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;

1. Improve the quality of life of marginalised groups through exploring and developing solutions to chemical and biological challenges

2. Develop international collaborations for the benefit of marginalised groups

3. Raise awareness of humanitarian challenges

The Group has three current focuses;

1. Develop diagnostic platforms stable in a wide range of conditions, for a wide range of applications, for under $1 USD

2. Understand the chemical and biological challenges of snake envenomation as a WHO Neglected Tropical Disease

3. Raise awareness of Neglected Tropical Diseases

More details about the group can be found on the group page

(https://alexbakerweb.co.uk/baker-hcg)

Alex presents his research and topics of interest to a wide audience for both the University of Warwick and at a National-level for organisations such as The Training Partnership who he is also an event chair for. He is a Senior Founding fellow of the Warwick Institute of Engagement.

Alex enjoys speaking on a variety of topics in Chemistry and the Life Sciences, he has a particular interest in drug/diagnostic development and design. He is passionate about showing that Chemistry impacts on all aspects of modern life and that Chemistry is a modern world-changing subject for all.

The current talks Alex has available are listed on his websiteLink opens in a new window however with enough notice he can write new materials on request.

Please contact Alex to discuss your event and requirements

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Selection of Talks

When Medicines become Drugs - How Simple Chemical Changes Change the World

Targeted at an A-Level and adult audience, this talk explores the small chemical changes to medicines, such as morphine, that turn them into illicit drugs. The talk explores the history and impact of these small chemical changes on biochemistry and humanity, from solubility to the War on Drugs in the United States. Finally we consider if current illicit drugs such as marijuana have a place in a modern health service.

"Informative and enjoyable - 3.9/4"

"The drugs talk was really interesting - 3.8/4"

 

Why Chemistry is More than just Chemicals - Using Lateral Flow Tests to Fight Covid-19 and Health Inequalities

We’re all used to lateral flow tests now, but what are they and how can they be used to fight health inequalities? Join organic chemist Alex to find out how to make lateral flow tests, how they can be used to fight both Covid-19 and health inequalities, and why chemistry is more than just chemicals.

Targeted at an A-Level and adult audience, this talk explores the history of medical diagnostics and asks if current lateral flow devices are up to the task of delivering fairer healthcare around the world. This talk explores how medical diagnostics were used in the Covid-19 pandemic and how the virus itself provides opportunities to develop new medical diagnostics.

"Very interesting, really relevant and clearly presented"

"Taught us well about lateral flow tests and the power of women in the industry. It also helped me understand the Covid-19 test kits"

"Fantastic students loved his session"

"Both informative and interesting. I liked the history of science related to the early

How to Freeze a Human - Why Temperature Matters in Chemistry

In every cell in every tissue and every organ of your body, millions and millions of reactions are being carried out to keep you alive. The key ingredient in all these reactions is heat, so what happens if we drop the temperature? Could we cryogenically preserve organs and blood? Alex explores the science and cutting-edge research behind cryogenics and consider how to freeze a human. Targeted at a KS3 and GCSE audience.

"Really engaging, fantastic story and flow to presentation. Kids were fantastically engaged and answered questions well. Very good slides. 10/10"

"Exciting presentation -showed real life challenges, linked to the KS3 curriculum. Practical demos fantastic and exciting. Really engaged our students in thinking like scientists 10/10"

"I found it very informative and thought it was very interesting and engaging 10/10"

 

Not All Doctors Have a Medical Degree

This careers talk explores the lives of Nobel prize winning scientists who considered studying Medicine at University but didn't. It is also a personal reflection on my experiences as a student considering Medicine as a career. The talk explores the impact scientists have outside of medical careers.

Worth Dyeing For - From Caesars to Blue Jeans, the Story of Indigo (In Preparation)

Indigo dye has been used by humans for over 6,000 years to dye fabric – more recently blue jeans. While its derivatives have been used to clothe emperors. It is a fairly simple organic molecule, but it was only synthesized on an industrial scale by Pfleger & Heumann in 1901. Until this synthesis, the production and trade of indigo caused immense human suffering.

This talk will explore the fraught and often tragic history of indigo from colonisation to the present day and we will consider what indigo teaches us about how humans use chemicals to change the world.

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Past Talks & Feedback

Some examples of talks Alex has given are listed below;

• Chemistry in the Freezer - As an invited speaker to headline one of the Warwick Christmas Lectures in 2022, Alex spoke about why Chemistry matters and why temperature is key to controlling the chemistry of the world around us.

"Best experiments ever!"

"Alex has such a gift for this work, making science not only accessible but also exciting. I honestly think he could be on TV with a science show" - Gemma Wright, Warwick Arts Centre Head of Creative Learning

• When Medicines become Drugs - Presented for The Training Partnership, at multiple events for A-Level Chemists in 2022 & planned for 2023. These engaging talks focused on the small chemical changes that make medicines drugs and considers the chemical diversity possible for future medicines.
• How to Freeze a Human - Presented for The Training Partnership, at multiple events for GCSE and KS3 Science. These highly interactive talks focused on the interdisciplinary nature of Chemistry and its applications in cryogenics.

"Fantastic! Interactive, hands on. Students highly engaged"

• From Pharaohs to Fairer Healthcare - Alex presented this talk at Pint of Science 2022 and Café Scientifique (2023) in Leamington Spa

"Talk was great, pitched perfectly and super interesting"

"We enjoyed hearing Alex's presentation and the lively discussion that followed. Alex is obviously an experienced presenter who enjoys passing on his knowledge and our audience responded to that."

• Lateral Flow Tests - Why Chemistry is more than just Chemicals - Alex presented this talk for The Training Partnership, Chemistry in Action 2021 events. His interactive and interdisciplinary talk focused on the health inequalities of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically diagnostic inequalities, and explored if glycopolymer-based systems might be the answer. He presented at three events in London, Manchester and Warwick to >2,000 A-level students. Some feedback from the events is below;

"The passion for what he does was apparent and hopefully very inspiring to students"

• Chemicals, Cocktails and Creativity – from molecules to masterpieces ("Creative Reactions") - One of three Pint of Sciences 2021 events from the University of Warwick as part of City of Culture Coventry 2021 and the University's Resonate Festival. Alex proposed, designed and hosted the interdisciplinary session as a panel discussion between experts from Chemistry, the School of Life Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and the NHS. The topic of the session was the influence chemicals found in nature (caffeine, opiates, cannabis and psilocybin, and their synthetic derivatives) have had on biology, medicine, art and culture.

• When Medicines Become Drugs - National Pint of Science 2020 Speaker for "Cuppa Science" (Pint of Science during the COVID-19 UK lockdown) run by the University of Hull and presented by Phil Bell-Young (@Philby91). Marty Jopson was the other guest speaker (@martyjopson)

This talk explored the small chemical differences that separate medicines from drugs, and how these differences turn chemicals from those that heal to those that harm

A link to the talk on youtube can be found here

Example advertising slide from Pint of Science Talk

The talk was later updated and repeated at NerdNite in 2021.

• Naughty or Nice Chemistry - Warwick Christmas Lectures 2019, for over 1000 primary school children

This lecture looked at what makes certain chemicals "naughty" or "nice" using lots of demonstrations and audience participation

• When Medicines become Drugs - ACORNS Conference 2019 & 2021 run by Warwick ChemSoc for around 300 A-level students (2021 was virtual)

This talk discussed the small chemical differences that separate medicines from drugs, and how these differences have changed the world. Feedback was 3.9 out of 4 and 3.8 out of 4 for information and enjoyability respectively.

Alex at ACORNS Conference talking about "When Medicines become Drugs"

• Fixing Pregnancy Tests with Sweet Chemical Lego - Research on the Rocks 2018, for around 50 undergraduates and postgraduates
• Chemical Lego - Better Pregnancy & Disease Testing - Pint of Science 2019, for around 50 members of the public

Alex at Pint of Science 2019 getting the audience to run pregnancy tests of their drinks to show how lateral flow diagnostic tests work

• Assisting and mentoring Dr. Kathryn MurrayLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window in preparing and delivering an interactive lecture entitled “How to Freeze a Human” for Slice of Science, 2020. This was an event specifically for encouraging girls to consider studies and careers in STEM subjects.

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Outreach Work

Alex enjoys running and participating in outreach activities for all ages, some examples are listed below;

• Working with WMG and the Coventry transport Museum, on the STEM Connections Project, to develop pieces for schools engagement. Alex's work focused on drug design using 3D-printed active sites and chemical modelling kits (Molymod - "Chemical lego"). Alex's profile page can be found here.
• Demonstrating for primary school, GCSE, AS and A-Level students in the undergraduate teaching laboratories with Nick Barker.
• Founding and running the Think Science™ conference for two years. The conferences encouraged over 500 A-Level and GCSE students to see the diveristy of current research and to consider studying STEM subjects. Shortlisted as Best Summit, Conference or Forum in 2017 by the University of Warwick Students Union.
• Speaking to 300 young people and parents on the importance of non-clinical research to the health sector and why it is a viable career alternative to Medicine - Not all Doctors have a Medical Degree
• Running the ChemSoc Outreach program, as Outreach Officer (2014-2015), aimed at sparking a love of the Sciences in primary school students. He was awarded the Warwick Volunteers Certificate for this work.
• Carrying out various talks and careers days in secondary schools to encourage GCSE and A-Level students to pursue a degree in the Sciences.
• Organising and running an annual 3-day science track at a summer club for primary school children.
• Refurbishing labs and teaching Science at Solidarity International Academy, Nepal.

Publications

1. Georgiou P.G., Baker A.N., Richards SJ., Laezza A., Walker M., Gibson M.I., Journal of Materials Chemistry B., 2020, 8, 136-145, Tuning Aggregative versus Non-Aggregative Lectin Binding with Glycosylated Nanoparticles by the Nature of the Polymer LigandLink opens in a new windowk opens in a new window

2. Richards SJ., Baker A.N., Walker M., Gibson M.I., Biomacromolecules, 2020, 21, 4, 1604-1612, Polymer-Stabilized Sialylated Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Optimization, and Differential Binding to Influenza HemagglutininsLink opens in a new window

3. Laezza A., Georgiou P.G., Richards SJ., Baker A.N., Walker M., Gibson M.I., Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2020, 31, 10, 2392-2403, Protecting Group Free Synthesis of Glyconanoparticles Using Amino–Oxy-Terminated Polymer LigandsLink opens in a new window

4. Baker A.N., Richards SJ., Guy C.S., Congdon T. R., Hasan M., Zwetsloot A.J., Straube A., Walker M., Chessa S., Pergolizzi G., Dedola S., Field R., Gibson M.I.,The SARS-COV-2 Spike Protein Binds Sialic Acids, and Enables Rapid Detection in a Lateral Flow Point of Care Diagnostic Device (The pre-print paper can be found on ChemRxiv here, Published online 15/6/20)

5. Baker A.N., Richard, SJ., Guy C.S., Congdon T. R., Hasan M., Zwetsloot A.J., Gallo A., Lewandowski J. R., Stansfeld P. J., Straube A., Walker M., Chessa S., Pergolizzi G., Dedola S., Field R., Gibson M.I., ACS Central Science, 2020, 6, 2046-52, The SARS-COV-2 Spike Protein Binds Sialic Acids and Enables Rapid Detection in a Lateral Flow Point of Care Diagnostic DeviceLink opens in a new window - Top 20 "Most Read Articles" on ACS Central Science 1 year after publication & Top 10 most cited articles of 2021

6. Richards SJ., Gibson M.I., Fasciae M.A., Linclau B., Galan M.C., Baker A.N., Ledru H., Webster C.S., Council C.E., Walker M., Chidwick H., Wheatley D.E., Vendeville J-B., Keenan T., Budhadev D., Chemical Science, 2020, 12, 905-910, Introducing affinity and selectivity into galectin-targeting nanoparticles with fluorinated glycan ligandsLink opens in a new window

7. Georgiou P.G., Marton H.L., Baker A.N., Congdon T.R., Whale T.F., Gibson M.I., Journal of American Chemical Society, 2021, 143, 19, 7449-7461, Polymer Self-Assembly Induced Enhancement of Ice Recrystallization Inhibition 

8. Pancaro A., Szymonik M., Georgiou P.G., Baker A.N., Walker M., Adiaensens P., Hendrix J., Gibson M.I., Nelissen I., Nanoscale, 2021, 13, 10837-10848, The Nature of the Polymeric Glycolic-Linker Controls the Signal Outputs for Plasmonic Gold Nanorods Biosensors in Complex Media due to Biocorona FormationLink opens in a new window.

9. Baker A.N., Richards SJ., Pandey S., Guy C.S., Ahmad A., Hasan M., Biggs C.I., Georgiou P.G., Zwetsloot A.J., Straube A., Dedola S., Field R.A., Anderson N.R., Walker M., Grammatopoulos D., Gibson M.I., ACS Sensors, 2021, 6, 10, 3696-3705, Glycan-based Flow-Through Device for the Detection of SARS-COV-2 from Patient SwabsLink opens in a new window 

10. Baker A.N., Congdon T. R., Richards SJ., Georgiou P.G., Walker M., Dedola S., Field R.A., Gibson M.I., ACS Polymer Au, 2021, End-Functionalized Poly(Vinyl Pyrrolidone) for Ligand Display in Lateral Flow Device Test LinesLink opens in a new window - Selected for the front cover of ACS Polymer Au & included in the ACS virtual issue - COVID-19: Challenges, Progress and Future ImplicationsLink opens in a new window 

11. Baker A.N., Muguruza A.R., Richards SJ., Georgiou P.G., Goetz S., Walker M., Dedola S., Field R.A., Gibson M.I., Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2021, Lateral Flow Glyco-Assays for the Rapid and Low-Cost Detection of Lectins - Polymeric Linkers and Particle Engineering are Essential for Selectivity and PerformanceLink opens in a new window 

12. Limas J.C, Corcoran L.C., Baker A.N., Cartaya A.E., Ayres Z.J., Chem. Eur. J., 2021, The Impact of Research Culture on Mental Health & Diversity in STEMLink opens in a new window 

13. Georgiou P.G.,Guy C.S., Hasan M., Ahmad A., Richards SJ., Baker A.N., Thakkar N., Walker M., Pandey S., Anderson N.R., Grammatopoulos D., Gibson M.I., ACS Macro Letters, 2021, Plasmonic Detection of SARS-COV-2 spike protein with Polymer-Stabilized Glycosylated NanorodsLink opens in a new window - Editor's Choice Article

14. Baker A.N., Hawker-Bond W.G., Georgiou P.G., Dedola S., Field R.A., Gibson M.I., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022, Glycosylated gold nanoparticles in point of care diagnostics: from aggregation to lateral flowLink opens in a new window 

15. Georgiou P.G., Kinney N., Kontoupoulou I., Baker A.N., Hindmarsh S., Bissoyi A., Congdon T.R., Whale T.F., Gibson M.I., Biomarcomolecules, 2022, Poly(vinyl alcohol) molecular bottlebrushes nucleate ice

16. Micallef J., Baker A.N., Richards SJ., Soutar D.E., Georgiou P.G., Walker M., Gibson M.I., RSC Advances, 2022, 12, 33080, Polymer-tethered Glyconanoparticle Colourimetric Biosensors for Lectin Binding: Structural and Experimental Parameters to Ensure a Robust Output

17. Neves M.P.S., Richards SJ., Baker A.N., Walker M., Georgiou P.G., Gibson M.I., Nanoscale Horizons, 2023, 8, 377-382 Discrimination between protein glycoforms using lectin- functionalised gold nanoparticles as signal enhancers  

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Patents

Alex is a named inventor on a patent related to the COVID-19 rapid diagnostic work - Interested parties should direct their correspondence to Prof. Gibson.

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Media Interest

The COVID-19 work was highlighted by the Medical Schools Council's "Responding to a pandemic UK universities' research into COVID-19" report

The group's work producing a rapid diagnostic for COVID-19 ("coronavirus") has attracted media interest from the BBC and other media outlets. Prof. Gibson and Alex were interviewed by the BBC.

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Research Presentations

Oral Presentations:

• Hacking Pregnancy Tests with Chemical Lego to Fight Disease and Drug Resistance - Warwick Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Conference 2019
• Out with the Protein, In with the Glycopolymer - A New Generation of Medical Diagnostics - Chemistry Postgraduate Symposium 2020
• Towards Rapid COVID-19 Diagnosis - A New Generation of Medical Diagnostics - Macro Group UK Young Researcher Meeting 2020
• From Grafting Density to Medical Diagnostics - XPS Applications in Synthetic Chemistry - UK Surface Analysis Forum 2020
• Lateral Flow Glyco-Assays - From Detecting Proteins to SARS-COV-2 in Patent Samples - 16th Annual RSC Biomaterials chemistry Group Meeting

Poster Presentations:

• Can a Historic Reaction Deliver Novel Sugars for Future Diagnostics - MIBTP Poster Session 2018
• Robust Protein-Free Diagnostics for the Developing World - MIBTP Poster Session 2019 and MIBTP AGM 2019
• Going Protein-Free - The Future of Medical Diagnostics - Chemistry Postgraduate Symposium 2019

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Current teaching

• CH222 - Spectroscopy Workshops (Workshop Lead)
• CH270 - Selective Organic Synthesis (Lecturer)
• Year 1 Organic Tutorials
• Year 2 Organic Tutorials
• Public Engagement Training for Postgraduate Researchers

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Teaching Experience

Alex enjoys teaching and has actively engaged with teaching in the University, this has built on Alex's time as a secondary school Science teacher in Nepal and teaching experience placements in UK Schools. Alex's university-level teaching experience is listed below;

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Leading tutorials in organic chemistry for undergraduates
• Supervising MChem students both in the lab and online during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Assisting and teaching in the delivery of Spectroscopy Workshops a 2nd year undergraduate chemistry module
• Demonstrating biochemistry labs for 1st year biochemistry undergraduates
• Demonstrating organic chemistry labs for chemistry undergraduate and postgraduate courses
• Writing and delivering Spectroscopy Intro Labs for 1st year chemistry undergraduates
• Designing and supervising 1st year PhD students on 3 month research projects
• Supervising a 2nd year undergraduate URSSLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window student for their research project
• Warwick International Higher Education Academy (WIHEA) Fellowship - 2019-20 (now alumni fellow)
• Warwick Institute of Engagement (WIE) Foundation Fellow
• Leading student led revision classes for undergraduates in organic chemistry, bio-organic chemistry and biology for chemists
• Acting as lab-support for disabled students

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Education/Pedagogical Pieces

1. Is this the end of the lecture? But the beginning of something more? - The Future of the STEM Community. Invited essay for "Bubbling Up" a student and staff blog in the Department of Chemistry at Warwick University - link
2. Alex is the lead of the writing team for the Diversity Book Club (2021), a year-long initiative in the Department of Chemistry aimed at educating students and staff in diversity issues with the goal of fixing these issues. This is in collaboration with the RSC. University Coverage & Website.