Dr Lesley Howell

Undergraduate Teaching

Module Organiser for Advanced Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CHE306U) and Professional Skills for Chemists (CHE401)

Teaches on:

• Essential Skills for Chemists (Tutorials) (CHE100)
• Chemistry Research Project (CHE600)
• Chemistry Investigative/ Literature Project (CHE601/2)
• Drug Design and Development (CHE406U)
• Chemistry MSci Research Project (CHE750)
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry MSci Research Project (CHE751)
• Advanced Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CHE306U)
• Advanced Practical Chemistry (CHE301)

Postgraduate Teaching

Programme Director for Chemical Research MSc.

Teaches on:

• Advanced Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CHE306P)
• Drug Design and Development (CHE406P)

Research

Research Interests:

Research in our group is focused on both protein-protein interactions (PPIs)  and protein-DNA interactions and harnessing their potential as drug targets. We do this by using both solution and solid phase synthesis to generate compounds/peptides capable on interacting with these targets. We take inspiration from natural products when designing compounds but also design new molecules from scratch. Within this theme we have several projects:

1. Reactivation of the Bcl-2 mediated apoptosis pathway as a way to treat cancer
2. Development of new approaches/technology to target PPIs
3. Disruption of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) heteromers as novel drug targets
4. Identification and synthesis of ligands for orphan GPCRs

Research department:

• Chemistry and Biochemistry

PhD Supervision

Current PhD opportunities

• G-Protein Coupled Receptors as therapeutic targets in drug discovery
• Identification of inhibitors of the pro-survival protein Mcl-1

PhD supervision

• Hermon Asmelash

Public Engagement

See the Chemistry Department's outreach activities here.