Dr Mike Edwards
- Title
- Lecturer
- Location
- Lennard-Jones: 1.03
- Role
- School Education Director
- Contact me
- Try my office or make an appointment by email
- Phone
- +44(0)1782 733252
- m.g.edwards@keele.ac.uk
Biography
I was appointed as a lecturer at Keele in the summer of 2011. I obtained first my undergraduate degree (MChem) from the University of Bath undertaking a final year project, synthesising anti-malarial agents, under the supervision of Prof. Malcolm Sainsbury. Having loved my 4 years in Bath I stayed to complete a PhD working with Prof. Jon Williams. My research pioneered a new approach to C-C bond formation using alcohols as alkylating agents and transition metal catalysis to “borrow hydrogen” – this remains an area of worldwide research interest today.
Following this I undertook two postdoctoral research stints, first at the University of Illinois Urbana−Champaign (USA) working with Prof. Scott Denmark in the area of Lewis base catalysis and organoelement chemistry, and more recently with Prof Richard Taylor at the University of York working on the synthesis of natural products and biologically relevant heterocycles.
Research and scholarship
Scholarship
I’m interested in the following areas of chemical education and curriculum development:
(a) Student understanding and learning of organic reaction mechanisms
(b) Development of a modern medicinal chemistry curriculum
(c) The use of technology and digital resources to improve student engagement
(c) Transnational degree programs in chemistry
Research
Our research is targeted in the broad area of heterocycle synthesis and its application to medicinal chemistry. We aim to develop new and efficient methods to prepare interesting molecules and apply them to interesting problems, particularly as molecular probes. The current projects are of particular interest:
(a) Targeted Autotaxin inhibitors as a therapy for Ovarian Cancer (in collaboration with Alan Richardson and Steve Allin)
Ovarian tumours represent a challenging drug target, many of the best chemotherapies displaying poor pharmacokinetic properties and undergoing extensive in vivo metabolism. We are examining methods for the effective treatment of such tumours by delivering inhibitors which target autotaxin (ATX), an enzyme which plays an important role in the proliferation of ovarian tumours. We have recently reported two studies using PAMAM (a common dendrimer) to deliver S32826, 1a; and icodextrin (a common polysaccharide used in dialysis) as a vehicle to deliver HA–155, 1b.
(b) Novel Anti-malarial agents (in collaboration with Tess Phillips, Paul Horrocks and Steve Allin)
We are investigating the synthesis and evaluation of alkaloids based on a series of heterocyclic templates e.g. 2 which possess anti-malarial activity via novel mechanisms of action.
(c) Novel Antioxidant Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) Mimetics
The organoselenium heterocycle ebselen 3 is a mimic of the enzyme Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), a key element in the body’s defence against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidants. It has been investigated in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of reperfusion injury, but despite showing excellent in vitro activity it has limited in vivo activity. We are interested in the evaluation of alternative GPx mimetics based on selenium(IV) derivatives e.g. 4 which have an alternative mechanism of action.
Teaching
I teach on the Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry degree programmes in the following modules:
- CHE-10061: Practical and Professional Chemistry Skills
- CHE-10063: Chemical Structure and Reactivity
- CHE-20027: Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 1
- CHE-20055: Molecular Chemistry and Reactions
- CHE-30037: Topics in Chemistry (Module Leader)
- CHE-30039: Advanced Organic Chemistry
- CHE-30044: Topics in Medicinal Chemistry (Module Leader)
- CHE-30046: Synoptic Topics in Chemistry (Module Leader)
- CHE-30047: Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 2
- CHE-30050: Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry Research Project
- CHE-30051: Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry Dissertation
- CHE-40021: MChem Research Project
- CHE-40023: Applied Chemistry Topics
Selected Publications
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2019. Chinese Students’ Expectations Versus Reality When Studying on a UK-China Transnational Chemistry Degree Program. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences. doi> full text>
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2018. Synthesis and Activity of a Novel Autotaxin Inhibitor-Icodextrin Conjugate. J Med Chem. link> doi> full text>
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2017. Cram's Rule: Diastereoselective Grignard addition to 2-phenylpropanal. In Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Experiments for the Laboratory Classroom. Alfonso CAM, Candeias NR, Simao DP, Trindade AF, Coelho JAS, Tan B, Franzen R (Eds.). Royal Society of Chemistry.
Full Publications Listshow
Journal Articles
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2019. Chinese Students’ Expectations Versus Reality When Studying on a UK-China Transnational Chemistry Degree Program. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences. doi> full text>
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2018. Synthesis and Activity of a Novel Autotaxin Inhibitor-Icodextrin Conjugate. J Med Chem. link> doi> full text>
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FORTHCOMING: Preparation and Anti-malarial activity of 2-Aminobenzimidazoles. TBC.
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FORTHCOMING: Spiroindolines paper (title to be confirmed).
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FORTHCOMING: Synthesis and Activity of a Novel Autotaxin Inhibitor-Icodextrin Conjugate.
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FORTHCOMING: Synthesis and Activity of a Novel Autotaxin Inhibitor-Icodextrin Conjugate.
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FORTHCOMING: Tetrahydro-beta-carbolines paper (title to be confirmed).
Chapters
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2017. Cram's Rule: Diastereoselective Grignard addition to 2-phenylpropanal. In Comprehensive Organic Chemistry Experiments for the Laboratory Classroom. Alfonso CAM, Candeias NR, Simao DP, Trindade AF, Coelho JAS, Tan B, Franzen R (Eds.). Royal Society of Chemistry.
