Our lab develops new analytical technologies based on advances in fundamental theory in Biophysics. The lab has three major research strands:

Tracking Biopharmaceutical stability

We have developed a technology for predicting protein stability, with particular applications in biopharmaceutical development. The technology, called QUBES, is based on leveraging an optical fluorescence phenomenon known as the excitation-energy-dependent edge-shift. In 2021, we span-out a company to commercialise this technology (www.bloclaboratories.com) as a 'Software as a Service' product. A walkthrough can be found here. 

Point-of-care detection of novel psychoactive substances

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs; often called 'Spice') are designer drugs that are pervasive in homeless communities and the prison population of the UK. Their use is driven by their low cost and the lack of any instant detection. We have developed a technology for rapidly detecting SCRAs and a portable prototype instrument. We hope to deploy this technology for harm reduction in homeless communities and to decrease the flow of SCRAs into UK prisons.

Enzyme temperature activity

Enzyme are protein-based catalysts, which have a broad range of industrial uses, from making medicines to use in 'biological' washing powders. We study how enzymes behave with temperature, particularly if the flexibility of the protein affects temperature activity and in what way. Understanding this relationship will allow us to engineer enzymes for specific purposes and to make them more effective in industrial processes.

We have projects available in biopharmaceutical technology and biocatalysis.