About
Dr Gemma Nixon's research career began with the completion of a PhD for Dr Ian O’Neil (Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool) in 2006. She then completed a one year Post Doctoral position with Prof Paul O’Neill (Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool) working on endoperoxide antimalarials (funded by AntiMal) before joining the company Peakdale Molecular in Januray 2008. In March 2009 she began a Post Doctoral position at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) with Prof Steve Ward working on a Seeding Drug Discovery Malaria Project (funded by Wellcome Trust) before moving to a Scientific Team Leader role with Prof Giancarlo Biagini on an MRC DFPS funded TB Drug Development Program. In 2013 Gemma took up the role of Chemistry Team Leader on the AWOL II: Macrofilaricidial Drug Discovery Project at LSTM (funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)) whilst pursuing her own independent research interests. In April 2015 Gemma was appointed to a joint lectureship between the Department of Chemistry and the Institute of Translational Medicine and in May 2016 was awarded an MRC New Investigator Research Grant to investigate the 'Rational Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Benzimidazoles; Towards a Novel Therapy Selectively Targeting C. neoformans β-tubulin'. Following commencement of her Lectureship in April 2015 Gemma has established a Medicinal Chemistry Research group here at Liverpool which has a primary focus on infectious disease drug discovery and chemical biology approaches. Gemma has established new independent research areas in anti-fungal drug discovery and the use of the PROTAC strategy to target metastatic breast cancer and motor neurones disease. In addition to already established projects in malaria, tuberculosis and filariasis.
Prizes or Honours
- 2024 Chemistry Biology Interface Horizon Prize (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024)
- Fellow of the HEA (HEA, 2018)
- Associate Member (Higher Education Academy , 2013)