Medicinal Chemistry
Two industry-standard labs in the NDM Research Building have full capabilities for organic synthesis, purification, and characterisation.
Over 20 scientists in the Med Chem group design, synthesise, and test new molecules.
Working with scientists across the CMD, new molecules are tested in biochemical, biophysical, and cellular assays for potency and effectiveness.
3D structures of compounds bound to their targets allows rational design of improved molecules.
The Med Chem Group supports the CMD Pillars to select druggable targets, and discover and optimise small molecule leads.
Med Chem Methods
Target Assessment
In collaboration with Research Informatics
TargetDB is a rapid, easy to interpret, target assessment tool.
Fragment-based Drug Discovery
In collaboration with Protein Crystallography
Poised Fragments allow rapid chemistry expansion of fragment hits.
Structure- and Ligand-Based Drug Design
The HeteroCycle Isostere Explorer (HCIE) finds novel scaffolds based on shape and electrostatic similarity.
Organic Synthesis
Where are your gloves Moses?
Drug Discovery projects
Neurodegeneration
With the Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute
USP30 inhibitors increase mitophagy to treat Parkinson's Disease.
Rare Diseases
Ataxias
SUV420H1/2 inhibitors increase Frataxin levels to treat Friedreich's Ataxia.
Oncology
Epigenetics and Epitranscriptomics
Covalent inhibitors are selective for KDM5.
Anti-infectives
Medium throughput screening identified inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 NSP3 macro domain.
Our team
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Paul Brennan
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry
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Amber Truepenny
DPhil Student
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Ashley Ramdass
DPhil Student
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Amelia Henley
DPhil Student
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Benedict Wiltshire
MSc Student
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Ewa Wieczorek
DPhil Student
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Hadeel Abozenadah
DPhil Student
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Ethan Chidlow
Research Assistant - Medicinal Chemistry for Dementia
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Evmorfia Dalietou
DPhil Student
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Gonzalo Vera Namuncura
Research Assistant
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Katherine England
Postdoctoral Researcher
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Laura Ortega Varga
Postdoctoral Scientist
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Matthew Holland
DPhil Student
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Mia Callens
Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemistry
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Naomi Costello
MSc Student
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Sheenagh Aiken
Post-doctoral Fellow
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Tom Grimes
Research Scientist
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Tryfon Zarganis-Tzitzikas
Team Leader - Medicinal Chemistry
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William Griffith
Student
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Xinyu Chen
MSc Student
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Zhihe Lei
Student
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Lukas Scheibelberger
Postdoctoral Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemistry
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Alice Page
DPhil Student
