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PhD Programme
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Sara Finaurini Project 1 |
PROFILE: My name is Sara Finaurini. I am Italian and originally from Sirolo, a small town close to Ancona . I graduated in “Chimica e Tecnologia Farmaceutiche” (Medicinal Chemistry) at University of Camerino, Italy in April 2005. The title of my thesis is: ”Polyamines may modulate both G protein-coupled receptors and G-protein” with Prof Angeli in the Department of Chemistry. I spent more than one year working on projects with the department of Pharmacochemistry - Vrije Universiteit, in Amsterdam thanks to scholarships awarded from University of Camerino. From 1st October 2006 on, I am a PhD student at the European Malaria Graduate School, section of AntiMal, under the supervision of Prof. D. Taramelli, University of Milan . The title of my project is ” Understanding the cellular basis for quinoline/peroxide antimalarial interactions and their implications for drug efficacy and toxicity.” The aims of this project are to investigate the basis of these drug/drug interactions from three points of view: 1- Chemical interactions : the different chemical reactivity of quinoline/artemisinin derivatives will be tested in the presence of reducing agents and their interactions with heme in infected red blood cells and/or cell free system will be evaluated. 2- Antimalarial drug interactions : the role of the association of drugs on P. falciparum culture will be analised to determine the efficacy and possible synergism/antagonism and define the best ACT for clinical tests. 3- Toxicity and drug interactions : although generally considered safe, the artemisinins do carry a potential reprotoxic effect and their safety in pregnancy is still not well documented. For this purpose, we are approaching a new method to study embryo toxicity with cell lines of erythroid origin. The effects of artemisinins and the potential modifying role of the quinolines will be evaluated. This work will be the result of training in three laboratories, under the supervision of Prof. D. Taramelli, Dr. D. Monti (University of Milan, Italy) and Prof. S.A. Ward ( Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK). My leisure interests include swimming, bike riding, reading novels and romances, travelling and cooking. I love the sea and pets.
Congratulations to Sara who successfully defended her thesis entitled “Effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on human erythroid cell differentiation: implications for malaria treatment in pregnancy” on 28 April 2010 at the University of Milan. We wish Sara all the best for her new position as Postdoc. |
Victoria Jeffers Project 2
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PROFILE: I am Victoria Jeffers, originally from Co. Louth, Ireland but I have spent the last five years living and studying in Dublin . I have a Bachelors degree in Microbiology from Trinity College Dublin and I have recently completed an M.Sc. in Bioinformatics from Dublin City University . I first became interested in the molecular biology of malaria, during my undergraduate research project working with Dr. Angus Bell of the Moyne Institute in Trinity College , where I was attempting to find evidence of programmed cell death in Plasmodium falciparum treated with microtubule inhibitors. I was very interested in continuing with malaria research for my PhD, but I took the opportunity in the meantime, to acquire more diverse skills, such as statistics and computer programming, which accounts for the M.Sc. in Bioinformatics. For my M.Sc. research, I used artificial neural networks to improve the accuracy in prediction of the subcellular location of proteins from Saccharromyces cerevisiae , based on their amino acid sequence. While I found this course very interesting and had a very enjoyable year, I am looking forward to working in a molecular biology lab again, instead of sitting in front of a computer! I will be working with Dr. Clemens Kocken at the BPRC in the Netherlands , investigating quinoline resistance mechanisms in Plasmodium , using a P. knowlesi transfection system. Outside of science, I enjoy reading, listening to music, watching movies and socialising with friends. Many of my friends live in different countries and I love travelling to visit them.
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Fatima Bousejra-El Garah
Project 3
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PROFILE: My name is Fatima Bousejra-El Garah. I was born in Oujda , Morocco, but I grew up in France, near Paris . Now, I live in Toulouse, France with my husband. I am a chemist and specialise in organic and organometallic synthesis. I have started my studies at Orsay University which is south of Paris. In 2006, I got a Masters degree in Molecular Chemistry at Toulouse University . Since the beginning of my studies, I was interested in chemistry applied to human health. During my training periods, I had the opportunity to work on cancer and tuberculosis. In both cases, the objective was to get a better knowledge of the mechanism of action of common drugs such as Tamoxifen and Isoniazid in order to fight resistance and to design new active molecules. This experience has reinforced my interest for research in therapeutic chemistry. In particular, I wanted to be involved in malaria research. My project in the AntiMal programme is focused on the role of iron in the mechanism of action of antimalarial trioxanes. For the first two years, I will work with Dr Anne Robert at the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordiantion (LCC) in Toulouse and try to understand the mechanism of action of a new generation of trioxane-containing drug candidates. I will spend the last year in Liverpool University working with Professor Paul O'Neill. My work will involve the preparation of fluorescent probes to examine the distribution of tagged molecules in living parasites. I am very happy to join the AntiMal research programme and I hope my work will contribute to “roll back malaria”. Out of the lab, I enjoy hiking, climbing in the Pyrenees mountains. I love travelling to discover other cultures, to see new places and meet people.
Congratulations to Fatima who successfully defended her thesis entitled “Role of metals in the mechanism of action of antimalarial peroxides” on 18 March 2010 at the University of Toulouse. We wish Fatima all the best for her new position as Postdoc at the University of Toulouse in the group of Prof. Faller (Chem. Lab.). |
Francesc Marti Gimeno Project 4
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PROFILE: My name is Francesc Martí and I come from Spain. I was born in Badalona , a city next to Barcelona , in 1980. I studied a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry at the University of Barcelona. I also spent a year in the Fine Chemistry Department of the Barcelona's Scientific Park with a collaboration grant and I have just finished a Master's Degree in Organic Chemistry. I have been chosen for project 4 of the Antimal PhD program located at the NatSynDrugs in Siena and at the University of Liverpool related to the study of different approaches to the synthesis of endoperoxides derivatives with antimalarial activity. My interests have been in analytical chemistry but this last year I have discovered the beauty and variety of the organic synthesis, so I decided to apply for this position since as well as being a great professional opportunity, it is a good chance to meet new people, visit new places and to have a different point of view of the rest of the world. My outside interests are among others, listening to music above all pop, rock and indie, watching movies whether they are modern or classic ones, football of course, I am a supporter of the RCD Espanyol of Barcelona. I also love to go out with my friends for a drink and a game of pool, and one of my big hobbies is to collect music soundtracks from the movies, I have a very, very large collection.
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Olivier Berger
Project 5 |
PROFILE: My name is Olivier Berger and I come from France. I was born in Roanne, a city near to Lyon in 1981. I graduated as a pharmacist from the University of Lyon ( France ) in 2006. I also completed a Masters Degree in Organic Synthesis and Chemistry of Bioactive Molecules, containing a six-month training period titled “Extraction and Synthetic Approach of Buntanin, Citrus Aurantium Metabolite”. My research work involved the medicinal chemistry and purification of plant extracts and was a collaboration between two laboratories of University of Lyon . The title of my PhD work is: “Antimalarial Chemotherapy Inhibiting Phospholipidic Metabolism Effectors, Valorization of N-Hydroxylated Prodrug Structures”. I work in the “laboratoire de chimie biomoléculaire et des interactions biologiques, faculté de Pharmacie, Montpellier ” under the direction of Dr. Thierry Durand and Dr. Françoise Bressolle. Part of my PhD work will be completed in the University of Liverpool , under the direction of Professor Paul O'Neill. I am interested in the interactions between chemistry and biology, but also the importance of new drug development for a disease which affects many children. I like swimming, cycling, listening to music, watching movies and different sports on television. I also like to go out with my friends for drinks and playing pool during the week-end. I love cats.
Congratulations to Olivier who successfully defended his thesis entitled “Synthesis of antimalarial Agents with New Mechanisms of Action” on 28 June 2010 at the University of Montpellier II. We wish Olivier all the best for his future position. |
Archana Kaniti
Project 6 Drug-heme interactions in lipid and aqueous environments and their implications
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PROFILE: I am Archana Kaniti and was born and brought up in India . I have completed my Masters in Biotechnology and Molecular Biology of Parasites and Vectors. My interest in Malaria greatly increased during my Masters course at Liverpool University . As part of my Masters study at Liverpool University I did my thesis on activity of anti-malarial drug DB75 in Plasmodium falciparum as I wanted to continue my further study in the same field. During my Masters I have worked with drugs labelled with radioactive elements, used the drug DB75 diphenyl furan diamidine ( Pentamidine analogue ) and observed its activity in different cell lines and its relation with Chloroquine resistance. I always wanted to gain knowledge in different fields along with biology so I had chose Project 6 named “ Drug - Heme Interactions in Lipid and Aqueous Environments and their Implications ” from the list of Antimal projects as my PhD research at Liverpool University . This project's main focus is in both Chemistry and Biology research field. Apart from my education activities I like reading, visiting new places, listening to the music and going out with friends.
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Ksenija Slavic Project 7
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PROFILE: My name is Ksenija Slavic and I come from Serbia. I graduated in Molecular Biology and Physiology at the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade. In the course of studies, I was oriented toward genetic engineering and biotechnology. I was engaged in microbiology lab for two months during my practical training in Clausthal-Zellerfeld in Germany . Research work for my diploma thesis involved me into the investigation of multidrug resistance in cancer. Multidrug resistance has become one of the main obstacles in both, treatment of cancer, as well as treatment of infectious diseases. Mechanisms underlying this phenomenon in cancer are various, depending on cancer type as well as on drug used. Each of these mechanisms has its own 'weak' points, and finding these points and making them targets for improved treatment is what I find appealing in this area of research. After I saw the advertisement for the MalParTraining / AntiMal PhD programmes, I have developed interest in malaria research, particularly, investigation of resistance to antimarial drugs. I was amazed when I realized that there are very similar molecular “actors” underlying multidrug resistance in cancer and resistance in malaria, due to their evolutionary conservation. Therefore, the project named “Functional analysis of metabolite and drug carrier systems in P. falciparum” attracted my full attention. I have joined this project within the AntiMal program as a PhD student in Prof. S. Krishna's lab at St George's University of London . In addition, I will be in cooperation with Prof. M. Lanzer at the University of Heidelberg . Our aim will be to investigate hexose transporter and mdr1 homologue, their roles as drug targets and mediators of resistance mechanisms, using tools of genetic engineering, as well as life cell imaging and biochemical methods. Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with my friends, visiting theatres, cinemas, clubs… Besides, I like traveling, going places and foreign languages. Congratulations to Ksenija who successfully defended her thesis entitled “Genetic and molecular studies of the hexose transporter of Plasmodium species” on 25 June 2010 at the University of Heidelberg. We wish Ksenija all the best for her future position.
Congratulations to Ksenija who successfully defended her thesis entitled “Genetic and molecular studies of the hexose transporter of Plasmodium species” on 25 June 2010 at the University of Heidelberg. We wish Ksenija all the best for her future position. |
Huaqing Cui Project 8
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PROFILE: I am Huaqing Cui and I come from Beijing, China. I was born in Weihai city, a well- known port and tourist city located at the eastern tip of Shandong Peninsula of China. From 1998 to 2002, I studied in the Biology and Chemistry College of Yantai University and obtained my bachelor degree of Science. In 2003, I became a master student of Beijing Proteome Research Center (advisor, Dr. Qingming Wang), which is the headquarters of Human Liver Proteome Project. In the summer of 2006, I finished my master thesis and got my master degree. In the last three years, I identified the target antigen of a hepatoma cell-specific scFv using the proteomic approach, and analyzed the distribution of this antigen in different hepatic tissues. I also have some research experience on the selection and application of genetic engineering antibody. Now, I have joined in Project 8 “ Nucleoside Drug Targets in Plasmodium falciparum”. In the following 3.5 years, I will firstly do some chemical work in the lab of Prof. Gilbert in Dundee; then I will go to Granada and study from Prof. González-Pacanowska in the field of Proteomics. Meanwhile, I will also visit the lab of Prof. Mulaa to do some molecular biology experiments in Nairobi . Chinese scientists had made some contribution to the anti-malaria drug discovery, they found Artemisinin from a C hinese herb -southernwood, which is a very effective anti-malaria drug Now I have the chance to do something for the anti-malaria research, I hope that I can make more contribution to the development of anti-malaria drugs. Because I was born in a seashore city with an agreeable climate, I always go swimming with my friends in summer. I also like pingpong, which is a popular sport in China . Movies are also my favorites. Chinese food is famous and I like to cook some Chinese food in my spare time |
Ayenew Alemu Project 9
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PROFILE: I am Ayenew Alemu from Ethiopia. My educational background is in Pharmacy; Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and MSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Pharmaceutical Analysis) from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. I did also post graduate training in Medicinal Chemistry at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. My research experiences and involvements range from chemical and biological work on traditional medicinal plants, quality evaluation of modern drugs, synthesis of drug candidates to drug metabolism studies. After completion of my undergraduate degree in Pharmacy I was recruited by the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy of Addis Ababa University and currently hold the position of Lecturer. I now joined the AntiMal PhD Programme and will work on the Project 9: Pharmacokinetic studies of FR 900098 (Fosimidomycin derivative) under the supervision of Professor Francois Jehl (University Louis Pasteur, France), Dr. Hassan Jomaa ( University of Giessen , Germany ) and Dr. Serge Van Calenbergh ( University of Ghent , Belgium ). It is pleasing to do my studies concentrating on malaria, which affects around 300 million people per annum in the world in general and to be part of the scientific teams working on FR 900098 preclinical studies to bring it to human clinical trials. I hope that at the end of the project FR 90098 will be the best choice to treat malaria cases fulfilling the requirements for a good drug (Superior Safety, efficacy, affordability etc). Besides academics I enjoy computers, sports (athletics and football), appreciating nature and learning history. |
Patrice Mimche
Project 10 |
PROFILE: My name is Patrice Mimche and I am Cameroonian. I am a native of Koumenke, a village located at the outskirt of Foumban, a beautiful and touristic city in West Cameroon . I grew up in Yaounde 1, the capital city of my country where I did my primary, secondary and University education. At the University of Yaounde, I studied Biochemistry and successfully earned a BSc and MSc degree in this field with an emphasis on Molecular Parasitology. After my graduation, I worked as a research assistant in a Gates Malaria Partnership sponsored project under the supervision of Prof Mbacham Wilfred. The project was a collaboration between the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Yaounde 1 and sought to establish therapeutic efficacy of commonly used antimalarial drugs in Cameroon . Now, as an EMBL/Antimal predoctoral fellow I will pursue my training in malarialogy with a particular interest on the interactions between antimalarial drugs and immune response. My main duty station is the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where I'm working with Dr Livia Vivas though part of my research work will be done in Milano University under the direction of Prof Donatella Taramelli. Besides science, my outside interests include Basketball, Soccer and I look forward to taking in some Premier League and Series A matches during my time in London and Milano. Listening to classical music, travelling and watching science fiction movies are also part of my hobbies.
Congratulations to Patrice who successfully defended his thesis entitled “Modulation of Plasmodium falciparum phagocytosis, inflammatory cytokines production and cytoadhesion molecules expression by the natural product Curcumin” on 28 April 2010 at the University of Milan. We wish Patrice all the best for his future position. |
Abdirahman Abdi Project 11
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PROFILE: My name is Abdirahman Abdi and I come from Kenya (think of Masaai Mara and Long Distance Runners). I did a batchelor of science in Biochemistry/Chemistry at the University of Nairobi and then got a Scholarship to do a Masters of Science in Biochemistry at the same university. In June 2005 I was introduced to serious scientific research and Malaria by working with Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Research programme under the supervision of Dr Alexis Nzila. I started first as an intern for six months and then got promoted to Research Assistant. The main area of our research was on the field of mornitoring antimalarial drug efficacy using the three main tools that are used: in vivo (clinical trials), in vitro chemosensitivity assay and molecular markers. While still working with Kemri/Wellcome Trust Centre in Kilifi, I received this AntiMal fellowship opportunity to further my education and my contribution towards the struggle against malaria. I am now working with Prof Christian Doerig, at the Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitolgy, University of Glasgow. Here in Glasgow , I intend to evaluate some P. falciparum protein kinases enzymes as potential drug targets using the following approach: i) Biochemical characterisation (expression in E.coli , activity assay for screening purposes) ii) Reverse genetics to establish the role of the enzymes in the parasite life cycle (target validation). Then I will move to the University of York where I will work under the supervision of Prof Keith Wilson. Here, I will perform x-ray crystallography, to determine the 3-D structure of the enzymes and hence provide a basis for rational structure based inhibitor design. Apart from science, I am a soccer fan but not a player. I am a good swimmer and I like watching documentaries and listening to debates (The BBC world service is my favourite). |
