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Biography
BSc and PhD in Chemistry, University of Durham, UK
Post-Doctoral Research at the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, University of Cambridge
Member of EPSRC Science Engineering and Technology Board (SETB) 2019-2022
Chair - EPSRC Strategic Advisory Team 2016-2019
Chair -UK PharmSci - Pharmaceutical Science in a Changing World - 2019
Macro Group UK Medal 2014
Expertise Summary
Our research aims to develop materials which can improve the delivery of small molecule drugs, genes and vaccine components to target sites in the body, to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce side-effects. The main focus of the work is on polymer therapeutics, for which we are developing a range of synthetic, natural and hybrid materials to transport drugs, genes and cells safely and efficiently to disease locations. We are currently working on polymer formulations for cancer medicines, anti-infectives and RNA vaccines in collaboration with groups from all over the world. Alumni from the group hold faculty posts at University College London, Sheffield, East Anglia, King's College London, Federico II (Napoli), Paris Est, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University (China), University College Dublin and senior research posts in Abzema, Achilles Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Baxter Pharmaceuticals (China), Catalent, Cytrx, Exactmer, GSK, Lonza DPS, Malvern Instruments, MIP Diagnostics, Quotient, Revolymer, Samsung, Sygnature, Synthomer and UCB Pharma.
Teaching Summary
Teaching
MPharm - Pharmaceutics lead for Cancers DMP module
PharmSci - Pharmaceutics for cancer drugs, Pharmaceutical biotechnology, Vaccine formulations
Contributor to drug delivery / pharmaceutics modules, Applied Biomolecular Technology MSc
Research Summary
Key research foci include drug and gene delivery (Biomater. Sci. 2023, J. Control Release 2023, ACS Nano 2020, Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2020), RNA vaccine and therapeutic formulations (Gut 2023, J.… read more
Current Research
Key research foci include drug and gene delivery (Biomater. Sci. 2023, J. Control Release 2023, ACS Nano 2020, Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2020), RNA vaccine and therapeutic formulations (Gut 2023, J. Mater Chem B 2022, Polym. Chem 2020, Biomacromolecules 2020), smart materials (Nanoscale 2021, Adv. Ther.2020, Biomater. Sci. 2020, Nature Mater 2014), and synthetic biology (ACS Macro Lett. 2022, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2020, Artificial Life 2015, Nature Chem 2013).
This research is supported by a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Fellowship, UKRI and industry research grants.
Measures of Esteem
- Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award Holder, 2016-2022
- EPSRC Science Engineering and Technology Board (SETB) 2019-2022
- EPSRC Impact Fellowship 2016-18
- RSC/SCI Macro Group Medal and Lectureship 2014
- EPSRC Leadership Fellowship - 2009-2014.
- Chair of EPSRC Physical Sciences Strategic Advisory Team - 2016 -2019.
Past Research
Polymer synthesis, organic magnets, self-assembly of liquid crystalline polymers and molecular imprinting
Future Research
Advanced Biomaterials, Nucleic acid vaccines, Nanomedicines, Responsive polymers, Anti-Microbial Resistance, Synthetic Biology