Dr Russell J. Pearson

Title: Lecturer in Organic & Medicinal Chemistry
Phone: (+44) 01782 7 33855
Email:
Location: Hornbeam : HNB 2.24
Role: Year 1 Academic Tutor for the School of Pharmacy
Contacting me:
Pearson_Russell

I graduated in medicinal chemistry from the University of Dundee in 1998. In 2001 I completed my PhD, entitled “New Transdermally Delivered Nitric Oxide Donor Drugs for Peripheral Vasodilation”, from the University of St Andrews, under the supervision of Dr Anthony R. Butler.  After four years of postdoctoral research in the areas of supramolecular chemistry and chemical genetics, in two different research groups based at the University of St Andrews, I moved to Washington and Lee University in Virginia, USA. Having lectured in the field of organic, medicinal and supramolecular chemistry to sophomore, junior and senior level students between 2005/6, I returned from

pearson image Nitric Oxide Donor Drugs

My primary research interest centres around the design and synthesis of transdermally delivered nitric oxide donor drugs tailored towards the treatment of peripheral vascular disorders such as Raynaud’s phenomenon. This work is performed in collaboration with the Vascular Medicine Department of Ninewells hospital in Dundee.

Supramolecular Chemistry

Non-covalent interactions between two reactive partners can dramatically alter both the rate and selectivity of a known reaction. As a result, I am interested in the design of simple complementary recognition motifs, as mimics for the more complex, and highly effective, recognition units found in biological systems. Such molecular recognition can be applied to organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry to improve our understanding of chemical reactivity and biological activity, respectively.

Selected Publications

  • Kassianidis E, Pearson RJ, Wood EA, Philp D. 2010. Designing instructable networks using synthetic replicators. FARADAY DISCUSSIONS, vol. 145, 235-254. link> doi>
  • Pearson RJ. 2008. 1,2,3,5-Dithiadiazoles and 1,3,2,4-Dithiadiazoles. In Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III, 15-Volume Set. Katritzky AR, Ramsden CA, Scriven EFV, Taylor RJK (Eds.). (vol. 6). Elsevier Science & Technology.
  • Evans KM, Haraldsen JD, Pearson RJ, Slawin AM, Ward GE, Westwood NJ. 2007. Synthesis and chemical characterisation of target identification reagents based on an inhibitor of human cell invasion by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Org Biomol Chem, vol. 5(13), 2063-2069. link> doi>
  • Kassianidis E, Pearson RJ, Philp D. 2006. Probing structural effects on replication efficiency through comparative analyses of families of potential self-replicators. Chemistry, vol. 12(34), 8798-8812. link> doi>
  • Pearson RJ, Kassianidis E, Slawin AMZ, Philp D. 2006. Comparative analyses of a family of potential self-replicators: The subtle interplay between molecular structure and the efficacy of self-replication. CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, vol. 12(26), 6829-6840. link> doi>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Kassianidis E, Pearson RJ, Wood EA, Philp D. 2010. Designing instructable networks using synthetic replicators. FARADAY DISCUSSIONS, vol. 145, 235-254. link> doi>
  • Evans KM, Haraldsen JD, Pearson RJ, Slawin AM, Ward GE, Westwood NJ. 2007. Synthesis and chemical characterisation of target identification reagents based on an inhibitor of human cell invasion by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Org Biomol Chem, vol. 5(13), 2063-2069. link> doi>
  • Kassianidis E, Pearson RJ, Philp D. 2006. Probing structural effects on replication efficiency through comparative analyses of families of potential self-replicators. Chemistry, vol. 12(34), 8798-8812. link> doi>
  • Pearson RJ, Kassianidis E, Slawin AMZ, Philp D. 2006. Comparative analyses of a family of potential self-replicators: The subtle interplay between molecular structure and the efficacy of self-replication. CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, vol. 12(26), 6829-6840. link> doi>
  • Kassianidis E, Pearson RJ, Philp D. 2005. Specific autocatalysis in diastereoisomeric replicators. Org Lett, vol. 7(18), 3833-3836. link> doi>
  • Pearson RJ, Evans KM, Slawin AM, Philp D, Westwood NJ. 2005. Controlling the outcome of an N-alkylation reaction by using N-oxide functional groups. J Org Chem, vol. 70(13), 5055-5061. link> doi>
  • Pearson RJ, Kassianidis E, Philp D. 2004. A completely selective and strongly accelerated Diels-Alder reaction mediated by hydrogen bonding. TETRAHEDRON LETTERS, vol. 45(24), 4777-4780. link> doi>
  • Pearson RJ, Kassianidis E, Slawin AM, Philp D. 2004. Self-replication vs. reactive binary complexes--manipulating recognition-mediated cycloadditions by simple structural modifications. Org Biomol Chem, vol. 2(23), 3434-3441. link> doi>
  • Khan F, Pearson RJ, Newton DJ, Belch JJF, Butler AR. 2003. Chemical synthesis and microvascular effects of new nitric oxide donors in humans. CLINICAL SCIENCE, vol. 105(5), 577-584. link> doi>

Chapters

  • Pearson RJ. 2008. 1,2,3,5-Dithiadiazoles and 1,3,2,4-Dithiadiazoles. In Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry III, 15-Volume Set. Katritzky AR, Ramsden CA, Scriven EFV, Taylor RJK (Eds.). (vol. 6). Elsevier Science & Technology.
  • Pearson RJ and Butler AR. 2005. Vasodilators for biological research. In Nitric oxide donors: for pharmaceutical and biological applications. Taniguchi N, Wang PG, Cai TB (Eds.). Vch Verlagsgesellschaft Mbh.
  • CHE - 10002/26  Basic Organic Chemistry
  • PHA - 10010 Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • PHA - 10011 Drug Discovery & Use (Module leader)
  • CHE - 20005   Drug Design Based on Biological Targets
  • PHA - 20006   Pharmaceutical Analytical Methods
  • CHE - 30002 Dual Honours Research Project
  • CHE – 30003  Single Honours Research Project
  • CHE - 30031   Biologically Important Molecules
  • CHE - 30009   NO (nitric oxide) in Drug Discovery
  • Inter-Professional Education (IPE) facilitator for the faculty of health