Research

Our research is focused on applying the tools of organic chemistry to probe problems of medicinal and biological significance. Projects are multidisciplinary in nature, and involve the use of computer-aided drug discovery, solution- and solid-phase organic synthesis, compound screening technologies and crystallography.

Research programmes that we are currently pursuing in the group include:

• Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of enzyme inhibitors as new antibacterial and anti-parasitic drug leads.
• Synthesis of neuraminidase inhibitors as new influenza, avian influenza (bird flu) and equine influenza (horse flu) anti-virals.
• Synthesis of glycopeptide-based cancer vaccine candidates.
• Development of new methods for the synthesis of therapeutic glycopeptides and glycoproteins.