Group members
Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute (TBSI Building)
Current Postgraduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Marco Minneci
Former ERC postdoctoral fellow, University of Milan, Italy. PhD in Organic Chemistry, MSc and BSc in Chemical Sciences, University of Milan (Italy). Dr Minneci works in the design and synthesis of new inhibitors of the TMPRSS2 protease with potential as COVID19 therapeutics. This project is funded by an SFI Frontiers of the Future Project.
Matas Misevicius
BA in Medicinal Chemistry at Trinity College Dublin (Ireland). He is performing his MSc in the design, synthesis and biophysically/biochemically evaluation of new guanidine-like derivatives as agents acting against Mycobacteria. This project is self funded.
Former Postdoctoral Researchers
PhD in Chemistry, Cardiff University (UK) and BSc (univ. bacc. appl. chem.) Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb (Croatia). Dr Farkaš worked in my group in the computational study and design of new inhibitors of the TMPRSS2 protease with potential as COVID19 therapeutics. This project is still ongoing and funded by an SFI Frontiers of the Future Project.
Presently working as Research Associate, Drug Discovery, Molecular and Materials Modeller at Astex Pharmaceuticals (Cambridge, UK)
PhD. in Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research Mohali, India (2015). Worked as Postdoctoral Fellow at Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (Oct. 2015 to Sept. 2016). Jagdeep works on the design and synthesis of porphyrin-based portmanteau ligands targeting guanine-quadruplexes. His work was funded by an IRC Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Presently working as Senior Scientist -Chemist- at Pfizer (Cork, Ireland)
PhD and MSc in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Ferrara (Italy). In collaboration with Prof. Joan Geoghegan and Dr. Marian Brennan. Filippo works in the preparation of new anti-infectives as topical treatment for MRSA infection, by means of a rational structure-based drug design approach. He was funded by SFI-TIDA.
Presently working as a Research Fellow at the Università degli Studi di Trieste (Italy)
B.Sc. and PhD. in Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). In collaboration with Prof. S. Connon: Computational studies on the mechanism of the organocatalytic mediated reaction between aldehydes and anhydrides. In collaboration with Prof. Eric Henon (U. Reims, France) development of a model of an ATP-containing BRAF kinase. Funded by an Ulysses award.
Presently a Lecturer in Computational & Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Manchester (UK)
The computational study of the interactions between guanidinium-like aromatic derivatives and DNA, both at a micro (guanidinium-aromatic bases interactions) and a macro level (docking and MD).
The design, synthesis and biophysical study of novel DNA-targeting dual intercalator/minor groove binders with an emphasis on acridine derivatives. Funded by the Fundación Ramón Escudero (Spain).
Synthesis of new ligands of the Alpha1A-Adrenoceptor for the treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. Funded by the Center for Synthesis and Biological Chemistry.
Presently at the Estacion Enologica de Haro (La Rioja, Spain).
Former Postgraduate Students
Bachelor and Master in Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb (Croatia). Nikolina works on the design and synthesis of porphyrin-based portmanteau ligands targeting guanine-quadruplexes. Her PhD work is funded by an IRC-STEM postgraduate scholarship. Presently working at APC as Process development scientist (Dublin, Ireland).
B.Sc. in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Chemistry, Maynooth University. Helene worked in the preparation of anticancer targeted-therapies by designing, synthesising and biochemically testing new amidine-like derivatives as inhibitors of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signalling pathway. Her PhD work was funded by an IRC-STEM postgraduate scholarship. Presently working at Pfizer as Bioconjugation scientist (Dublin, Ireland).
B.Sc. in Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology, UCD. Yemi worked in the design, synthesis and biophysically/biochemically evaluation of new guanidine-like derivatives with antiprotozoal activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense as well as in agents acting against Mycobacteria. His PhD work was funded by an IRC-STEM postgraduate scholarship and a SFI/EI/IDA-COVID19 Rapid Response grant. Presently working at Pfizer as Process Development scientist (Dublin, Ireland).
BSc in Chemical Sciences with Medicinal Chemistry at the TU Dublin (Ireland). Roisin performed her MSc (research) in the field of alpha2-adrenoceptor's ligands exploring the active site of the three receptors' subtypes by modifying the steric effects of the ligands. Presently Data Management Specialist at Pfizer (Grange Castle, Ireland).
B.A. in Immunology, TCD. Rebecca worked in the biochemical study and development of anti-tumour drugs targeting the JAK/STAT3 pathway in Multiple Myeloma. She carried out her PhD under joined supervision with Prof. Daniela Zisterer (Biochemistry, TCD, main supervisor) and Prof. Tony McElligott (Medicine, TCD). Her PhD work was funded by a John Scott PhD fellowship. Presently Research Officer at the Irish Cancer Society (Ireland).
B.A. in Medicinal Chemistry, TCD. Aaron worked in the preparation and pharmacological evaluation of selective alpha2C-adrenoceptor antagonists as potential new therapies for Schizophrenia. His work was funded by an IRC-STEM postgraduate scholarship. Presently working as Process Development Scientist II at APC Ltd (Dublin, Ireland)
B.Sc. in Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Milano (University of Milan). Viola worked on the design, synthesis and biochemical evaluation of novel guanidine-based allosteric inhibitors of the Raf-Mek kinases. Her work was funded by the School of Chemistry at TCD. Presently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Italian Institute of Technology -IIT- in Genova (Italy)
Design, synthesis and biochemical study of Platinum complexes of guanidine based minor-groove binders. In collaboration with Dr. C. Marmion (RCSI, Ireland). Funded by SFI. Presently, Senior Technical Development Chemist, at ThermoFisher Scientific (Cork, Ireland)
Preparation and pharmacological study of rationally designed alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonists as potential anti-depressants. Funded by TCD and the School of Chemistry at TCD. Presently Global Head New Products Strategy & Innovation at Ipsen (Cambridge, USA).
Novel synthetic routes to guanidines of biological interest as potential drugs and synthesis of natural products. Funded by the School of Chemistry, TCD. Awarded a Fulbright Student Award (2013) to work during 6 months in the Scripps Research Institute (USA). Presently, Director of Business Development at Argenx (UK).
Design, synthesis and biochemical study of novel Tyrosine-kinases inhibitors guanidine analogues of Sorafenib. Funded by IRC-Ireland. Presently, Senior Director External Innovations DPDS, Jansen R&D at Johnson & Johnson (Boston, USA).
Rational design, modelling, and synthesis of new amino-heterocylic based alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonists as potential anti-depressants. Funded by TCD and the School of Chemistry. Presently Vice President Lightstone Ventures (Boston, USA).
Design, synthesis, biochemical and biophysical study of novel DNA-targeting dual intercalator/minor groove binders. Funded by the School of Chemistry, TCD. Presently R&D Ph.D. Process Chemist, Product Portfolio Team at SK Biotek Ireland Limited (Ireland).
Dr. Aoife Flood
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new thiophene based anti-depressants. Funded by IRCSET Ireland. Presently working at Henckel (Ireland).
Design, synthesis and biochemical and biophysical study of novel DNA-targering dual intercalator/minor groove binders; Funded by the RFP-SFI. Presently Drug Safety Officer at Octapharma (Austria).
The rational design, modelling, and synthesis of new alpha 2 antagonist based anti-depressants. Funded by IRCSET Ireland. Presently, Associate Director, Medicinal Chemistry, at AstraZeneca (UK).
The design, synthesis and biochemical and biophysical study of novel DNA-targering dual intercalator/minor groove binders. Funded by the RFP-SFI. Presently, Technical Consultant at Scale-up Systems in Dublin (Ireland).
Molecular Modelling Studies of the Alpha-1B and Alpha-1D-Adrenoceptor and its interaction with different agonists and antagonists. Funded by the HEA-PRTLI. Presently, Senior data scientist at SNS Bank (Netherlands).
Dr. Sergio Lopez-Fernandez (Co-supervised with Prof. Brian McMurry)
New derivatives of PaTrin 2 with dual action. Funded by the Irish Cancer Society. Presently in Logroño (Spain).
Bis-guanidinium derivatives as novel Imidazole-2-IBS aliphatic ligands. Funded by HEA-PRTLI. Presently, Relationship Director at Santander Corporate Banking (UK).
Computational Study of the Alpha-1-Adrenoceptors and its ligands. Funded by HEA-PRTLI and TCD. Presently, Assistant Professor at the School of Food Science and Environmental Health at TU-Dublin (Ireland).