Where and when did you obtain your PhD diploma?

For the past 4 years I have been working on my PhD at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal, under the supervision of Prof. M. Matilde Marques, Prof. Rita Guedes and Dr. Luís Sobral. I expect to obtain the degree during this Summer 2020. As part of my PhD project, I also collaborated with Inteligand Company, the University of Vienna and the Fraunhofer Institute.

What is the topic of your PhD project?

My PhD project focuses on epigenetics in cancer. I designed new EZH2 inhibitors, using 3-D pharmacophore models. Following this computational campaign, I selected and synthetized some of the most promising molecules with the intent of testing them against the target. Both biochemical and cellular assays were developed and implemented in order to identify hit compounds. In addition, ADMET profiling of the hits was also performed.

What are your current research interests?

As a Pharmacist, I would like to further build a research career in the development of new medicines. Metabolism and toxicity studies are expertise areas in which I would strive for an opportunity to work on.

What do you consider your biggest achievement in your scientific career?

My scientific career is still young, but I felt particularly rewarded that my computational models actually yielded hit compounds with good activity against my selected target.

Which scientist do you admire the most and why?

It is impossible for me to consider just one scientist. I admire many scientists who I have met during my scientific journey. I had the privilege to have meaningful conversations and learn a lot with people who are passionate about their research. People who work beyond the lab and dedicate their work so others may benefit. People with honest behavior, integrity, resilience and a sense of responsibility. People who give a voice to the aspiring scientists.

I feel mostly inspired by the examples set by women in science. Unfortunately, I feel that nowadays, women researchers still do not get the same attention, as well as credibility, enjoyed by their male counterparts. This cultural issue has been evolving in a positive way, however it is a struggle that we, women, inspired by other scientists who set the tone and example, should keep in mind and use as an extra inspiration in our daily work.

Fortunately, I have had many examples of people who can inspire others and I am grateful to all of them, particularly my supervisors for influencing and shaping the way I look at science, the way I work every single day.

Did you experience any unfair situations during your scientific career?

Unfortunately, there is a lack of opportunities in science in Portugal. I have contacted and felt the frustration in many young talents, who get discouraged and abandon their scientific careers.

Which paper of yours you are the proudest of and why?

At this stage in my career, I would say my next one!

Which field of medicinal chemistry do you consider the most promising in the future?

I consider that medicinal chemistry is trending from therapeutics to diagnosis. Future will focus beyond the therapeutic target discovery and design of new modulators. Diverging from the actual amount of effort in trying to cure certain diseases (which should be always a purpose in medicinal chemistry) or develop new drugs with improved safety or efficacy profiles, I believe that the future of medicinal chemistry will allow us more certain, clear, and well-timed diagnosis of certain diseases, allowing us to prevent them, or at least have a better prognosis for them.

Predictive toxicology of the drugs is one promising field in medicinal chemistry. In a near future we could describe a complete ADMET profile using computational tools and large-scale in vitro models.

Thanks to the disruptive emerging technologies, Medicinal Chemistry will change. Big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence will all be crucial in changing the traditional Medicinal chemistry. The trends in cutting-edge innovation will be transversal to all the Medicinal Chemistry.

How did you get interested in Medicinal Chemistry?
As an undergraduate I enjoyed the language and logic of organic chemistry and was motivated to use these skills in an applied setting. I began to explore biomedical sciences and saw Chemical Biology as an opportunity to use chemistry to study life at a molecular level, whilst helping to discover transformational medicines for patients.

Where and when did you obtain your PhD diploma?
At the University of Oxford under the supervision of Prof. Christopher Schofield.

What was the topic of your PhD project?
Chemical biology approaches to study the pathways that cells use to sense oxygen.

Where did you have your postdoc position?
At the end of my PhD, many opportunities appealed to me. I loved the environment of academia but had also become increasingly interested in the translation of research. An opportunity at GSK was advertised and at the interview I was impressed by the freedom to work creatively, and to use innovation to have an impact on the lives of millions of patients. GSK has proved a fantastic place to work, with many outstanding scientists and a culture that follows the science.

Where do you work at the moment and what is your current position?
I am a team leader in a newly formed Chemical Biology department at GSK. My focus is on the development and industrialisation of new technologies to accelerate the discovery of potential new medicines. A big part of my role is to develop collaborations with academia which helps us harness a broader range of ideas to solve difficult scientific problems. I recently joined the Crick-GSK LinkLabs which is a chance to work with world-leading experts in biomedical sciences.

What are your current research interests?
Currently, we are building platforms to rapidly develop inhibitors for targets emerging from genomic studies - an area we are investing in significantly to identify and validate targets. We are also combining chemoproteomic and chemogenomic approaches to discover new targets with therapeutic potential. One focus area is using covalent fragments. Advances in proteomic technologies have created an opportunity to perform covalent fragment screening directly in live cells, providing more comprehensive and biologically relevant information of ligand interactions, while also circumventing the requirement for protein production and assay development. Such approaches enable exploration of unchartered biological space, and generation of large databases of ligand interactions across the proteome.

What do you consider your biggest achievement in your scientific career?
Machine learning and artificial intelligence are two of the most exciting technologies impacting drug development. One of the highlights of my career has been exploring the application of machine learning algorithms to accelerate drug discovery. Right now, I am excited to be at the forefront of the data-rich technologies we are building in chemical biology and to see how these new technologies will impact this field in the next year or so.

How many PhD and postdoc students do you have at the moment?
Are you currently looking for a new PhD and postdoc students?
I work with a team of PhDs at GSK and a team of post docs in the LinkLabs at the Francis Crick Institute. We are always looking for outstanding scientists, look up the GSK-Strathclyde collaborative PhD programme and the GSK-Crick LinkLabs on the GSK website.
What are the features of a successful PhD student or postdoc?
Understanding the context of your work and how it fits in with the research environment around you is essential to help prioritise workflows and focus your efforts for maximum impact. Also, working collaboratively and sharing your science and ideas is hugely beneficial, as well as more enjoyable.

Which scientist do you admire the most and why?
Carolyn Bertozi is doing some fantastic work in chemical biology and glycobiology. If you get the chance to catch one of her lectures or podcasts, I’d recommend it, she presents her work in a remarkably accessible and inspiring way.

Which field of medicinal chemistry do you consider the most promising in the future?
Tough question. I anticipate a shift away from studying one compound at a time in biochemical assays. There are so many exciting technologies and approaches emerging: chemoproteomics, chemogenomics, DNA encoded libraries, machine learning, covalent fragments, PROTACs and other bifunctional molecules. With all of these though, it will be important not to assume the technology will offer all the solutions, but to ensure it amplifies traditional medicinal chemistry.

The prize consists of a diploma, a medal and an invitation to give a presentation at ESMEC 2020.

Deadline for nominationsis: March 31, 2020

Applicants are invited to fill in the application form and to send their CV and a Proof of Participation with an oral or poster communication (ESMEC Certificate of Participation and/or Abstract presented) by e-mail, stating in the subject box “ESMEC Alumni Award”, to both:

Prof. Marco Macchia
e-mail: marco.macchia@unipi.it

Lucia Bedini
e-mail: lucia.bedini@uniurb.it