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Celebrating North East Women in Chemical Biology

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

MoSMed CDT Conference 2025

In April, our team members attended the annual MoSMed CDT Conference at Durham University, an event funded by EPSRC that brings together doctoral students to discuss and explore molecular science for medicine.  The conference was a vibrant showcase of cutting-edge research, featuring project presentations, flash talks from PhD students, and keynote sessions from leading experts. We’re especially proud of Keir Pebody,  who earned Runner-up Best Flash Talk – a fantastic recognition of his work and presentation skills.   It was also a great opportunity to see Siddique Amin, a former PhD student from the Kawamura Research Group, now mentoring Keir as his supervisor at AstraZeneca.   Looking forward to what MoSMed 2026… Read More »MoSMed CDT Conference 2025

Prof. Flashman Kicks Off NU’s Inspiring Women in Chemical Biology Seminar Series in 2025

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

NU Chemistry and Alumni Research Symposium 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

Farewell to Siddique and Cecilia!

In early 2025, we bid a heartfelt farewell to two team members, post-doctorate research associates Siddique Amin and Cecilia Gonzalez Garcia.  Throughout their time with us, Siddique and Cecilia played key roles in advancing our research efforts. Beyond their professional contributions, both brought warmth, positivity, and a strong sense of teamwork to the group.  While we’re sad to see them go, we’re excited for what lies ahead for them.  Wishing you both continued success and happiness in your next chapters! 

International Women’s Day 2025

On International Women’s Day 2025, we celebrate the achievements, resilience, and leadership of women in science. The Kawamura Research Group are proud to be a part of this global movement and this year’s theme, “Inspire Inclusion”, resonates deeply with our group’s ethos.  Chemical biology thrives on collaboration across disciplines, cultures, and perspectives. We’re fortunate to work in an environment where diverse voices shape our scientific work and team activities.  “Science is a collective effort, and inclusion is critical for progress. I’m proud of the brilliant women in our group who lead with curiosity and creativity.” (Prof Akane Kawamura)  Looking ahead, we’re excited for the launch of the Inspiring Women in… Read More »International Women’s Day 2025

Newcastle Chemical Biology Workshop 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

IDWGS 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

EFMC-ISCB 2025, Basel

In January, Prof Akane Kawamura delivered a plenary talk on histone demethylases shaping the epigenetic landscape at the 2nd EFMC International Symposium on Chemical Biology in Basel, Switzerland.  We’re also delighted that our team members presented posters on their work, on the different approaches to mRNA display to find cyclic peptides with the desired selectivity to a model family of proteins (Tom Smith, PhD Student), and chemical tool development for histone methyllysine readers (Dr Roman Belle, PDRA).  On the second conference day, Akane participated in a panel discussion about career development in chemical biology for early career researchers, alongside Dr Christopher Dumelin (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research), Dr Thais Gazzi (F.Hoffmann-La… Read More »EFMC-ISCB 2025, Basel

Chemical Biology Winter Symposium 2024

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