Senior Lecturer in Chemical Science

She joined the School of Life Sciences (SLS) as a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Science Programme in January 2020, having previously lectured Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Hertfordshire. Gerta obtained her MPharm degree at Tirana University and PhD in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Bath.

Following her PhD, she worked with Professor Mike Brown investigating the influence of polyphosphate on the resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Since 2006 Gerta has worked as a senior postdoctoral researcher in Professor Stephen Husbands’ Medicinal Chemistry group in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath. Her work primarily concerned the development of new opioid analogues for the treatment of substance abuse, specifically, the development of derivatives of the orvinols and naltrexones with application in relapse prevention and analgesics with reduced side effects.

Her research in this area has secured industrial investment. She has also worked on the development of new correctors and potentiators of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) for treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. Further to this Gerta has experience in in vitro pharmacology (isolated tissues, tissue culture). She has presented and won awards at national and international conferences and she is the recipient of the British Council Chevening award, as well as Women of the Year award, New York Zëri Ynë organisation. Her research work has been published in distinguished medicinal chemistry and pharmacology journals.

Teaching

Gerta is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is a Course Co-ordinator for BSc in Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences and she designs, develops and presents lectures in chemical and pharmaceutical subjects on different science courses to undergraduate and postgraduate students within the SLS. She designs implements and supervises individual research projects for the postgraduate students. Working for several years in an academic capacity, Gerta believes that this has instilled in her a high degree of respect for the benefits that the university experience brings to students and society.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Bath
• MSc in Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, University of Tirana

Memberships

• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of Royal Society of Chemistry
• Associated Editor, Albanian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Research Interests

She has significant previous research experience in the medicinal chemistry field. Her research interests include development of new opioid analogues with application as analgesics with reduced side effects hat target multiple receptors including µ opioid receptor and NPFF receptor. Recently, Gerta has shown interest in investigating potential links between COVID-19 opioid treatment and their negative side effects in respiration.

Publications

• R. Maguire, L. R. Gerak, G. Cami-Kobeci, S. M. Husbands, Ch. P. France, B. Belli and P. Flynn. OREX-1019: A Novel Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder and Relapse Prevention. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 2020, 372 205-2015.
• M. Flynn, P.M. Epperly, A.T. Davenport, G. Cami-Kobeci, Husbands, S.M. Husbands, M.C. Ko, and P.W. Czoty. Effects of stimulation of mu opioid and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors on alcohol drinking in rhesus monkeys. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019, 44(8), 1476-1484.
• Kiguchi, H. Ding, G. Cami-Kobeci, D.D. Sukhtankar, P.W. Czoty, H.B. DeLoid, S.M. Husbands, M.C. Ko. BU10038 as a safe opioid analgesic with fewer side effects after systemic and intrathecal administration in primates. British Journal of Anesthesia, 2019, 122(6), 146-156.
• Kumar, W. E. Polgar, G. Cami-Kobeci, T. V. Khroyan, L. Toll and S. M. Husbands. Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and SAR Studies of 14β-phenylacetyl Substituted 17-cyclopropylmethyl-7, 8-dihydronoroxymorphinones Derivatives: Ligands with Mixed NOP and Opioid Receptor Profile. Front. Psychiatry, 2018, 430, 1-10.
• Zielińska, A. Jarmuż, A. Wasilewski, G. Cami-Kobeci, S. M. Husbands, J. Fichna. Methyl-orvinol- Dual activity opioid receptor ligand inhibits gastrointestinal transit and alleviates abdominal pain in the mouse models mimicking diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Pharmacol., Reports, 2017, 69, 350-357.
• Ding, P.W. Czoty, N. Kiguchi, G. Cami-Kobeci, D. D. Sukhtankar, M. A. Nader, S. M. Husbands, M-Ch, Ko. A novel orvinol analog BU08028 as a safe opioid analgesic without abuse liability in primates. PNAS, 2016, 113, 5511-5518.
• Zielińska, T. B. Haddou, G. Cami-Kobeci, M. Sałaga, A. Jarmuż, R. Kordek, M. Spetea, S. M. Husbands, J. Fichna. Anti-inflammatory effect of dual nociceptin and opioid receptor agonist, BU08070, in experimental colitis in mice. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 2015, 765, 582-590.
• Ding, G. Cami-Kobeci, S. Husbands, M-Ch, Ko. Bifunctional MOP/NOP receptor agonist, BU10038, as a strong and safe analgesic in monkeys. J. of Pain, 2015, 4, 59.
• Liu, G. Cami-Kobeci, Y. Wang, P. Khuituan, Zh. Cai, H. Li, S. M. Husbands and D. N. Sheppard. The therapeutic potential of small-molecule modulators of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl- channel. Book Chapter 8, RSC Drug Discover Series No.39. Published by RSC 2015.
• V. Khroyan, W. E. Polgar, G. Cami-Kobeci; N. Fotaki; S. M. Husbands, and L. Toll. BU08073 a Buprenorphine Analog with Partial Agonist Activity at mu Receptors in vitro but Long-Lasting Opioid Antagonist Activity in vivo. Br. J. Pharmacol., 2015, 172, 668-680.
• Sobczak, G. Cami-Kobeci, M. Sałaga, S. M. Husbands, and J. Fichna. Novel mixed NOP/MOP agonist BU 8070 alleviates pain and inhibits gastrointestinal motility in mouse models mimicking diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 2014, 736, 63-69.
• M. Greedy, F. Bradbury, M. P. Thomas, K. Grivas, G. Cami-Kobeci, A. Archambeau, K. Bosse, M. J. Clark, M. Aceto, J. W. Lewis, J. R. Traynor, and S. M. Husbands. Orvinols with Mixed Kappa/Mu Opioid Receptor Agonist Activity. J. Med Chem.., 2013, 56, 3207-3216.
• Cami-Kobeci, W. E. Polgar, T. V. Khroyan, L. Toll, and S, M, Husbands. Structural Determinants of Opiod and NOP Receptor Activity in Derivatives of Buprenorphine. J. Med. Chem., 2011, 54, 6531-6537.
• V. Khroyan, W. E. Polgar, G. Cami-Kobeci, S. M. Husbands, N. T. Zaveri, and L. Toll. The First Universal Opioid Ligand, (2S)-2-[(5R,6R,7R,14S)-Ncyclopropylmethyl-4,5-epoxy-6,14-ethano-3-hydroxy-6-methoxymorphinan-7-yl]-3,3-dimethylpentan-2-ol (BU08028): Characterization of the In Vitro Profile and In Vivo Behavioral Effects in Mouse Models of Acute Pain and Cocaine-Induced Reward. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 2011, 952-961.
• Cami-Kobeci, W. E. Polgar, T. V. Khroyan, L. Toll, and S, M, Husbands. Universal opioid receptor ligand - buprenorphine and related orvinols. Pharmacological Reports, 2011, 63 (1), 210.
• Cami-Kobeci, A. P. Neal, F. A. Bradbury, L. C. Purington, M. D. Aceto, L. S. Harris, J. W. Lewis, J. R. Traynor and S. M. Husbands. Mixed K/μ Opioid Receptor Agonists: The 6β-Naltrexamines. J. Med. Chem., 2009, 52, 1546-1552.
• Rennison, A.P. Neal, G. Cami-Kobeci, M. D. Aceto, F. Martinez-Bermejo, J. W. Lewis, and S. M. Husbands. Cinnamoyl Derivatives of 7α-Aminomethyl-6,14-endo-ethanotetrahydrothebaine and 7α-Aminomethyl-6,14-endo-ethanotetrahydrooripavine and Related Opioid Ligands. J. Med. Chem., 2007, 50, 5176-5182
• J. Black, G. Cami-Kobeci, M. G. Edwards, P. A. Slatford, M. K. Whittlesey, J. M. J. Williams. Borrowing Hydrogen: Iridium-catalysed Reactions for the Formation of C-C bonds from Alcohols. Org. Biomol. Chem., 2006, 4, 116.
• Cami-Kobeci, P. A. Slatford, M. K. Whittlesey, J. M. J. Williams. N-Alkylation of Phenethylamine and Tryptamine. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2005, 15, 535.
• Burling, S., Cami-Kobeci, G., Paine, B. M., Shermer, D. J., Whittlesey, M. K., & Williams, J. M. J. (2004). Application of dihydride ruthenium carbene complexes for indirect Wittig reactions. Abstracts of Papers, 228th ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, United States, August 22-26, 2004, INOR-404.
• Cami-Kobeci, J. M. J. Williams. Conversion of Alcohols into N-alkyl anilines via an Indirect aza-Wittig Reaction. Chem. Commun., 2004, 1072.
• Cami-Kobeci, J. M. J. Williams. Substrate Activation: Indirect β-bromination of Alcohols. Synlett., 2003, 1, 124.

Contact Details

T: +44 (0) 1582 743593
E: gerta.cami-kobeci@beds.ac.uk

Other References

• Twitter: www.twitter.com/CamiGerta
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gerta-cami-kobeci-30740726