Dr Chris Coxon is a medicinal chemist with an interest in developing new medicines for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.
He completed a Cancer Research UK funded PhD under the supervision of Professors Roger Griffin and Bernard Golding at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University (2010). During this time he became involved with the design and synthesis of small molecule modulators of novel anti-cancer targets, specifically kinases and protein-protein interactions that are pivotal in oncogenic signalling.
Chris then moved to Durham University in 2010 to work as a postdoctoral research associate in the areas of synthetic organic chemistry and chemical biology under Prof. Patrick Steel. In Oct 2012 he joined Dr Steven Cobb’s group (Durham University) as a senior PDRA, where he investigated routes to multicyclic peptides for application as protein-protein interaction inhibitors; as well as exploring the diverse chemistry of polyfluorinated (hetero)aromatics.
In 2013 Chris began his independent research career as a Temporary Lecturer at Durham University, before being appointed to the permanent position of Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry at Liverpool John Moores University in October 2014, where he was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Medal for Research and Scholarship (2019). In 2019, Chris moved to Scotland to take up the position of Associate Professor in Synthetic Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh) as a Bicentennial Research Leader. In 2021, the group moved across the city to University of Edinburgh, where they are currently based. Chris is also the Co-founder and Director of Pepmotec Ltd – a peptide modification spin-out company based in Durham.
Chris is a keen sportsman – with an interest (but little talent) in golf, cricket and football. He is a Sunderland AFC supporter so has had nothing to cheer about for a very long time! (edit: extremely long time)
Neuroactive Medicinal chemistry and Chemical biology Lab 