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!
We’re thrilled to announce that the Kawamura Research Group has been awarded the Silver LEAF Award—a recognition of our commitment to sustainable lab practices and environmental responsibility. The LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) assessor praised our submission as: “An excellent submission that showcases the great work and thoughtful approach the Lab has taken toward adopting sustainable practices. There is a clear culture of continual improvement, reflecting the team’s strong commitment to environmental responsibility.” We extend special thanks to Thomas Beniston, Tim Bell and Tom Smith for their dedication to the submission process, as well as Joanna Bonnici, Keir Pebody and Filomena Saulino for involvement in acquiring this achievement.
On June 11th, Newcastle University’s Chemical Biology Special Interest Group was delighted to host Dr. Sarah Barry from King’s College London as part of the Inspiring Women in Chemical Biology seminar series, proudly sponsored by the Biochemical Society. Dr. Barry, who leads an interdisciplinary research group focused on bacterial metabolism and natural product biosynthesis, delivered an engaging seminar titled “Learning from Nature’s Chemists.” Her talk explored how nature’s own chemical strategies can inspire innovative approaches in synthetic biology and drug discovery. A highlight of the visit was a lunch with early career researchers, offering a valuable opportunity for informal discussion for PhD students, postdocs and fellows. Attendees included members from… Read More »Nature’s Chemists: Dr. Sarah Barry Visits Newcastle
Researchers from the Kawamura Research Group hosted an activity at this year’s Discover Festival – a one-day interactive event for families and members of the public on 7th June 2025 at Newcastle University. The hands-on activity provided attendees with an opportunity to extract and see DNA using a simple experiment involving kiwis and strawberries, as well as better understand the role that DNA plays, and why epigenetics is important when fighting diseases like cancer. “It was so great to see so many passionate young minds that were keen to try our practical experiment. Teaching them more about DNA and it’s role in epigenetics was very rewarding!” – Rob Dawber, Research… Read More »Families Learn about Juicy Genes
On a bright afternoon in May, researchers gathered in Newcastle University’s Baddiley-Clark Building for the Chemical Biology Symposium: Spotlight on Women in the North-East, a key event in the Inspiring Women in Chemical Biology seminar series, supported by the Biochemical Society. The symposium was more than just a scientific meeting — it was a celebration of the achievements of women in STEM and a platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration within the Chemical Biology community in the North East of England. The event opened with two captivating talks: Dr Ting-Yu Lin (Durham University) presented “Decoding RNA Modifications: From Molecular Mechanisms to Disease Pathways,” offering a deep dive into the… Read More »Celebrating North East Women in Chemical Biology
In March 2025, Newcastle University’s Chemistry Biology Special Interest Group had the pleasure of welcoming Prof Emily Flashman from the University of Oxford for the first seminar in a new series of talks focusing on Inspiring Women in Chemical Biology, proudly sponsored by the Biochemical Society. Prof. Flashman delivered a captivating seminar titled “How plant cysteine oxidases mediate hypoxia and redox stress-signalling during submergence”, offering deep insights into the molecular mechanisms that plants use to respond to low oxygen environments. Her work, which bridges biochemistry and plant physiology, sparked engaging discussions among attendees and highlighted the importance of redox biology in environmental stress responses. Prof. Flashman’s met with academics from… Read More »Prof. Flashman Kicks Off NU’s Inspiring Women in Chemical Biology Seminar Series in 2025
Our team participated in the Newcastle University Chemistry and Alumni Research Symposium – a fantastic event celebrating the breadth and depth of research across the Chemistry Department in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences. PhD student Tom Smith delivered an insightful talk on the role of mRNA-display library bias in hit generation campaigns, shedding light on a key factor influencing cyclic peptide drug discovery outcomes. Meanwhile, two of our PhD student researchers showcased their work through poster presentations: Emma Wadforth presented on Developing Cyclic Peptide Probes for Investigation of Human Neuraminidase Isoforms Tim Bell shared his research on Peptide Technologies to Probe Chemokine Specificity. This symposium provides a… Read More »NU Chemistry and Alumni Research Symposium 2025
On 14th February, Newcastle University hosted a half-day Chemical Biology Workshop, in conjunction with the Babraham Institute in Cambridge. The workshop featured two guest speakers from the Babraham: Dr Maria Christophorou who spoke about protein citrullination, and Dr Jonathan Clark who spoke about the chemistry of tendon collagen. The other speakers included: Prof Paula Salgado (Professor of Structural Microbiology, Newcastle University); Dr Will Stanley (Associate Principal Scientist; Iksuda Therapeutics); Dr Jem Stach (Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University); and, Dr Katherine Duncan (Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University). Thanks to the CONNECT fund, a Flexible Talent and Mobility award (FTMA) from UKRI’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which supported… Read More »Newcastle Chemical Biology Workshop 2025
This February, we celebrated International Women and Girls in Science Day! Within Newcastle University’s chemical biology research groups, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and make a difference. A special thanks to all the women in the Kawamura Research Group and McAllister Lab for their incredible contributions to the field of science! International Women and Girls in Science Day (IDWGS) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. Celebrated annually on February 11th, this day highlights the critical role women and girls play in science and technology… Read More »IDWGS 2025
The Kawamura and McAllister Lab research groups hosted their annual Chemical Biology Winter Symposium, blending festive cheer with intellectual stimulation! This event provided a platform for researchers to present their work through a series of short presentations. These presentations showcased the depth and breadth of research activities, whilst facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration. Amidst the scientific discussions, the event also included some festive fun. Participants enjoyed a Secret Santa gift exchange, and the Christmas quiz, complete with the exciting “Sink or Float” challenge, brought an element of playful competition and camaraderie among the attendees. The day concluded with a dinner at Victor’s to celebrate the Chem Bio teams’ achievements. Special… Read More »Chemical Biology Winter Symposium 2024