Biological Chemistry

To provide a research interface between chemistry and biology to solve biological questions

Key services

Chemical synthesis (bio-active molecules, fluorescent or isotopically labelled compounds)
Analytical chemistry (assay development, metabolic/signalling pathway analysis, compound identification, tracer analysis)

We can work on and address any biological research question that requires a knowledge of chemistry and the use of chemical tools to solve.

Expertise & Advice

We are skilled chemists that work at the interface between chemistry and biology. We provide a research capability using our chemistry skills to help BI scientists solve biochemical questions that they would like to pursue. Much of this work is carried out through the use of mass spectroscopy and the synthesis of compounds , often labelled for use either as standards or as tracers in biological pathways. If there is a question that requires a knowledge of chemistry to answer then we can help.

Research Summary

Within the Biological Chemistry group we carry out research into the ageing of the extracellular matrix. We have discovered that the chemistry of collagen in tendon changes when it is stretched, and this knowledge has helped shed light on how the chemical changes which occur with age impact function. A short presentation given at an online conference in August 2020 can be found on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/i4tfE-8IBoA