Peter Curran Email & Phone Number

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Small molecule binding hotspots are critical regions within cavities of proteins which contribute a disproportionate amount to the overall protein-ligand binding energy. Consequently, computational methods which predict the location and characterise the critical intermolecular interactions are highly valuable for rational drug design. This project aimed to use wide scale analysis of predicted hotspots across the PDB to improve the design of high-throughput screening libraries

The CSD contains over 850,000 entries of small-molecule organic and metal-organic crystal structures from x-ray/ neutron diffraction analyses. It is a highly curated database which has become a valuable tool for researchers in many disciplines. I undertook a summer placement which aimed to further improve the CSD by adding new data from the literature, enhancing existing data and creating links to other data depositories. Through this work I have gained an understanding of the CSD and learnt to use the CCDC software packages/python API to extract data for research.

Bath, United Kingdom

Milton Park, Abingdon

I was recruited to Evotec to prepare a chemically diverse acrylamide library which was used as a resource to aid the development of covalent inhibitors. The library was prepared efficiently with a method that I co-authored. Screening against a number of targets produced some interesting ‘hit compounds’. I used this opportunity to investigate docking protocols using ‘MOE’ to generate hypotheses for the binding mode which guided the design of a second generation library. In addition I gained some experience designing and preparing target compounds for a protein kinase project.

Horsham, Uk

This position allowed me to explore my interest in drug discovery. I developed synthetic skills through the preparation of a chemically diverse acrylamide fragment library. This was used in the fragment-based screening strategy, kinetic template-guide tethering. In addition, I was able to apply synthetic knowledge in a more unfamiliar situation whilst developing a chemically labelled ‘tool protein’. The modified target protein was used for an NMR based screening strategy. The chemical modification required selective reduction of a disulphide bridge and subsequent addition of a labelled maleimide to the exposed cystine residue. I presented this work at the Novartis students presentation day where I won best Chemistry presentation which demonstrated my ability to communicate science clearly and concisely.

Consett, County Durham, Uk

As a summer placement student my primary objective was to gain experience working in a industrial research setting. I prepared additives for polymerisation with a view to produce on a plant scale. In doing this I developed the ability to work independently in a laboratory environment and apply knowledge from the literature into preparing compounds of interest.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Chemistry

Mchem, Chemistry, 2:1

Activities and Societies: Member of University of Bath Boat Club (2011- 2015) Novice Men's captain (2012-2013) Academic representitive.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Brockenhurst Gateway Club- Mencap, China Care Fund, Alzheimer’s society, Community volunteerA levels: 3 A*'s.