Biomedical/Chemical Biology Applications

Thompson Group research focuses on structure guided rational design to synthesise molecules that address problems in biology, medicine and materials. The research programme includes:

Protein-protein interaction inhibition
Tools to interrogate protein misfolding conditions
Abiotic foldamers: programmable 3D architectures

Professor Turner's interests lie in the field of molecular recognition, and in particular the development of artificial recognition elements. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIP) are a simple elegant biomimetic technology where recognition sites, analogous to the binding sites of antibodies, enzymes and receptors are created in polymeric materials containing complementary functionality to a target molecule. After preparation cavities that are complementary to the shape and chemical profile of the target are formed allowing specific recognition and rebinding.
MIPs represent a generic, versatile, scalable and cost-effective approach to the creation of synthetic molecular receptors; and are rapidly becoming commercially relevant.

The Luk Group, based at the University of Cardiff, aims to empower protein science and its applications, through (a) Protein labelling via biocatalysts, (b) Discovery of Peptide Binders, and (c) Enzyme catalysed bifunctional ligand synthesis.

Professor Ian Hamley is Diamond Professor of Physical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Reading.

Dr Alison Edwards is the Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the Universities of Greenwich and Kent at Medway.

Edina Rosta is a Professor of Molecular Modelling in the Condensed Matter & Materials Physics group of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at University College London.

Professor Craig Butts is the Head of the School of Chemistry and Professor of Structural and Mechanistic Chemistry at the University of Bristol. The Butts Research Group tackles challenges based around organic molecular structure and reaction mechanism, principally using NMR spectroscopy - the most information-rich analytical technique available to chemists.

Anna is an Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial. Her research focuses on the development of peptides and small molecules to understand and perturb protein-protein interactions.

Dr Andrew Marsh has been making molecules for applications in supramolecular and biological systems since the last century. His current research interests include applications of guanosine quartets for delivery of potential therapeutics, inhibitors of RNA viruses and associated problems in medicinal chemistry.

Glenn A. Burley is Professor of Chemical Biology at the University of Strathclyde. He was awarded a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Hon. I) and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Wollongong, Australia.