fiona deane

* Using a chemical proteomics approaches to certify the dynamin GTPase enzyme as a novel target towards the treatment of epilepsy. * Designing a novel solid support (matrix) incorporating established dynamin inhibitors to capture sub-proteomes thus enabling a further understanding of the poly-pharmacological activities of dynamin inhibitors. * Transferring this novel methodology to other areas of interest such as cancer research via the immobilization of protein kinase inhibitors onto a matrix. * Work also involves designing synthetic pathways and generating active compounds which have been modified in order to allow immobilization to the matrix. * Design and synthesis of a novel forms of female contraceptive agents which would potentially protect the user against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. * Using flow chemistry approaches (FRX, H-cube, H-cube Pro, X-cube, Vapourtec) to generate active compounds in multi-gram quantities.

Modules Studied Included: Introduction to Chemical Process Engineering, Mass Transfer & Separation Processes and Heat Transfer & Applied Thermodynamics.

Total synthesis of the ellipticine alkaloid and related derivatives. * Generation of a library of novel ellipiticine derivatives with potent anti-cancer activity, with many candidates selected for further in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation. * Elucidated the different mechanisms of topoisomerase I inhibition associated with benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow). * Techniques used include synthesis, NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, LCMS, column chromatography, agarose gel electrophoresis, 96 well plate assays, molecular modelling.