Dr Alex Baker

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Alex is the lead of the Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group. Our research is focused on creating and developing chemical solutions to humanitarian challenges impacting marginalised groups.

The Group has three key aims:

Improve the quality of life of marginalised groups through exploring and developing solutions to chemical and biological challenges.
Develop international collaborations for the benefit of marginalised groups.
Raise awareness of humanitarian challenges.

The Group has three current focuses:

Develop diagnostic platforms stable in a wide range of conditions, for a wide range of applications, for under $1 USD.
Understand the chemical and biological challenges of snake envenomation as a WHO Neglected Tropical Disease.
Raise awareness of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Scientific Inspiration

Margaret Crane – she invented the home pregnancy test despite massive sexist opposition, her work positively changed the lives of millions around the world.

Jonas Salk – he saw the humanitarian value of his research and always saw his job as helping society.

Research Groups

Baker Humanitarian Chemistry Group

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Healthy work life balance, collaborative, and goal driven.

Provision of Training

I enjoy helping students grow into their research. This can mean we spend time working together in the lab early in the project until the student is comfortable and understands the techniques. My aim is to help students become independent researchers who problem solve and take ownership of their research and its direction. How long this takes varies from person to person, but my goal remains the same – support great people to become great well-rounded researchers. This means that failure is 100% acceptable as a learning experience in my lab. I went through MIBTP myself so understand wider training provision available too.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I like to be kept updated on progress with agreed and realistic goals. But these goals must work with the student and their wider (healthy) growth as a person and researcher. I do push students to achieve their full potential both in their research and beyond, by encouraging my students to teach and engage the public.

Communication

I try and respect a 9-5 work week, sometimes I get too excited about a student’s new data and email outside these hours, but I don’t expect a response outside of work hours. I discourage students from working outside these hours (unless the student wants flexibility) – I want all students to have a good and healthy work-life balance. The group uses Slack for communicating alongside email. I like to meet students regularly to have a catch-up and see how they are doing – this includes providing pastoral support. My office is always open to students for a chat. We have more formal monthly 1-2-1 meetings too, alongside a weekly group meeting.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

In a group meeting

At least once per week

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per month

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per month

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per month

These meetings will usually be face to face. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Working Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings), I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Current Projects (2025-26)

Primary Supervisor for:

Synthetic evolution of novel peptidomimetics to target snake venoms

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Synthetic evolution of novel peptidomimetics to target snake venoms

Secondary Supervisor(s): Professor Gabriele Sosso

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Systems Biology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Pharmaceuticals)

Project Outline

Every five minutes, fifty people are bitten by a snake worldwide – of whom, four will be permanently disabled and one will die. In fact, snake envenomation is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that requires urgent attention. However, we are currently lacking robust, low-cost point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutics to combat snake envenomation. Current research has focused on antibody-based solutions, both in diagnostics and treatments. Antibodies are archetypal biologics, with a projected market value of ~$400 billion USD by 2028. However, they suffer from severe disadvantages, such as high cost, low stability, and complicated manufacture, excluding millions from equitable healthcare. To overcome these limitations, this project will pioneer approaches bringing together in vitro synthetic chemistry and in silico machine learning (ML) methodologies for the discovery of novel cell-free biomimetics, using snake venom toxins to establish this technology.

This project will leverage the untapped data generated from in vitro display technologies and enhance this knowledge through iterative in vitro synthetic chemistry and in silico machine learning (ML) cycles - to evolve bespoke synthetic antibody biomimetics inaccessible to nature, without using cells for synthesis or selection. Therefore, this discovery methodology will enable fast, accessible, flexible explorations of molecular interactions - democratising biomolecular research, while aligning with scalable, sustainable biosynthesis. To this end, we will adopt a multidisciplinary approach including elements of experimental biochemistry and synthetic chemistry (Dr. Baker) as well as data-driven computational modelling (Prof. Sosso).

Unique peptide probes (nanoprobes) will be developed in silico and tested in vitro versus native and un-purified venom. The outcomes of these experimental efforts will be used to craft a bespoke machine learning model capable of both identifying new binding targets as well as explaining the structural origin of their function/efficacy. Recent work by Prof. Sosso⁴ in the context of drug design and discovery demonstrates the feasibility of this joint approach, while Dr. Baker has demonstrated the potential of synthetic systems to replace protein components in rapid diagnostics.^1-3 The experiments and simulations will thus cross-fertilise each other to build an unprecedented knowledge base that can be directly applied to the development of rapid diagnostics to both detect and mitigate snake envenomation in biological samples.

Importantly, this methodology can in principle be expanded to the development of equitable diagnostics and therapeutics for ETEC, organ transplant, autoimmune disorders and cancer, for example.

Key Objectives

To understand the molecular-level interactions between short, synthesised peptides and snake venom proteins (lectins).
To achieve the rational design of molecular species capable to mitigate the efficiency of snake venoms.
To develop a new generation of diagnostic tools and therapeutics to combat snake envenomation.

References

Baker, A. N.; Glycan-Based Flow-Through Device for the Detection of SARS-COV-2. ACS Sens2021, 6 (10), 3696–3705.
Baker, A. N.; The SARS-COV-2 Spike Protein Binds Sialic Acids and Enables Rapid Detection in a Lateral Flow Point of Care Diagnostic Device. ACS Cent Sci2020, 6 (11), 2046–2052.
Baker A.N., Glycosylated Gold Nanoparticles in Point of Care Diagnostics: from Aggregation to Lateral Flow. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022, 51, 7238-7259
SOSSO_1: Warren, M. T.; Biggs, C. I.; Bissoyi, A.; Gibson, M. I.; Sosso, G. C. Data-Driven Discovery of Potent Small Molecule Ice Recrystallisation Inhibitors. Nature Communications, 2024, 15, 8082

Exploring Snake Venom Glycobiology for Diagnostic Applications

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Exploring Snake Venom Glycobiology for Diagnostic Applications

Secondary Supervisor(s): Professor Remzi Becer

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Pharmaceuticals)

Project Outline

This project has two key aims; 1) develop robust tools to explore the glycan binding of snake venoms for diagnostic applications and 2) apply this research in rapid diagnostics for snake envenomation.

Background & Project Outline

Every 5 minutes, 50 people are bitten by a snake worldwide, 4 will be permanently disabled and 1 will die. Snake envenomation is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that requires urgent attention. Current research has focused on antibody-based solutions, both in diagnostics and treatments. However, this does not need to be the case; other sensing units are possible.

In 2021, Dr. Baker’s research put forward a new sensing unit for lateral flow devices – glycans (sugars), in a lateral flow glycoassay (LFGA) for COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Baker explored the glycan binding of SARS-COV-2 (SC2) spike protein using nanoprobes, that mimic the multivalency of glycans on cell surfaces in the glycocalyx. Baker et al.(2020 & 2021) were the first to elucidate the sialic acid glycan binding preference of SARS-COV-2 spike protein. This research was applied by Dr Baker into lateral flow devices used to sense for SARS-COV-2 in patient samples and laid the foundations for others to explore the role of glycan binding in SARS-COV-2 infection.The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the capabilities and value of point-of-care tests (POCT) such as lateral flow devices. Indeed, it is anticipated that the POCT market will be worth almost $70 billion USD by 2030.

Glycan-protein interactions are fundamental in biology: however, they are difficult to dissect, requiring centralised high-resolution spectroscopy/spectrometry or arrays with labelled (non-native) protein probes. This is exemplified by understudied snake venoms, which are known to contain glycan binding proteins (lectins), in potentially more than 200 species. The role of these lectins is not understood, and their biotechnology potential not deployed.

This project will develop unique glycan probes which can be used with native and un-purified snake venom to identify new lectins, decode their binding capability, and produce a new generation of rapid medical diagnostics for snake envenomation as a neglected tropical disease. There is a pressing need for this research and technology with WHO estimating that snake envenomation (bites) cause ~100,000 deaths a year and approximately three times as many amputations and permanent disabilities.

Key Objectives

Study the key components of nanoparticle systems, considering stability and specific binding in aggregation and lateral flow assays.
Use the tools developed to explore the glycan binding of diamondback rattlesnake (C. atrox) venom, a venom with well-studied glycan binding, including isolating rattlesnake venom lectin. Dr Baker has recently developed in a UV-vis assay for detecting snake venoms, that this PhD will take further.
Use the tools developed to explore the glycan binding of D. russelii(Russell’s viper) venom, a venom with known but poorly explored glycan binding.
Produce a lateral flow diagnostic for detecting Russell’s viper (D. russelii) venom in blood versus the other members of the “Big Four” (the four species that cause the greatest number of medically significant bites in India and the surrounding countries; Indian cobra - N. naja, common krait – B. caeruleus, Indian saw-scaled viper – E. carinatus)

References

Baker, A. N.; Glycan-Based Flow-Through Device for the Detection of SARS-COV-2. ACS Sens 2021, 6 (10), 3696–3705.
Baker, A. N.; The SARS-COV-2 Spike Protein Binds Sialic Acids and Enables Rapid Detection in a Lateral Flow Point of Care Diagnostic Device. ACS Cent Sci 2020, 6 (11), 2046–2052.
Baker A.N., Glycosylated Gold Nanoparticles in Point of Care Diagnostics: from Aggregation to Lateral Flow. Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022, 51, 7238-7259
Hezwani M.,  Detection of Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (C. atrox) venom using Glycopolymer Functionalised Gold Nanoparticles. ChemRxiv, 2024

Previous Projects (2024-25)

Primary supervisor for:

Robust Nanoprobe Tools to Dissect Glycan Binding of Snake Venoms for Diagnostic Applications

Co-supervisor on projects with Professor Peter O'Connor and Dr Gabriele C Sosso.