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Prof Clare Mahon Delivers Talk in the Inspiring Women in ChemBio Series

As part of the Inspiring Women in Chemical Biology seminar series, sponsored by the Biochemical Society, Newcastle University recently hosted Prof. Clare Mahon from Durham University, whose work is at the cutting edge of chemical biology and infectious disease diagnostics.  Clare’s talk, titled “Glycopolymer sensor arrays to detect pathoadaptations in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” explored a critical issue in microbiology: the ability of bacterial pathogens to evolve and diversify within hosts, leading to persistent infections that are notoriously difficult to treat. The implications are profound. By mapping the progress of persistent infections and informing treatment strategies, Clare’s approach could underpin next-generation diagnostic tools for cystic fibrosis and beyond.  We are grateful to Clare for sharing her exciting research with the Chemical Biology teams & Chemistry at Newcastle University.    

Celebrating the Start of Faye’s PhD Journey

We’re thrilled that Faye Turnbull has officially begun her PhD journey as part of the Kawamura Research Group and the North-East England Doctoral Landscape (NEEDL) – a new Centre for Doctoral Training supported by UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).  Faye joins us after completing her Master’s in Chemistry at Newcastle University, bringing a strong foundation in chemical biology to her doctoral studies. We look forward to following Faye’s journey in protein hotspot mapping for protein–protein interaction studies – here’s to a new chapter in her research! 

Tom and Tim’s Next Chapter in Chemical Biology

We’re thrilled that Tom Smith and Tim Bell will be continuing their journey with us as Postdoctoral Research Associates working on cyclic peptide discover technology, following the end of the PhD Studies!  Over the last several years, Tom and Tim have been integral to our team – not only through their contributions to chemical biology research but also through the energy and enthusiasm they bring to our group culture. Their leadership in team-building activities, including last year’s Chemical Biology Christmas Symposium, has helped create a collaborative and vibrant environment that we’re proud of.  Here’s to more exciting research and many more moments of teamwork and celebration! 

Prof. Angela Russell’s Seminar at Newcastle

We were thrilled to welcome Professor Angela Russell from the University of Oxford to Newcastle University as part of our Inspiring Women in ChemBio seminar series, generously sponsored by the Biochemical Society.  Prof. Russell delivered an insightful talk titled: “Development of Next Generation Utrophin Modulators for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Learning from Clinical Setbacks.”  Her presentation explored the journey of developing small molecule drugs aimed at increasing utrophin levels in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) – a progressive muscle-wasting disorder with no current cure. She shared lessons learned from the clinical development of ezutromid, the first-in-class utrophin modulator, and how her team identified its mechanism of action through binding to… Read More »Prof. Angela Russell’s Seminar at Newcastle

Farewell to Emma & Kallie

This September, we said goodbye to two fantastic researchers. Dr. Emma Wadforth also completed her PhD in Chemical Biology, sponsored by the European Research Council (ERC), and is now heading to an exciting new role at The Francis Crick Institute.   Dr. Kallie Friston joined us as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate after completing her PhD at Newcastle University, aligned with the MoSMed CDT. Now Kallie is starting a new role in Medicinal Chemistry at Newcastle University.  Both Emma and Kallie were valued members of our team, and we wish them every success in their future endeavours and look forward to following their journeys! 

Lauren’s Summer Studentship

By Lauren Archer: I’ve had the opportunity to carry out a summer studentship in the Kawamura Research Group, and I’ve found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m really grateful to have been welcomed into such a supportive and collaborative team, where I’ve been able to develop both technically and professionally.  My current work focuses on the PHD finger domain of KDMs, a project that sits at the interface of chemistry and biology. Coming from a chemistry background, this area has been a steep learning curve, and has introduced me to a range of new chemical biology techniques, including protein purification and bacterial transformation.   Working in a multidisciplinary lab… Read More »Lauren’s Summer Studentship

Emma’s Research Wins Award at EPSC 2025

We’re thrilled to share that our PhD student Emma Wadworth presented her research at the European Peptide Synthesis Conference (EPSC) 2025, held in August 25–27 in Porto, Portugal.   This prestigious event brings together leading scientists and innovators from across Europe to explore the latest advancements in peptide synthesis, including high-throughput strategies, protein production, and cGMP applications.  As well as showcasing her PhD research to conference delegates, Emma won an award for her poster on developing and optimising cyclic peptide inhibitors against human neuraminidases. Congratulations Emma!  

Celebrating Our 2025 Summer Graduates

At the end of July, we proudly celebrated the achievements of four students in the Chemical Biology department at Newcastle University.   Huge congratulations to Dr Filomena Saulino and Dr Siddique Amin on the successful completion of their PhDs – the first Kawamura group Newcastle PhD students ! – and to Faye Turnbull and Ellie Bentley on earning their Master’s degrees!  We’re excited to share that Siddique has since joined AstraZeneca, where he continues to apply his expertise as a Senior Scientist. Filomena remains with us as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, continuing her impactful work in the Kawamura Research Group.   We’re proud of you all and wish you every success in… Read More »Celebrating Our 2025 Summer Graduates

Summer BBQ Brings Chemical Biology Researchers Together

Despite a few raindrops, the annual summer BBQ for Newcastle University’s Chemical Biology researchers was a resounding success! Researchers, staff, and their families gathered for an afternoon of good food, laughter, and connection.  This yearly tradition continues offers a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to unwind and strengthen bonds outside the lab.  Here’s to many more rainy-but-cheerful BBQs ahead!      

Showcasing Research at PPSG 2025 Conference

In July, members of our team—Dr Robert Dawber, Tim Bell, and Keir Pebody—attended the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Protein and Peptide Science Group (PPSG) 2025 Early Stage Researcher Meeting in Birmingham.   The conference provided a platform for early career researchers to present their work, exchange ideas, and build connections within the scientific community. We’re proud to share that both Rob and Tim presented their research findings, contributing to the discussions that make PPSG a valuable experience for young researchers.  Tim’s talk presented his PhD work involving peptide arrays for informing chemokine PPIs and Probe Development. Meanwhile, Rob’s poster described his work to develop new methods to study how post-translational modifications… Read More »Showcasing Research at PPSG 2025 Conference