Researcher Details |

Tomas Zurawski

Assist. Prof

Contact Details

X244
T:Ext. 7769

E:Tom.Zurawski@dcu.ie

Dr Tomas Zurawski works in the field of Molecular Neurobiology, specifically on the molecular mechanisms of communication in the peripheral nervous system, the pharmacology of clostridial toxins and their use as biotherapeutics to improve motor and sensory neurological disorders. He received a BSc in Systematic Biology & Ecology and MSc in Systematic Zoology & Ecology from Masaryk University (Czech Republic) in 1997 and 1999, respectively. He then used funding from the Czech Science Foundation and an Erasmus/Socrates scholarship to obtain doctoral training at Queen’s University Belfast (U.K.) and was awarded a PhD degree in Parasitology in 2002. A Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-doctoral Research Fellowship supported his move to University College Cork (Ireland) to investigate how Rab GTPases control intracellular membrane trafficking. After working at UCC for two years, he was recruited in 2004 by Prof J. Oliver Dolly to join the newly established International Centre for Neurotherapeutics at DCU. The Centre's research focused on multi-disciplinary investigations on the molecular basis of synaptic transmission and the design of second-generation recombinant botulinum neurotoxins with potential to normalise transmitter secretion from over-active nerves or immune cells. Dr Zurawski developed and implemented an array of ex- and in-vivo bioassays to test clinically-relevant biological activities of novel therapeutic candidates.

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2022	Belinskaia, M;Wang, J;Kaza, SK;Antoniazzi, C;Zurawski, T;Dolly, JO;Lawrence, GW (2022) 'Bipartite Activation of Sensory Neurons by a TRPA1 Agonist Allyl Isothiocyanate Is Reflected by Complex Ca2+ Influx and CGRP Release Patterns: Enhancement by NGF and Inhibition with VAMP and SNAP-25 Cleaving Botulinum Neurotoxins'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (2). [DOI]
	2022	Antoniazzi, C.;Belinskaia, M.;Zurawski, T.;Kaza, S.K.;Dolly, J.O.;Lawrence, G.W. (2022) 'Botulinum Neurotoxin Chimeras Suppress Stimulation by Capsaicin of Rat Trigeminal Sensory Neurons In Vivo and In Vitro'. Toxins, 14 . [Link] [DOI]
	2022	Belinskaia, M.;Zurawski, T.;Kaza, S.K.;Antoniazzi, C.;Oliver Dolly, J.;Lawrence, G.W. (2022) 'NGF Enhances CGRP Release Evoked by Capsaicin from Rat Trigeminal Neurons: Differential Inhibition by SNAP-25-Cleaving Proteases'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 . [Link] [DOI]
	2021	(2021) 'Population Coding of Capsaicin Concentration by Sensory Neurons Revealed Using Ca2+ Imaging of Dorsal Root Ganglia Explants from Adult pirt-GCaMP3 Mouse'. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, . [DOI]
	2021	(2021) 'Ca2+ Signalling Induced by NGF Identifies a Subset of Capsaicin-Excitable Neurons Displaying Enhanced Chemo-Nociception in Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants from Adult pirt-GCaMP3 Mouse'. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, . [DOI]
	2017	Nugent, M;Wang, JF;Lawrence, G;Zurawski, T;Geoghegan, JA;Dolly, JO (2017) 'Conjugate of an IgG Binding Domain with Botulinum Neurotoxin A Lacking the Acceptor Moiety Targets Its SNARE Protease into TrkA-Expressing Cells When Coupled to Anti-TrkA IgG or Fc-beta NGF'. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 28 :1684-1692. [DOI]
	2017	Wang, JF;Casals-Diaz, L;Zurawski, T;Meng, JH;Moriarty, O;Nealon, J;Edupuganti, OP;Dolly, O (2017) 'A novel therapeutic with two SNAP-25 inactivating proteases shows long-lasting anti-hyperalgesic activity in a rat model of neuropathic pain'. Neuropharmacology, 118 :223-232. [DOI]
	2012	Wang J.;Zurawski T.;Meng J.;Lawrence G.;Aoki K.;Wheeler L.;Dolly J. (2012) 'Novel chimeras of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins yield insights into their distinct sites of neuroparalysis'. FASEB Journal, 26 (12):5035-5048. [DOI]
	2012	Wang J.;Zurawski T.;Bodeker M.;Meng J.;Boddul S.;Aoki K.;Dolly J. (2012) 'Longer-acting and highly potent chimaeric inhibitors of excessive exocytosis created with domains from botulinum neurotoxin A and B'. Biochemical Journal, 444 (1):59-67. [DOI]
	2012	Edupuganti O.;Ovsepian S.;Wang J.;Zurawski T.;Schmidt J.;Smith L.;Lawrence G.;Dolly J. (2012) 'Targeted delivery into motor nerve terminals of inhibitors for SNARE-cleaving proteases via liposomes coupled to an atoxic botulinum neurotoxin'. FEBS Journal, 279 (14):2555-2567. [DOI]
	2011	Dolly J.;Wang J.;Zurawski T.;Meng J. (2011) 'Novel therapeutics based on recombinant botulinum neurotoxins to normalize the release of transmitters and pain mediators'. FEBS Journal, 278 (23):4454-4466. [DOI]
	2011	Wang J.;Zurawski T.;Meng J.;Lawrence G.;Olango W.;Finn D.;Wheeler L.;Dolly J. (2011) 'A dileucine in the protease of botulinum toxin A underlies its long-lived neuroparalysis: Transfer of longevity to a novel potential therapeutic'. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 286 (8):6375-6385. [DOI]
	2008	Wang, JF;Meng, JH;Lawrence, GW;Zurawski, TH;Sasse, A;Bodeker, MO;Gilmore, MA;Fernandez-Salas, E;Francis, J;Steward, LE;Aoki, KR;Dolly, JO (2008) 'Novel chimeras of botulinum neurotoxins A and E unveil contributions from the binding, translocation, and protease domains to their functional characteristics'. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 283 :16993-17002. [DOI]
	2007	Schulte-Baukloh, H;Zurawski, TH;Knispel, HH;Miller, K;Haferkamp, A;Dolly, JO (2007) 'Persistence of the synaptosomal-associated protein-25 cleavage product after intradetrusor botulinum toxin A injections in patients with myelomeningocele showing an inadequate response to treatment'. BJU International, 100 :1075-1080. [DOI]
	2004	Horgan CP;Walsh M;Zurawski TH;McCaffrey MW (2004) 'Rab11-FIP3 localises to a Rab11-positive pericentrosomal compartment during interphase and to the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis'. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, . [Link] [DOI]
	2003	Zurawski TH;Mousley A;Aaron Maule;Gelnar M;Halton DW (2003) 'Cytochemical studies of the neuromuscular systems of the diporpa and juvenile stages of Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Monogenea: diplozoidae)'. Parasitology, . [Link] [DOI]
	2003	Tomas Zurawski (2003) 'Microscopical evaluation of neural connectivity between paired stages of Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Monogenea: Diplozoidae)'. The Journal of parasitology, . [Link]
	2001	Zurawski TH;Gunnar Mair;Brennan GP;Aaron Maule;Gelnar M;Halton DW (2001) 'Immunomicroscopical observations on the nervous system of adult Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Monogenea: Diplozoidae)'. International Journal For Parasitology, . [Link] [DOI]

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2009	Dolly J.;Meng J.;Wang J.;Lawrence G.;Bodeker M.;Zurawski T.;Sasse A. (2009) 'Multiple Steps in the Blockade of Exocytosis by Botulinum Neurotoxins' In: Botulinum Toxin: Therapeutic Clinical Practice and Science. [DOI]

Abstract

	Year	Publication
	2018	Zurawski, TH;Lawrence, GW;Broide, RS;Brideau-Andersen, A;Brin, MF;Dolly, JO (2018) LONG-DISTANCE SPREAD OF BOTULINUM NEUROTOXIN TYPE A IN MICE PERSISTS AFTER PERIPHERAL NERVE AXOTOMY. OXFORD: ABST

Other Publication

	Year	Publication
	2021	Lawrence, Gary W.;Zurawski, Tomas H.;Antoniazzi, Caren;Dolly, J. Oliver (2021) PAIN-RELATED POTENTIATION BY NGF OF CAPSAICIN-EVOKED INTRA-NEURONAL CALCIUM SIGNALS IN DORSAL ROOT GANGLION (DRG) FROM PIRT-GCAMP3 MICE IS RELIANT ON SNAP-25.
	2005	Horgan, C.P.;Zurawski, T.H.;McCaffrey, M.W. (2005) Purification and functional properties of Rab11-FIP3. [Link] [DOI]

Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	International Neurotoxin Association	Active member	-

Honors and Awards

Date	Title	Awarding Body
28/11/2022	The DCU Invent Commercialisation Awards 2022 in recognition of a licence option to Allergan Plc.	DCU, Invent
01/01/2009	The Overall Award for Life Sciences for "Targeted biotherapeutics for chronic pain"	DCU, OVPR
01/05/2001	Socrates Erasmus exchange programme scholarship	European Research Executive Agency
01/05/2002	Marie Skłodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral Fellowship	European Research Executive Agency
01/09/2002	Rector's Award for the Best Students in Doctoral Programmes - Faculty of Science	Masaryk University

Disclosures

	Title	Inventor	Submitted
	Neurotherapeutic with extended duration of action: recombinant chimeric toxin	J. Oliver Dolly, Jiafu Wang, Tomas H. Zurawski, Lance E. Steward, Joseph Francis & Kei Roger Aoki
	Mechanisms to prolong the therapeutic effect of BOTOX	J. Oliver Dolly & Tomas Zurawski

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	DCU Animal Welfare Body (AWB)		-
	DCU BioResource Advisory Group (BRAG)		-
	DCU Faculty of Science and Health Biosafety Committee		-

Employment

Employer	Position	From / To
Dublin City University	Assistant Professor	01/01/2023 -
Dublin City University	Senior Research Fellow	24/07/2015 - 31/12/2022
Dublin City University	Post-Doctoral Researcher	01/06/2004 - 23/07/2015
University College Cork	Marie Curie Post-doctoral Research Fellow	08/08/2002 - 31/05/2004

Education

Start date	Institution	Qualification	Subject
01/09/1999	Masaryk University & Queen's University Belfast	PhD	Parasitology
01/09/1997	Masaryk University	MSc	Systematic Zoology & Ecology
01/09/1994	Masaryk University	BSc	Systematic Biology & Ecology

Languages

	Language	Reading	Writing	Speaking
	English	Fluent	Fluent	Fluent
	Czech	Fluent	Fluent	Fluent

Reviews

	Journal	Role
	Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets	Reviewer
	Scientific Reports	Reviewer
	Journal of Anatomy	Reviewer
	Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology	Reviewer
	European Neurology	Reviewer

Patents

	Patent Number	Title	Inventor	Granted
	US 63286189	Methods and Compositions for the treatment of pain	J. Oliver Dolly, Gary Lawrence, Tomas Zurawski, Jiafu Wang & Jianghui Meng
	US 61/508,568	Chimeric Botulinum Neurotoxin	J. Oliver Dolly, Gary Lawrence, Tomas Zurawski, Jiafu Wang & Jianghui Meng

Research Interests

Significant medical challenges are caused by overactive nerves. Such malfunctions need addressing by developing new biotherapeutics with high specificity and long duration of action. Therefore, my research focuses on the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of communication in the peripheral nervous system and the pharmacology of clostridial toxins. The overall aim is to aid in the expansion of the medical uses of botulinum neurotoxins and development of novel therapeutic applications to improve the prevention and management of motor and sensory neurological disorders.