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Dr Andrew D. Westwell  -  BSc(Hons) PhD MRSC


General 

Coordinator of the School's  Medicinal Chemistry Research Discipline 

 

Research Interests 

Array synthesis of aromatic heterocycles

I have extensive experience in the synthesis of diversely substituted aromatic heterocycles, in particular benzothiazoles and indoles. Current interests centre on the array synthesis of a variety of heterocyclic scaffolds for drug discovery and development, and include microwave-promoted and fluorous-based methodologies.

 

Cancer drug design and discovery

Previously I have been involved in a variety of cancer drug discovery projects, using cell-based screening methods to identify new compounds of interest. One of these discovery projects has resulted in the identification of a new agent in clinical trial (Phortress). Current research interests are directed towards the following areas:

  • a breast cancer associated E3 ubiquitin ligase (BCA2)
  • protein-protein interaction targets in cancer
  • selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells
  • new bioreductively activated scaffolds for cancer drug discovery

 

Diagnostic imaging in cancer and neuroscience using Positron Emission Tomography

Interests in this area centre on the discovery of new 18F-labelled aromatic molecules for potential diagnostic PET imaging applications, and chemical methodologies for the late stage installation of fluoride into aromatic therapeutic and diagnostic agents.

 

Collaborators

Welsh School of Pharmacy

Dr. Andrea Brancale, Medicinal Chemistry

Prof. Chris McGuigan

Dr. Arwyn Jones

 

Cardiff University

Dr. Mark Bagley, School of Chemistry

Dr. Stephen Daniels, School of Medicine

 

External

Dr. Angelika Burger (Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, USA)

Prof. Malathy Shekhar (Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, USA)

Prof. Jie Zheng (St. Judes Children’s Hospital, Memphis, USA)

Dr. Stefano Fogli (University of Pisa, Italy)

 

Key Expertise

  • Organic synthetic chemistry
  • Analytical spectroscopy (NMR, mass spectrometry)

 

Research Funding

 

Cancer Research Wales, January 2010 – December 2012, Synthetic routes to the PET biomarker FLT and associated nucleosides.

Welsh School of Pharmacy, Oct. 2006 – Sept. 2009, Expedient synthesis of antitumour benzothiazole libraries, £72K.

Algerian Consulate, Oct. 2006 – Sept 2009, Design and synthesis of BCA2 inhibitors, £45K.

Algerian Consultate, Oct. 2006 – Sept. 2009, Synthesis and evaluation of antitumour benzimidazoles and indoles, £45K.

Egyptian Embassy, Jan. 2007 – Dec. 2009, Synthesis and evaluation of pro-apoptotic indoles, £45K.

University Putra Malaysia, Oct. 2007 – Sept. 2010, Cancer drug discovery: targeting protein-protein interactions.