Louise Birch Email & Phone Number

Nuneaton, Gb

Nottingham, England, United Kingdom

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Nottingham

Founded in 2004, Sygnature Discovery (www.sygnaturediscovery.com ) is the United Kingdom’s largest independent provider of integrated drug discovery resource and expertise. The company adds value to clients’ research projects by providing advanced scientific knowledge and experience to accelerate hit identification, hit to lead and lead optimisation projects. Computational drive of screening and synthetic chemistry strategy for multiple (parallel) projects at various stages of drug discovery.

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Application of modelling techniques to external projects for hit identification and to guide chemistry strategy (e.g. ligand- and structure-based virtual screening and design, homology modelling, QSAR, QM, chemoinformatics). Generation of new proposals for client targets. Design of focused libraries (including kinases, GPCRs, ion channels and epigenetics) and identification of potential new targets. Creation and implementation of web-based tools and workflows to improve efficiency and foster an environment of self-sufficiency for medicinal chemists.

Established the computational chemistry group in the UK, including the identification and procurement of software and implementation of a dedicated Linux cluster. Successful track record of delivery of CADD solutions for neuroscience projects at different stages of development (target validation to lead optimization) and in library design. Project leader for a cross-site multi-disciplinary drug-discovery programme, including outsourcing. Member of working group to identify and internalise cutting-edge technologies.

Responsible for structure-based drug-design projects for both in-house and client targets, designing small molecule inhibitors and creating protein homology models, including GPCRs. Devised and conducted parallel design strategies including focused fragment libraries, induced protein flexibility, protein selectivity, QSAR and ligand-based selection filters. Led client projects and coordinated a small team of scientists and software developers in a range of drug design tasks. Prepared extensive client reports and presented to clients in meetings and international teleconferences. Analysed potential targets for design suitability and participated in production of project proposals.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Chemistry

Msci, Natural Sciences

Education record