Research News
The University of Manchester is pleased to announce that Professor David Leigh (FRS), one of the world's foremost organic chemists, will be joining the School of Chemistry later in the year.
Professor Leigh is a pioneer in the design and synthesis of artificial molecular motors from first principles and with this appointment the University of Manchester is a step closer to fulfilling its aim of being a world leader in Organic Chemistry.
In order to support Professor Leigh’s appointment the University are undertaking a £4.1 million state-of-the-art refurbishment of a floor of the Chemistry Building. The new working space will be designed and project managed by Pick Everard who will be creating a large, open plan synthetic laboratory complete with fume cupboards, bench space and supporting laboratory areas.
Professor Leigh and his team of thirty, most of whom will be making the move to Manchester from the University of Edinburgh, are interested in developing advanced artificial molecular machine systems. The work they will conduct at the University of Manchester has the potential to fundamentally alter the approach currently taken to molecule and material design.
To read more, please see the Prof David Leigh Press Release.
Professor Michael Greaney has been awarded the GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Syngenta and Pfizer Prize for Process Chemistry Research for 2011 for his work on new catalytic methodology and developments in the chemistry of benzynes.
This prize was awarded at the 29th SCI Process Development Symposium organised by the SCI Fine Chemicals Group, held at Churchill College Cambridge (7 - 9 December 2011).
CoEBio3 partners Chemistry Innovation have released the first of a series of newsletters about the EU FP7 project BIONEXGEN. Edition 1, December 2011 includes:
- an overview of the BIONEXGEN project
- an update of BIONEXGEN research and early success in facilitating a new process for production of a nutraceutical
- an article on technology platforms
- an introduction to researchers from three of the project partners, including the University of Manchester
The DTA Awards for 2012 have been announced:
- Dr Martin Attfield and Professor Robert Dryfe: Nanowire fabrication templated by metal organic frameworks
- Dr Peter Quayle, Professor Stephen Yeates, Dr Cinzia Casiraghi and Dr Joseph McDouall: New approaches to unsaturated nanostructures
- Dr Andrew Horn, Dr Cinzia Casiraghi and Dr Sven Koehler: Femtosecond broadband vibrational sum-frequency spectroscopy of graphene and graphane dynamics
- Professor David Procter and Dr Louise Natrajan: Superselectivity with samarium(II): Structural and synthetic studies
- Professor Paul Popelier: An accurate pKa predictor from ab initio bond length (an industrial CASE study with Syngenta
The Waters Chair of Mass Spectrometry at the Michael Barber Centre (December 2011)
The University of Manchester has announced funding for a five year Chair of Mass Spectrometry. In partnership with Waters Corporation, the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre and the School of Chemistry, this position will explore new challenges in the development of chemistry and instrumentation.
The person appointed to the Waters Chair will head-up the Michael Barber Centre (which sits centrally within the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre) and will act as a focus for the many fields of research that utilise mass spectrometry technology.
Image: From left to right: Vice President of Waters Mr Brian Smith, Dr Claire Eyers, Dean of EPS, Professor Colin Bailey and Head of the School of Chemistry, Professor Christopher Whitehead inspect the equipment Waters Corporation have funded
Professor David A Leigh FRS (currently Forbes Professor of Organic Chemistry & EPSRC Senior Research Fellow) and the Leigh Group will be joining the School of Chemistry in 2012.
Prof David A Leigh's research group is concerned with developing simple ideas and concepts across the traditional branches of the molecular, biomolecular and materials sciences by the design and synthesis of new types of molecular level architecture's to control and influence function and properties.
The group's research is supported by the UK research councils, the european community (including RTN Networks with academic and industrial groups in Italy, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands) and both UK and overseas industry.
Dalton Nuclear Institute wins Queen's Anniversary Prize (November 2011)
The Dalton Nuclear Institute has been announced as a winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Further and Higher Education.
The announcement was made by the Royal Anniversary Trust, by kind permission of Her Majesty The Queen, at a reception at St James's Palace on the 24 November 2011. The Prizes recognise and celebrate the outstanding work within UK Higher and Further Education Institutions and the impact that they have on society.
They are the UK's most prestigious form of national recognition open to a UK academic or vocational institution. The winning entries range from individual departments or research groups, to major international development projects to community schemes and cutting-edge research.
Following the announcement of this award, School of Chemistry staff Professor Francis Livens (Research Director, Dalton Nuclear Institute) and Professor Simon Pimblott have been invited to Buckingham Palace for a dinner on 23 February 2012 and the Guildhall on 24 February 2012. They will be joined by Professor Colin Bailey (Vice-President & Dean Faculty, EPS), Professor Andrew Sherry (Director, Dalton Nuclear Institute), Professor Jon Billowes (Physics) and Professor Richard Pattrick (SEAES).
Prof John R Helliwell delivered the 2011 Prof Dame Kathleen Lonsdale FRS Lecture at the British Crystallographic Association Annual Conference held at Keele University (11-14 April 2011).
John has written up his Lecture "The evolution of synchrotron radiation and the growth of its importance in crystallography" for Crystallography Reviews. This article is available from 21 November 2011.
(DOI: 10.1080/0889311X.2011.631919)
A recent School of Chemistry journal article Graphene bubbles with controllable curvature (Gergiou et al, 2011) in which it was suggested to use graphene as an element for making adaptive-focus lenses, has been featured in Nature 478.
This article has been one of the most read papers in September edition of Appl. Phys. Lett.
The School has been directly collaborating with the Nobel laureate Prof Novoselov in the School of Physics & Astronomy.
University of Manchester researcher receives Young International Boron Chemist award (September 2011)
Dr Michael Ingleson (Royal Society University Research Fellow) has been awarded the Young International Boron Chemist (for under 35 years of age independent researchers). Michael received the award at the triennial IMEBoron conference, Niagara Falls, 15 September 2011.
University announces major collaboration for the development of new materials (September 2011)
The University of Manchester and international chemical firm Solvay SA have announced a major collaboration to develop new materials for use in healthcare, sensors and as biocatalysts.
The new framework agreement builds on existing collaboration between the University and Solvay, based in Belgium, and represents a major milestone in open innovation for both organisations.
The agreement will accelerate new projects, involving lead academics from across several schools in the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences and represents a major investment by Solvay of more than £1.4m over four years.
more..Manchester at the forefront of Green Chemical Technology (September 2011)
BIONEXGEN (Developing the Next Generation of Biocatalysts for Industrial Chemical Synthesis) is an ambitious European research programme that will develop the next generation of biocatalysts to be used for eco-efficient manufacturing processes in the chemical industry.
This three-year European Union funded project is led by Professor Nick Turner, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Biocatalysis, Biotransformations and Biocatalytic Manufacture (CoEBio3) at The University of Manchester.
A collaboration by leading European industrial and academic partners has identified a new generation of biocatalysts that, once developed, could lead to economic and environmental improvements in the manufacture of everyday chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and polymers.
The consortium consists of University research groups, small and medium sized companies, and BASF, the world’s leading chemical company.
Please also see the BASF press release.
Professor Gareth Morris awarded the Russell Varian Prize for 2011 (August 2011)
Professor Gareth Morris awarded the Russell Varian Prize for 2011: (August 2011) This prize is awarded to a researcher based on a single innovative contribution that has had a high and broad impact on the state-of-the-art NMR technology. The prize was awarded at a ceremony during the EUROMAR 2011 meeting in Frankfurt, August 21-25, when Gareth delivered the Russell Varian Lecture. This is one of the most prestigious awards in NMR and previous recipients include Jeener, Hahn, Bloembergen, Waugh, Redfield, Pines, Overhauser and Karplus.
more..Chemists receive valuable equipment donation (June 2011)
University of Manchester Chemistry researchers have been provided with state-of-the-art equipment thanks to a donation from a leading industrial manufacturer.
Micromeritics Limited, are donating an ASAP 2050 Xtended Pressure Sorption Analyzer to the University’s School of Chemistry. This will allow researchers to study the uptake of gases by materials that are being developed for applications such as carbon dioxide capture and hydrogen storage.
The ASAP 2050 will benefit a network of collaborations involving the School of Chemistry at Manchester, the School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science at Manchester and the School of Chemistry at Cardiff University.
In business since 1962, Micromeritics manufactures a broad line of automated laboratory instruments that measure physical characteristics of powders and solids for fundamental research, product development, quality assurance and control, production, and process control applications.
Measurements obtained include particle size, particle shape, surface area, pore volume, pore size and pore size distribution, material density, catalytic activity, and temperature-programmed reactions.
more..University Chemical Biology Network comes together (May 2011)
The University of Manchester will today launch a huge network of chemistry and biology academics, working closely with industry to advance the field of chemical biology which underpins the development of many pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical products.
Funded by the Research Councils (EPSRC, BBSRC and MRC) and with commitments from its 10 industrial partners, the Manchester Chemical Biology Network will bring together more than 50 research groups from a range of disciplines across the University.
The academics will then in turn offer their expert knowledge to industrial partners, including companies such as AstraZeneca, GSK and Pfizer.
More than 100 scientists and industry leaders are expected at tomorrow’s event at the University’s Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre – which has become a focal point for collaborative research across the physical and biological sciences.
more..Materials Chemistry scheme goes nationwide (May 2011)
A unique collaborative scheme involving University of Manchester academics is taking its Research and Development Incentive Scheme nationwide – offering companies the equivalent of up to £10,000 towards materials chemistry collaborative research projects.
The Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC), a partnership of the Universities of Manchester, Bolton and Liverpool and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) at Daresbury, has extended its successful North West regional scheme.
The launch will notably benefit qualifying innovators looking to develop and commercialise products for applications in energy, health and personal care, biomedical and sustainable product design.
more..Dalton Cumbrian Facility building well under way (April 2011)
The Dalton Nuclear Institute’s £20m investment in a new research facility in West Cumbria will aim to answer some of the pressing questions in the field of radiation science and nuclear waste management.
The Dalton Cumbrian Facility (DCF) will open in October to deliver world-leading research in radiation science, nuclear engineering decommissioning and radioactive waste management.
Part of The University of Manchester, it will provide a unique resource for both academia and industry, giving access to the National Nuclear Laboratory’s faculties and allowing academics to conduct research and experiments with radioactive materials, as well as developing and demonstrating engineering prototypes.
more..EPSRC Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Research Facility & Service (March 2011)
The School of Chemistry has been awarded the contract to run the new EPSRC National Facility & Service for EPR spectroscopy (also known as ESR), together with partners at the Universities of Oxford and St Andrews. EPR is a technique for studying any materials containing unpaired electrons, of wide application in chemistry, physics, materials, biology and medicine. The Facility and Service, encompassing multi-frequency c.w. and pulsed EPR methods, will be run by Professors Collison and McInnes and housed in the Photon Science Institute. Anyone interested in accessing the service should contact Professors Collison or McInnes, or visit the Facility website.
The Facility is being established with £4.1M funding from EPSRC, and £355K from the University of Manchester. The scientific instrumentation manufacturer Bruker is a key supporter and collaborator in the Facility. The full Facility will be operational from summer 2011, in the Photon Science Institute, with interim arrangements for pulsed spectroscopy with the Universities of Oxford and St Andrews.
more..See off Alzheimer’s with the colour purple: (December 2010)
Ground-breaking research from Professor Douglas Kell, published in the journal Archives of Toxicology, has found that the majority of debilitating illnesses are in part caused by poorly-bound iron which causes the production of dangerous toxins that can react with the components of living systems. These toxins, called hydroxyl radicals, cause degenerative diseases of many kinds in different parts of the body. In order to protect the body from these dangerous varieties of poorly-bound iron, it is vital to take on nutrients, known as iron chelators, which can bind the iron tightly. Brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of chelators, as is green tea, with purple fruits considered to have the best chance of binding the iron effectively.
Professor Kell said: “Much of modern biology has been concerned with the role of different genes in human disease. The importance of iron may have been missed because there is no gene for iron as such. What I have highlighted in this work is therefore a crucial area for further investigation, as many simple predictions follow from my analysis. If true they might change greatly the means by which we seek to prevent and even cure such diseases.”
more..Research on Graphene in the School of Chemistry: (October 2010)
Two scientists who discovered graphene at The University of Manchester have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Professor Andre Geim and Professor Konstantin Novoselov have been awarded the highest accolade in the scientific world for their pioneering work with the world’s thinnest material, graphene, discovered at the University in 2004. It has rapidly become one of the hottest topics in materials science and solid-state physics.
Professor Robert Dryfe from the School of Chemistry is collaborating with Professor Novoselov and colleagues from the Schools of Computer Science (Dr Hill) and Materials (Dr Kinloch) to study the charge transfer process using this exceptional material. This research is funded by a new collaborative EPSRC grant ‘Graphene electrochemistry: understanding fundamental electron transfer at graphite electrodes’.
Dr Cinzia Casiraghi has just joined the School of Chemistry as a new Lecturer, her research interests lie in investigating the electronic and optical properties of carbon-based materials by Raman Spectroscopy. Dr Casiraghi is collaborating with Professor Novoselov on two projects to investigate the properties of graphene as a separation membrane and as an adaptive focus lens.
more..Lily Organic Chemistry Postgraduate Prize (September 2010)
In September, home grown University of Manchester postgraduate student Dr Karl Collins was awarded the prestigious Lily Organic Chemistry Postgraduate Prize. From hundreds applicants across the UK, ten students were invited to give a lecture on research they had undertaken within the first two years of their PhD. Karl presented his work that was carried out under the supervision of Professor David Procter in the School of Chemistry.
more..Chemistry Cascades: Synthesis of prostratin analogues (October 2010)
Professor David Procter was recently awarded an EPSRC grant: ‘Chemistry Cascades: Synthesis of prostratin analogues for evaluation against HIV’ (£297,875). This research project which aims to develop an efficient method to synthesis prostratin, will start in November 2010.
In the field of healthcare, there are few greater challenges than the continuing fight against HIV and AIDS. Biologically active natural products often have complex molecular architectures that have evolved over millennia to act as selective ligands for biological targets and provide a source of inspiration for the design of new therapeutic weapons in this fight. The recent discovery that compounds related to the tumour–promoter phorbol, such as prostratin, are non-tumour promoting natural products that are active against latent HIV is the most exciting recent development in the biology of this compound class. Latent HIV viral reservoirs persist after treatment of AIDS patients using current therapies, thus preventing elimination of the virus. Prostratin therefore promises a major advance in approaches to deplete viral reservoirs and has caused significant excitement in recent years.
more..Old Research News
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