Senior Lecturer
Room 3-307E, Steele Building, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
Phone: +617 3346 9815
Fax: +617 3365 1688
Email:
k.steadman@uq.edu.au
Kathryn Steadman completed her Bachelor of Pharmacy at Kings College London, graduating in 1991, followed by pre-registration and subsequent employment as a pharmacist with Boots the Chemists in Central London. Kathryn then undertook her PhD in plant biochemistry at Royal Holloway College, University of London, and subsequently postdoctoral research positions at Cornell University, USA and The University of Western Australia.
In 2005 Kathryn joined Murdoch University in Western Australia, where she developed and taught the three Pharmaceutical Chemistry units for the new Master of Pharmacy course, and contributed to the general development of the new School of Pharmacy. At the end of 2006 Kathryn moved to the School of Pharmacy at The University of Queensland.
Teaching
Coordinator of:
PHRM2020 Dosage Form Design A
PHRM3025/3045/4015/4025 On-course Honours
Teaches into:
PHRM1010 Introductory Pharmacy
PHRM2010 Quality Use of Medicines A
PHRM2020 Dosage Form Design A
PHRM2040, PHRM2041 Drug Discovery A1, A2
PHRM3020 Dosage Form Design B
Research Interests
Kathryn’s research interests can be grouped into four main areas. Students with interests in any of these research areas are encouraged to contact Kathryn for project ideas and information on funding sources.
- Seed Biology
Physiology and biochemistry of processes involved in seed longevity.
The majority of species produce seeds that have the ability to withstand extremely dry conditions for many years, retaining viability in order to germinate when provided with water at some later point in time. This enables germplasm storage for future use, conserving the biodiversity that may one day provide us with important lead compounds in drug discovery. Past research has included investigating the link between carbohydrate composition and seed longevity. Current research targets the role of maternal environment, harvest and storage conditions on seed longevity, and the relationship between seed ageing in the soil vs. controlled storage.
Physiology and biochemistry of germination control within seeds.
Seed germination is an essential step in the production of a plant, whether for nutritional, pharmaceutical or ecological purposes. Previous research projects have been directed at a physiological level towards understanding, controlling and predicting seed germination. Current projects include an ARC Discovery project investigating a novel phytochrome-regulated dormancy mechanism with Prof Steve Powles and Dr Danica Goggin (UWA), and an ARC Linkage project directed at controlling and predicting seed germination for minesite revegetation with Dr Kingsley Dixon and Dr Shane Turner (Kings Park and Botanic Gardens, WA).
- Natural products in pharmacy
Seeds in drug delivery
As seeds can be stored for many years under dry conditions, essential nutrients and medicinal compounds produced by them can be stored and transported cheaply, and potentially dosed without further purification. Seeds may be used as a vehicle for protein drug delivery, removing the need to extract and formulate the protein product. Current research investigates the potential for the use of seeds in drug delivery, particularly species that are economically important to Australia.
Nutraceutical/pharmaceutical/medicinal components
Seed and fruit tissues contain a wide range of secondary compounds that may be useful as a medicinal or pharmaceutical product in the purified form, or as a nutraceutical or herbal remedy if used in a less refined form. Previous work in this area includes isolation and identification of novel galactosyl-inositols from buckwheat seeds that may have a role in treatment or prevention of type II diabetes, and investigating the stimulant methylxanthine components of guarana. Current research projects investigate natural products for bioactive or pharmaceutically valuable components, using plant extracts in the formulation of delayed release oral dosage forms, and using dendrimer technology to target anticancer compounds derived from plants.
- Pharmacy practice
Current projects consider the effect of dosage form alteration, i.e. crushing and splitting tablets or capsules, on drug stability, delivery and bioavailability.
- Pharmacy education
Current projects include:
- developing a pharmacy-specific series of workshops for first year Pharmacy students who have English as a second language. These workshops aim to improve students’ knowledge of Australian terms for health and medicine-related issues that they will come across in everyday life during their studies and their career, and to improve their confidence in communicating with customers and fellow health professionals.
- developing online activities to improve skills involving pharmaceutical calculations with particular focus on extemporaneous preparations.
Student supervision
Completed PhD Students:
Current PhD Students:
Publications