PhD project: Mechanistic studies of organometallic anticancer agents

Department of Chemistry and Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick (Sept '11 - present)

This project seeks to gain mechanistic insights for novel organometallic anticancer agents developed at Warwick University. High-throughput data will be collected and together with cell-based assays and transition electron microscopy will provide information about the activity of the drug as it is taken into the cell. High-throughput transcriptomics data will be analysed using Bayesian non-parametric models, and together with reverse-phase protein microarray data collected at Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre will be integrated to identify cellular response networks at the gene and protein levels. The mechanistic insights gained will identify lead compounds to take further down drug development, into preclinical and clinical stages.

MSc Mini-project II: Determination of cellular target sites for organometallic anticancer complexes

Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Sadler group (Jun '11 - Sept '11)  

Project investigates target sites for a series of organometallic Osmium and Iridium complexes in cancer cells. Initial focus was made on the COMPARE algorithm implemented in the NCI60 tumour cell panel, interpreting the statistical analysis. Anti-cancer agents developed by the Sadler group are compared in a database of known compounds to elucidate potential biological targets. These findings are tested for Iridium complexes using hydrophobicity, toxicity and stained-cell assays to probe the link between the COMPARE database and experimental observations.

MSc Mini-project I: Probing flow-induced orientation distributions using spectroscopy

Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Rodger group (Mar '11 - Jun '11) 

This project investigated orientational modelling for the study of semi-rigid polymers using stopped-flow linear dichroism (LD). Known models for the behaviour of molecules under shear flow were tested with experimentally collected LD data. Experimental conditions were optimised in efforts to better fit observational responses with the predicted models. The project concluded that the orientation of molecules by shear flow is poorly modelled, but the decay in orientation is well described by the current model.

Biosensor R&D: Developing novel glucose biosensor technology

Sphere Medical, Cambridge (Sept '08 - May '09)

Project aimed to optimise the production and performance of a first generation glucose biosensor. Initial investigation focused on developing HEMA membrane formulations, UV-cured onto electrolyte-coated amperometric biosensors. A process to protect the amperometric biosensor from interfering species (paracetamol, ascorbic acid, uric acid) was optimised by electropolymerising a di-aminobenzene layer across the working electrode. Protocol for manufacturing, QC checking and outsourcing the polymerised glucose sensor was developed. Calibration buffers were optimised for amperometric sensor performance in the final in-vitro diagnostic medical device.

MChem project: Analogues of Amphotericin B

Department of Chemistry, University of Leicester (Sept '07-May '08)

Project aimed to discover viable alternatives to Amphotericin B in efforts to reduce high-dose toxicity. Keto-reductase knockouts (Caffrey et al. University College, Dublin) allowed isolation, chemical modification and characterisation of 7-oxo-Amphotericin B from mutant strains of Streptomyces nodosus (Rawlings et al. University of Leicester). Synthetic alterations allowed chemical protection of key functionality, enabling higher selectively for post-extraction modifications.