Professor Philip Gale has been named the Royal Society of Chemistry Supramolecular Chemistry Award winner for 2014.
Professor Gale鈥檚 research aims to provide a new, interdisciplinary approach for treating cystic fibrosis, cancer and other global diseases. To achieve this aim his group uses Supramolecular Chemistry.
Supramolecular Chemistry, also described as 鈥淐hemistry beyond the molecule鈥�, concerns the design of molecules that use weak interactions (such as hydrogen bonding 鈥� the same interactions that hold water molecules together in ice) to selectively bind guest molecules or charged particles (ions), or interact with other molecules to form a structure that assembles itself.
In patients with cystic fibrosis the flow of some ions is restricted, leading to the production of sticky mucus that causes lung infections. Professor Gale鈥檚 group is designing molecules that will bind these ions and restore normal flow.
Professor Gale says: 鈥淚 was delighted to receive this award from the RSC, in part for our work on anion transport through models of cell membranes. 聽My group is working to find new ways of treating cancer and cystic fibrosis using anion transporters and I am delighted that the hard work of my students and post-docs has been recognised in this way.鈥�