ISTM

Prof Boehm's research into the dermatological effect of UV light fits well with the fundamental laser work of Professor George Truscott and Dr David McGarvey (and pulse radiolysis studies at Daresbury Laboratory). This collaboration has led to reciprocal students visits to Keele and Berlin, and around 15 joint publications in several prestigious journals including Nature Medicine and J. American Chemical Society as well as numerous conference presentations.

Another linked collaboration has been between Professor Wayne (Oxford University) and Professor Truscott leading to a much-cited publication in Faraday Transactions of the Royal Society of Chemistry. One of the resulting publications, in J. American Chemical Society, was selected by the American Chemical Society as a topic for an urgent press release – this gave a molecular mechanism for the observation (from trials in the USA and Finland) that dietary beta-carotene can increase cancer risk for heavy smokers.

Most of Prof Boehm's present collaborative work with Keele concerns the role of dietary anti-oxidants and sunscreens while previous topics have concerned photo-dynamic therapy and neo-natal jaundice.

In total he has spent more than two years visiting Keele since the collaboration started in 1992, and he was first appointed an Honorary Professor attached to Keele's Chemistry Department in 1997.

Selection of publications in collaboration with Keele: 

Boehm, F., Clarke, Kristy, Edge, Ruth, Fernandez, E., Navaratnam, S., Quilhot, Wanda, Rancan, Fiorenza and Truscott, T. G.: Lichens – Photophysical studies of potential new sunscreens. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B: Biol. 95 (2009) 40-45

Cantrell A, McGarvey DJ, Truscott TG, Rancan F, Böhm F "Singlet oxygen quenching by dietary carotenoids in a model membrane environment."  Arch Biochem Biophys 412(1):47-54 1 Apr 2003

Böhm F, Edge R, Foley S, Lange L, Truscott TG. "Antioxidant inhibition of porphyrin-induced cellular phototoxicity." J Photochem Photobiol B 65(2-3):177-183 31 Dec 2001

Bohm F, Edge R, McGarvey DJ, Truscott TG. "beta-carotene with vitamins E and C offers synergistic cell protection against NOx
". FEBS Lett 436(3):387-389 9 Oct 1998

Böhm F, Edge R, Lange L, Truscott TG "Enhanced protection of human cells against ultraviolet light by antioxidant combinations involving dietary carotenoids." J Photochem Photobiol B 44(3):211-215 31 Jul 1998

Boehm, F., Edge, R., Land, E.J., McGarvey, D.J., Truscott, T.G., "B-Carotene Enhances Vitamin E Anti-Oxidant Efficiency." J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 119, 621, 1997.

Boehm, F., Tinkler, J.H., and Truscott, T.G., "Carotenoids protect against cell membrane damage by the nitrogen dioxide radical." Nature Medicine,1,98,1994.