andrew mcgown

I undertook an internship at the James Graham Brown Cancer Centre at the University of Louisville as part of my PhD programme. The work undertaken here focused on examining the interaction of novel therapeutic agents with a number of mammalian and bacterial quadruplex forming sequences.

I undertook a summer internship at The Paterson Institute of Cancer Research in the drug discovery laboratories which focused on the synthesis of novel anticancer therapeutics.

My PhD programme involved the synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of a family of novel anticancer therapeutics based on a species of naturally occurring molecules known as flavonoids. The project required the development of a multi-step synthetic pathway to produce molecules capable of stabilising secondary DNA structures known as G-quadruplexes. After synthesising these novel therapeutics I then performed a number of biological, biochemical and biophysical evaluations using a number of techniques including; fluorescence based assays, circular dichroism, growth inhibition assays and flow cytometry. I was also responsible for the upkeep of the chemistry laboratory at the University of Salford ensuring equipment was maintained and consumables were available throughout the year. In addition to this I was integral in the supervision of new students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.