Dr Alex White

Research interests

Major interests concern the design and synthesis of novel anti-cancer agents. This involves synthetic organic chemistry, molecular modelling, purification methods and spectroscopy, particularly high field NMR, and close collaboration with biochemists. Particularly of interest is the development of natural product lead compounds as clinically useful chemotherapeutic agents.

Anti-cancer drug design

Structure-based drug design against various targets of interest including the DNA damage response, the EGFR-IGFR1 signalling pathway and the cell cycle. Several novel lead compounds have been identified that are currently undergoing further development. 

Novel treatments for psoriasis

We have successfully developed a novel co-drug for the treatment of psoriasis with improved therapeutic and topical delivery properties compared to current treatments for the disease. 

Natural Products Research

We have been investigating natural products from Welsh marine organisms and have identified anti-cancer activity in extracts from Welsh sponges. Currently involved in isolation and characterisation of discrete biologically active molecules.

Career profile 

Graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and awarded a PhD in anti-cancer drug design from the same University. Held a faculty research position at the Arizona State University Cancer Research Institute under Professor Bob Pettit studying the anti-cancer constituents of marine organisms. Returned to the UK as a research associate at the Northern Institute of Cancer Research (1998-2000) and joined the staff of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2000.