Medicinal Chemistry Research Discipline
Design and synthesis of novel active compounds as drug candidates
(Coordinator, Andy Westwell )
Expertise includes: computer-based molecular graphics, synthesis and analysis of bioactive molecules, applying a wide variety of spectroscopic and other analytical methods. This research group enjoys well-equipped laboratories.
There is close collaboration with virologists and biochemists throughout Europe and the USA.
Specialist Facilities: The Cardiff School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has excellent facilities for Medicinal Chemistry. In 2005, we purchased a multi-nuclear Bruker 500MHz NMR spectrometer, and a Bruker micro TOF mass spectrometer (set up for Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) and microspray).
The synthetic chemistry laboratories are modern and each researcher has their own fumehood.
We also have extensive molecular modelling hardware and software, as well as access to state of the art molecular graphics facilities within the University.
Current research interests include:
- molecular modelling
- nucleotide prodrugs (“Protides”) especially as anticancer and antiviral agents
Latest News
06/01/2012
Dr Andy Westwell works in conjunction with WEDINOS to analyse unknown components of a number of 'legal highs'.
16/09/2011
Andrew Lim, who starts his final year in October, was awarded a Commended Poster Prize in Nottingham (Sept. 2011).
22/03/2011
A novel 'Pro Tide' drug, first synthesised in the Welsh School of Pharmacy less than 3 years ago, has been successfully tested in hepatitis C patients by the U.S. biopharmaceutical company Inhibitex.
The six scholars present posters at the Entrepreneurship symposium.
14/12/2010
Results announced by Inhibitex for their Phase 2 trial of FV-100, a drug developed by Professor Chris McGuigan at the Welsh School of Pharmacy.