Wednesday

16/05/12

Chemistry Lecture Theatre 1

Professor Russell Morris, University of St Andrews

RSC Applied Inorganic Chemistry Award Winner

Adsorption, storage and delivery of medically important gases in porous solids

It is quite a paradox that several gases that we normally think of as extremely toxic are in fact vital in mammalian biology (in the right amounts). Nitric oxide (NO) is the most well-known of these gases – the discovery of its activity in the cardiovascular system led to the Nobel Prize for Medicine and an explosion of research in NO biology and chemistry. Recent research has, however, shown that other ‘toxic’ gases also have tremendous potential for use in therapeutic applications. In all cases the toxicity of the gas places great constraints on how the gases can be delivered, especially if any therapies are to be applied outside the clinic. One method of developing suitable therapies is to devise methods by which the gases can be safely stored in porous solids that deliver the gas only when required and only in safe amounts. In this presentation I will explain how we are using both zeolites and metal organic frameworks as adsorbents and storage materials for several gases, including NO, and how we are characterising the materials to understand how the gases adsorb and are released. I will also present some of our applications data, including examples of experiments done on human subjects in a clinical setting, and also how careful control of the chemistry of the material, particularly metal organic frameworks, can lead to very interesting effects that may be utilised to have great control over how the gas interacts with the material, and how it can be utilised.

Prion Chemical Biology and Enabling Technologies – Towards a Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease

The Prion Chemical Biology Network lead by Dr Beining Chen is organising the 1st International Symposium on Prion Chemical Biology and Enabling Technologies – Towards a Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease at the Richard Roberts Building, The University of Sheffield, UK from 9th-10th July 2012.

The symposium provides an opportunity to network with colleagues and share the most exciting, cutting edge research in the broad field of chemical biology. Meet face-to-face with active researchers in the prion chemical biology field covering a wide range of disciplines. The programme for the two day Symposium includes:

Plenary speakers including –

• Dr Abdul Rahman Asif - University Medical Center Göttingen, George-August-University
• Professor George Carlson - McLaughlin Research Institute
• Dr Damian Crowther - University of Cambridge
• Professor Nigel Hooper - University of Leeds
• Dr Eric Karran – Director of Research, Alzheimer’s Research UK
• Professor George Perry - The University of Texas at San Antonio

Launch of the second call for PCBNet pilot projects (Up to 5 £10,000 projects to be funded), there will be an opportunity to develop project ideas with other delegates

Evening networking reception

Poster session

Symposium dinner

The Symposium is organised by the Prion Chemical Biology Network (PCBNet). One of the major aims of the PCBNet, jointly funded by the UK research councils EPSRC, BBSRC and MRC, is to promote chemical biology research in prion related areas. The scientific mission of the network is to develop enabling chemical tools for prion biology in neurodegenerative diseases with a specific focus on Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) due to the close link between prion protein and AD.

For more information or to register follow this link

Professor Hideki Yorimitsu (Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University)

Title to be arranged

2.00 pm Chemistry Department, Lecture Theatre 1