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Dr Michael Paradowski
Teams and roles for Michael Paradowski
Senior Research Fellow
School of Biosciences
Overview
Michael is a Senior Research Fellow and Operational Lead at the Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University, where he oversees research operations and leads multidisciplinary drug discovery programmes.
Michael serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Astral Automation. He was also a founding member of Draig Therapeutics, where he served as Associate Director of Preclinical from 2024 to early 2026, supporting the progression of a company asset toward Phase I clinical development.
With over 20 years of experience in medicinal chemistry and integrated drug discovery, Michael has worked across the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and biotech, including roles at Pfizer, the University of Sussex, and Cardiff University. His expertise spans multiple target classes and therapeutic areas, including anti-infectives, allergy and respiratory diseases, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
At Cardiff University, Michael played a key role in establishing the chemistry and biology laboratories within the Medicines Discovery Institute and continues to contribute to the development of its research infrastructure and discovery portfolio. His current research focuses on CNS ion channels, particularly modulators of GABAA receptors, with programmes progressing from early discovery through to late-stage preclinical development.
Prior to joining Cardiff University, Michael established the research laboratories within the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre at the University of Sussex, where he led antiviral and CNS programmes and is an inventor of sisunatovir (RV521), an inhibitor of respiratory syncytial virus that advanced into clinical development.
Earlier in his career at Pfizer, Michael worked as a medicinal chemist across a range of therapeutic areas, contributing to programmes spanning high-throughput screening (HTS) through to late lead optimisation. He supported the progression of discovery projects through candidate selection and scale-up to enable Phase I studies, including management of external CRO collaborations to support programme delivery. His work contributed to the discovery of Maraviroc and multiple Phase I and II clinical candidates.
Michael graduated from the French Grande École d’Ingénieurs ENSI Caen and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sussex. He is an author and inventor on numerous scientific publications and patents.
Publication
2026
- Uliana, D. L. et al., 2026. Novel positive allosteric modulators of alpha 5 subunit-containing GABAA receptors (α5-GABAARs) reverse the hyperdopaminergic state in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research 291 , pp.27-36. (10.1016/j.schres.2026.02.010)
2024
- Mitchell, S. J. et al., 2024. Neurosteroid modulation of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors of the mouse nucleus accumbens. Biomolecules 14 (4) 460. (10.3390/biom14040460)
2021
- Cockerill, G. S. et al., 2021. Discovery of sisunatovir (RV521), an inhibitor of respiratory syncytial virus fusion. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 64 (7), pp.3658-3676. (10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01882)
2019
- Beswick, P. et al., 2019. A challenge finding P2X1 and P2X4 ligands. Neuropharmacology 157 , pp.107674. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107674)
2017
- West, R. A. et al., 2017. African trypanosomiasis: Synthesis & SAR enabling novel drug discovery of ubiquinol mimics for trypanosome alternative oxidase. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 141 , pp.676-689. (10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.09.067)
2016
- Hornyak, P. et al., 2016. Mode of action of DNA-competitive small molecule inhibitors of tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase 2. Biochemical Journal 473 (13), pp.1869-1879. (10.1042/BCJ20160180)
- Cockerill, S. et al., 2016. Spiro-indolines for the treatment and prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). WO2016055780A1[Patent]
- Moore, T. O. , Paradowski, M. and Ward, S. 2016. An atom-efficient and convergent approach to the preparation of NS5A inhibitors by C-H activation. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 14 (12), pp.3307-3313. (10.1039/C6OB00340K)
2014
- Wakenhut, F. et al., 2014. The discovery of potent nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitors with a unique resistance profile—part 2. ChemMedChem 9 (7), pp.1387-1396. (10.1002/cmdc.201400046)
- Tran, T. D. et al., 2014. The discovery of potent nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitors with a unique resistance profile-Part 1. ChemMedChem 9 (7), pp.1378-1386. (10.1002/cmdc.201400045)
2013
- Burrows, A. D. et al., 2013. Incorporation by coordination and release of the iron chelator drug deferiprone from zinc-based metal-organic frameworks. Chemical Communications 49 (96), pp.11260-11262. (10.1039/c3cc45689g)
2012
- Lane, C. A. et al., 2012. Synthesis of novel histamine H4 receptor antagonists. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 22 (2), pp.1156-1159. (10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.11.098)
2011
- Egan, B. A. et al., 2011. Synthesis of the C1–C16 fragment of the ajudazols. Tetrahedron 67 (50), pp.9700-9707. (10.1016/j.tet.2011.10.036)
- Hay, D. A. et al., 2011. A flexible synthesis of C-6 and N-1 analogues of a 4-amino-1,3-dihydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-one core. Tetrahedron Letters 52 (44), pp.5728-5732. (10.1016/j.tetlet.2011.08.119)
- Mowbray, C. E. et al., 2011. Challenges of drug discovery in novel target space. The discovery and evaluation of PF-3893787: A novel histamine H4 receptor antagonist. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 21 (21), pp.6596-6602. (10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.07.125)
- Adam, F. M. et al., 2011. Development of a practical synthesis of toll-like receptor agonist PF-4171455: 4-Amino-1-benzyl-6-trifluoromethyl-1,3-dihydroimidazo [4,5-c] pyridin-2-one. Organic Process Research and Development 15 (4), pp.788-796. (10.1021/op200021a)
- Egan, B. A. et al., 2011. Regiocontrolled rearrangement of isobenzofurans. Organic Letters 13 (8), pp.2086-2089. (10.1021/ol200498k)
- Paradowski, M. , Lane, C. and Peakman, T. 2011. Synthesis of a Novel Octahydro Pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole Cyclic Amidine via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides. SYNLETT 2011 (11), pp.1543-1546. (10.1055/s-0030-1260768)
- Pryde, D. C. et al., 2011. The discovery of a novel prototype small molecule TLR7 agonist for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. MedChemComm 2 (3), pp.185. (10.1039/C0MD00197J)
Articles
- Uliana, D. L. et al., 2026. Novel positive allosteric modulators of alpha 5 subunit-containing GABAA receptors (α5-GABAARs) reverse the hyperdopaminergic state in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research 291 , pp.27-36. (10.1016/j.schres.2026.02.010)
- Mitchell, S. J. et al., 2024. Neurosteroid modulation of synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors of the mouse nucleus accumbens. Biomolecules 14 (4) 460. (10.3390/biom14040460)
- Cockerill, G. S. et al., 2021. Discovery of sisunatovir (RV521), an inhibitor of respiratory syncytial virus fusion. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 64 (7), pp.3658-3676. (10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01882)
- Beswick, P. et al., 2019. A challenge finding P2X1 and P2X4 ligands. Neuropharmacology 157 , pp.107674. (10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107674)
- West, R. A. et al., 2017. African trypanosomiasis: Synthesis & SAR enabling novel drug discovery of ubiquinol mimics for trypanosome alternative oxidase. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 141 , pp.676-689. (10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.09.067)
- Hornyak, P. et al., 2016. Mode of action of DNA-competitive small molecule inhibitors of tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase 2. Biochemical Journal 473 (13), pp.1869-1879. (10.1042/BCJ20160180)
- Moore, T. O. , Paradowski, M. and Ward, S. 2016. An atom-efficient and convergent approach to the preparation of NS5A inhibitors by C-H activation. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 14 (12), pp.3307-3313. (10.1039/C6OB00340K)
- Wakenhut, F. et al., 2014. The discovery of potent nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitors with a unique resistance profile—part 2. ChemMedChem 9 (7), pp.1387-1396. (10.1002/cmdc.201400046)
- Tran, T. D. et al., 2014. The discovery of potent nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A) inhibitors with a unique resistance profile-Part 1. ChemMedChem 9 (7), pp.1378-1386. (10.1002/cmdc.201400045)
- Burrows, A. D. et al., 2013. Incorporation by coordination and release of the iron chelator drug deferiprone from zinc-based metal-organic frameworks. Chemical Communications 49 (96), pp.11260-11262. (10.1039/c3cc45689g)
- Lane, C. A. et al., 2012. Synthesis of novel histamine H4 receptor antagonists. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 22 (2), pp.1156-1159. (10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.11.098)
- Egan, B. A. et al., 2011. Synthesis of the C1–C16 fragment of the ajudazols. Tetrahedron 67 (50), pp.9700-9707. (10.1016/j.tet.2011.10.036)
- Hay, D. A. et al., 2011. A flexible synthesis of C-6 and N-1 analogues of a 4-amino-1,3-dihydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-one core. Tetrahedron Letters 52 (44), pp.5728-5732. (10.1016/j.tetlet.2011.08.119)
- Mowbray, C. E. et al., 2011. Challenges of drug discovery in novel target space. The discovery and evaluation of PF-3893787: A novel histamine H4 receptor antagonist. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 21 (21), pp.6596-6602. (10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.07.125)
- Adam, F. M. et al., 2011. Development of a practical synthesis of toll-like receptor agonist PF-4171455: 4-Amino-1-benzyl-6-trifluoromethyl-1,3-dihydroimidazo [4,5-c] pyridin-2-one. Organic Process Research and Development 15 (4), pp.788-796. (10.1021/op200021a)
- Egan, B. A. et al., 2011. Regiocontrolled rearrangement of isobenzofurans. Organic Letters 13 (8), pp.2086-2089. (10.1021/ol200498k)
- Paradowski, M. , Lane, C. and Peakman, T. 2011. Synthesis of a Novel Octahydro Pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole Cyclic Amidine via 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides. SYNLETT 2011 (11), pp.1543-1546. (10.1055/s-0030-1260768)
- Pryde, D. C. et al., 2011. The discovery of a novel prototype small molecule TLR7 agonist for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. MedChemComm 2 (3), pp.185. (10.1039/C0MD00197J)
Patents
- Cockerill, S. et al., 2016. Spiro-indolines for the treatment and prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). WO2016055780A1[Patent]
Research
Michael's current research interests are in CNS ion channels and in particular modulators of the GABAA receptors (Anxiety disorders, Neuropathic pain, Post-Partum depression, Psychosis, Epilepsy)
Project Leader for MRC funded non-sedating anxiolytic a2/3-GABA subtype selective modulator
Project leader for Wellcome Trust Innovator Award: Developing small molecules as a neurosteroid replacement strategy for treating postpartum psychosis
Biography
Michael is a Senior Research Fellow and Operational Lead at the Medicines Discovery Institute, Cardiff University, where he oversees research operations and leads multidisciplinary drug discovery programmes.
Michael serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Astral Automation. He was also a founding member of Draig Therapeutics, where he served as Associate Director of Preclinical from 2024 to early 2026, supporting the progression of a company asset toward Phase I clinical development.
With over 20 years of experience in medicinal chemistry and integrated drug discovery, Michael has worked across the pharmaceutical industry, academia, and biotech, including roles at Pfizer, the University of Sussex, and Cardiff University. His expertise spans multiple target classes and therapeutic areas, including anti-infectives, allergy and respiratory diseases, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
At Cardiff University, Michael played a key role in establishing the chemistry and biology laboratories within the Medicines Discovery Institute and continues to contribute to the development of its research infrastructure and discovery portfolio. His current research focuses on CNS ion channels, particularly modulators of GABAA receptors, with programmes progressing from early discovery through to late-stage preclinical development.
Prior to joining Cardiff University, Michael established the research laboratories within the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre at the University of Sussex, where he led antiviral and CNS programmes and is an inventor of sisunatovir (RV521), an inhibitor of respiratory syncytial virus that advanced into clinical development.
Earlier in his career at Pfizer, Michael worked as a medicinal chemist across a range of therapeutic areas, contributing to programmes spanning high-throughput screening (HTS) through to late lead optimisation. He supported the progression of discovery projects through candidate selection and scale-up to enable Phase I studies, including management of external CRO collaborations to support programme delivery. His work contributed to the discovery of Maraviroc and multiple Phase I and II clinical candidates.
Michael graduated from the French Grande École d’Ingénieurs ENSI Caen and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sussex. He is an author and inventor on numerous scientific publications and patents.