance HE. 2019
Teaching qualification:
PGDip Health Professions Education. 2018
Other Professional Activity:
Peer reviewer British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Peer reviewer Dose Response.
Peer reviewer Journal of peptide science.
Peer reviewer Pharmacy Research UK.
Peer reviewer Polymer.
Peer reviewer Reviews in Medical Virology.
STEM ambassador.