Health research within the department of Chemistry
Our activity under the "Health" research banner spans all the aspects of chemistry that impinge upon human well being, pharmaceutical design and activity, and the monitoring and utilisation of biomarkers. As a result, research projects currently underway in this area cover a diverse range of sub-disciplines, from “classical” organic chemistry through to cutting edge analytical prowess. In the course of this work we have forged strong links with other departments at Loughborough, other universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, government organisations and major funding bodies. Further general information on activities within this Group can be obtained by contacting the Group Leader, Dr Steve Christie.
With respect to the recent announcement of University studentships, we have a large range of potential projects on offer. A selection of these are listed below. Before reading them please bear in mind a few points:
- This list is not absolutely definitive and if you have an interest in the work of an individual member of staff here at Loughborough then please feel free to contact them directly.
- Further information on the work of the member of staff associated with each project can be obtained from the links to individual's home pages. Specific information on the projects in question can be obtained from the staff member in question by email request or phone. Please remember, though, that for things to progress, a general application form must be filled in and this can be obtained by contacting Dr George Weaver. Remember also that this current initiative is competitive, and funding for projects is not guaranteed; note also such funding is limited to UK/EU students only.
- Often the projects listed are actually collaborative ventures involving a number of members of staff from Chemistry and, in some cases, other departments at Loughborough. In addition, in some cases the work will span more than one of our Research Groups, and has been placed within “Health” as this is maybe the primary focus. The staff member mentioned is, though, the best port of call for preliminary enquiries.
Potential PhD projects include:
-
Advanced Search and Rescue Sensors and Systems
Working as part of the Second Generation Locator Search and Rescue Project this studentship will develop a metabolomic approach to the detection of life within collapsed structures. An important element in this work is the use of advanced instrumentation to observe metabolic volatiles from trapped humans.
-
Integrated volatile metabolite profiling
Volatile metabolites offer exciting opportunities to develop new approaches to diagnosis and clinical management. Breath, or sweat, or urine all offer non-invasive approaches to assessing changes in human metabolism. This project will develop protocols for use in-clinic for capturing and integrating profiles from different types of samples. You will be seeking to develop systems for breath and sweat and urine to enable the assessment of the feasibility of integrated volatile metabolite profiling. An important element in this work is the use of advanced instrumentation to observe metabolic volatiles from humans.
-
Golden hydroamination reactions, a powerful combination for environmentally friendly C-N bond formation.
This project will use atom efficient hydroamination protocols using environmentally friendly Au catalysis and builds on previous work within our group (Org. Lett., 2010, 12, 1128).
-
The discovery of novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and response to therapy
In collaboration with the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, Nottingham this research project will be directed towards the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers that allow the improved diagnosis of cancer and assist with the development of therapeutic treatment strategies.
Back to top
-
New Gallium complexes for radiochemistry and medical imaging
This work will will look at making new ligands for radioactive gallium species which are becoming more important for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging (Health)
-
Ion Mobility Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry for mechanism elucidation
This project looks at combining modern analytical techniques with synthetic chemistry and molecular modelling to probe reaction mechanisms.
-
Novel Nucleophilic Acylation
Acylation is an important reaction in organic chemistry, new methods of doing this reaction in a nucleophilic manner is an essential goal for organic chemists. We are looking at this reaction using both catalytic manor and stoicheiometic methods, asymmetric methods are being explored in conjuction.
-
Palladium Catalyzed Reactions of Vinylcycloproanes
Work currently underway has shown that vinylcyclopropanes can be rearranged, with palladium(0), to give other more complex molecules. The reaction occurring under very mild conditions, room temperature and catalytic in palladium, and is tolerant of many functional groups. The methodology is will a very powerful new route to alkaloids.
-
Fused Pyridones: Potential Protein Kinase Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy
The project will prepare and elaborate isoxazolopyridones and pyrazolopyridones that have the H-bonding array of indirubin, a known
kinase inhibitor from Chinese traditional medicine, and can be
decorated to add diverse substituents. These molecules also display pi-stacking in the solid state.
-
Acyltetramic Acids: A Scaffold for Novel Antibacterial Agents
A 3-acyltetramic acid (TA) produced by the human pathogen Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, acts as a defence against host immunity and competing
bacteria. The TA scaffold has been proposed as a new lead for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics. The project will use an isoxazole strategy to make novel TAs, and mimic processes involved in TA biosynthesis.
-
Fused Imidazolines: Making Rings for Biological Activity
The imidazoline (4,5-dihydroimidazole) heterocycle has an excellent record of biological activity; much of the interest centres on activity at adrenergic receptors and hence cardiovascular effects. The
project will explore routes to new bicyclic examples and
heteropolycyclic systems.
-
Oxidation of Amidines: Towards the Pyoverdin Siderophores
The pyoverdins are a group of fluorescent iron-carrying ligands (siderophores) that are are essential growth factors for, amongst
others, some pathogenic microorganisms. The project will involve
oxidative amidine cyclisation and peptide chemistry towards synthesis
of the natural pyoverdins and analogues.
-
Synthesis of Polysulfide Marine Natural Products
Research in this area is aimed at synthesising a number of biologically active marine natrual products containing polysulfide rings. New methods for introduction of sulfur into organic compounds and the controlled formation of sulfur-sulfur bonds will be investigated.
-
Novel Tandem Oxidation-Rearrangement Methodologies Towards Oxindoles
Oxindoles are omnipresent in nature as well as in pharmaceutically active substances. Methods for functionalization of the oxindole nucleus are therefore of significant value in medicinal chemistry and natural product synthesis. Oxindoles containing a quaternary benzylic centre are a useful class of compounds found in several drug candidates, including the potent gastrin/CCK-B receptor antagonist AG-041R and the vasopressin VIb receptor antagonist SSR-149415, a drug now in clinical trials for treatment of anxiety and depression, and Citinadin A. The project will involve the synthesis of several oxindole natural products using asymmetric catalysis.
-
Towards Personalised Chemotherapy
Development of novel analytical methodologies to predict efficacy and toxicity of platinum-based chemotherapy, including study of Pt distribution in patients' white blood cells, the effect of supplemental therapies on toxicity measures, and speciation of Pt-DNA adducts. This work is part of an on-going project being carried out by Professor Barry Sharp and Dr Helen Reid (Centre for Analytical Science, Department of Chemistry) in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine at the University of Leicester.
|
