Ruth Andrew (BSc, PhD, MRPharmS)
Personal Chair of Pharmaceutical Endocrinology
Address
- Street
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The Queen's Medical Research Institute,
Edinburgh BioQuarter,
47 Little France Crescent - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH16 4TJ
Background
Ruth Andrew graduated as a pharmacist from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK in 1989 and carried out her PhD in pharmaceutical analysis using GC-MS to study synthesis and metabolism of adrenal medullary hormones in hypertensive subjects. She gained a lectureship in the University of Edinburgh in 1994 and was awarded a Chair in Pharmaceutical Endocrinology in 2015. She specialises in understanding regulation of glucocorticoid action in metabolic and inflammatory diseases and has developed innovative tools to study steroid metabolism and flux in vivo, most recently by mass spectrometry imaging. She also is the Director of the Mass Spectrometry Core of the Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility; this laboratory supports a broad spectrum support for clinical researchers requiring small molecule analysis in their research programmes, including studies of toxicology, drug discovery, experimental physiology and pathology. She plays an active role in undergraduate and post-graduate teaching in Endocrine Pharmacology.
Qualifications
BSc Hons First Class Pharmacy (specialisation Pharmaceutical Chemistry)
PhD Pharmaceutical Chemistry
MRPharmS
Post-graduate Certificate in Higher Education
Responsibilities & affiliations
Director, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Mass Spectrometry Core
Society for Endocrinology Trustee, Council Member and Finance Committee Member
Scottish Metabolomics Network, Treasurer
European Oxysterol Research Network Scientific Board
British Journal of Pharmacology Editor
Frontiers in Endocrinology, Specialty Chief Editor, Systems Endocrinology
Chair Seminar Committee, Centre for Cardiovascular Science.
Undergraduate teaching
Endocrine Physiology and Pharmacology, Honours Biomedical Sciences, Deputy Course Organiser
Contributing Lecturer, Y3 BSc Clinical Biochemistry and Endocrinology
Postgraduate teaching
Centre for Cardiovascular Science Post-graduate Committee Member
University Post-graduate Appeals Committee Member
Contributing Lecturer, MSc Cardiovascular Biology
External Lecturer,MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis, University of Strathclyde
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Research summary
My research interests are in steroid biochemistry and applied mass spectrometry. I study glucocorticoids and their actions on fuel metabolism and inflammation. I have a particular interest in the enzyme 5alpha-reductase, which activates androgens and modulates glucocorticoid action. Inhibitors of the enzyme used in prostate disease alter steroid hormone action and my group has shown that inhibition of this enzyme increases susceptibility to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. I am also interested in studying 5alpha-reduced glucocorticoids as potential dissociated glucocorticoid receptor modulators. Lastly I apply mass spectrometry to enable tracking of steroid metabolism, using stable-isotope tracers and also advanced methods of MS detection e.g. imaging.
Current research interests
Pharmacoepidemiology of adverse effects of 5alpha-reductase inhibitors on devlopment of type 2 diabetes. The role of 5alpha-reductases in modulating fuel homeostaisis. Application of advanced mass spectrometry to visualise and track steroid hormoness in biological systems.Knowledge exchange
Consultant for Actinogen Medical
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Maternal glucocorticoid metabolism across pregnancy: a potential mechanism underlying fetal glucocorticoid exposure
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgz313
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EXPRESS: Estrogen metabolites in a small cohort of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045894020908783
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MASS SPECTROMETRY IMAGING OF LIPIDS
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Estrogens and glucocorticoids in mammary adipose tissue: Relationships with body mass index and breast cancer features
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Simultaneous quantification of estrogens and glucocorticoids in human adipose tissue by liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105476
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Quantitative analysis of 11-dehydrocorticosterone and corticosterone for preclinical studies by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8610
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Heritability of cortisol production and metabolism throughout adolescence: a twin study
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Urinary estrogens as a non-invasive biomarker of viable pregnancy in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49288-6
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Role of hepatic glucocorticoid receptor in metabolism in models of 5αR1 Deficiency in Male Mice
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2019-00236
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Current strategies for quantification of estrogens in clinical research
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Incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in men receiving steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors: population based cohort study
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1204
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Higher Insulin Resistance and Adiposity in Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer Treated With Aromatase Inhibitors
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-02339
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Data for analysis of catechol estrogen metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
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PIPIN
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Derivatization enhances analysis of estrogens and their bioactive metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
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Species-specific regulation of angiogenesis by glucocorticoids reveals contrasting effects on inflammatory and angiogenic pathways
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Quantification of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 kinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of inhibitors in brain using mass spectrometry imaging and stable-isotope tracers in mice
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2017.12.013
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Non-uniform relationship between salt status and aldosterone activity in patients with chronic kidney disease
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Pulsatility of Glucocorticoid Hormones in Pregnancy: Changes with Gestation and Obesity
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cen.13548
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Plasma metabolomic profile varies with glucocorticoid dose in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17220-5
Organiser
Programme Organising Committee Member as follows
Society for Endocrinology Career Development Workshop Co-organiser 2007-2014
Metabolomics Society, Glasgow 2013
Scoiety for Endocrinology, UK Meetings, 2013-2018
Scottish Metabolomics Network, Edinburgh 2015
Androgens, Edinbrugh 2018
European Oxysterol Research Network, Edinburgh 2019