Our research

The research in this group focuses on the development of new methodologies for the synthesis of medicines and biologically active natural products.

The group also researches the application and development of (bio)analytical methods to identify and characterise important (bio)molecules, from health/disease biomarkers and medical target compounds to environmental pollutants and forensic markers.

A subgroup is interested in the synthesis of molecules/materials with function such as metal catalysts, peptides, and functionalised ligands. In addition to classical approaches, this section uses enabling technologies such as continuous flow, photochemistry, and electrochemistry to achieve these transformations.

The group also features experts in a range of analytical techniques. They answer important questions in the development of novel materials and technologies that support future health and the protection of our environment.

Members of the Biomedical, Molecular and Analytical Chemistry research group:

• Dr GD Brown
• Professor R Cramer (Head of Section)
• Dr P Cranwell (affiliate member)
• Professor F Hartl
• Professor LM Harwood
• Dr JE McKendrick
• Dr A Russell
• Dr C Smith.

Research spans the broad areas of surface chemistry and catalysis, solid-state computational chemistry and property modelling, and materials chemistry.

Fields of particular importance include study of materials for sustainable energy applications and thermoelectric inorganic materials for recovering energy from waste heat.

Members of this research group are expert in the synthesis and structural analysis of inorganic networks that show either negative thermal expansion effects or contain molecular-sized channels suitable for drug storage and delivery.

State-of-the-art X-ray diffraction instruments for structure determination under non-ambient conditions are available in the Chemical Analysis Facility and play a key role in establishing structure-property relationships.

Members of the Materials and Interfaces for the Future research group:

• Dr RA Bennett
• Dr AM Chippindale (Head of Section)
• Dr R Grau-Crespo
• Professor AV Powell
• Dr P Vaqueiro.

• hydrogels for use in healthcare
• DNA complexes
• conducting polymer fibres
• healable polymers and nanocomposites
• novel high surface area network materials
• nanoelectrochemistry
• the use of X-ray spectroscopy to probe the mechanisms of reactions.

Members of the Soft Matter research group:

• Professor CJ Cardin
• Dr James Cooper
• Dr FJ Davis
• Dr JM Elliott
• Dr J Hallett
• Professor IW Hamley
• Professor WC Hayes (Head of Section)
• Dr K Lovelock
• Dr D Nutt (affiliate member).