Andy Round

Andy Round serves as a Lecturer in the School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where he has been based since 2007 when he joined as an RCUK Academic Fellow in Pharmaceutical Nanosciences. His research focuses on advanced applications of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to solve complex problems in biomacromolecular science at the single molecule scale. Dr. Round maintains strong collaborative relationships with researchers at the Institute of Food Research (IFR), particularly with Patrick Gunning and Andrew Kirby of the Scanning Probe Microscopy group.

Dr. Round's primary research interests revolve around two major themes: (1) the development of a novel polymer sequencing tool using rotaxane complexes to form a sliding contact between molecule and transducer, with applications in glycan epitope mapping and polymer sequencing; and (2) unraveling complex macromolecular systems formed by polysaccharides and glycoproteins, particularly plant cell wall pectin and mucin glycoproteins that form protective barriers in various epithelial tissues. His work bridges chemistry, biology, and nanotechnology, with significant contributions to understanding biomolecular structures and interactions at unprecedented resolution.

Analysis of Dr. Round's publication record reveals a consistent focus on single-molecule techniques, particularly AFM applications in polymer science and glycobiology. His research demonstrates an evolution from fundamental studies of polymer structures toward increasingly sophisticated applications in biological systems, with particular emphasis on medical and commercial applications of glycan analysis. The publications show strong interdisciplinary connections between chemistry, biophysics, and pharmaceutical sciences.

Dr. Round has successfully secured multiple research grants from prestigious funding bodies including BBSRC, EPSRC/RSC Analytical Chemistry Trust Fund, and UEA studentship awards. His projects include 'Function-based single molecule mapping of glycan monomers and motifs' (BBSRC, £320,372), 'Single Molecule Studies of Novel Bisintercalators for Pharmaceutical and Nanoscience Applications' (UEA), and 'Unravelling the Intricacies of Protein Nanowires' (UEA).

Dr. Round actively supervises PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including Dr. Kate Bowman (PDRA on the BBSRC-funded project) and Ben Rackham (PhD student investigating bisintercalation of anticancer agents). His laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation including a JPK Nanowizard 3 AFM capable of conventional and quantitative imaging and force spectroscopy in air and fluids, and a Veeco/Bruker CP-II AFM for routine examination of samples.

Dr. Round maintains an extensive collaborative network, working with colleagues at UEA (Mark Searcey, Julea Butt, Andrew Mayes), IFR (Patrick Gunning, Andrew Kirby, Alan Mackie, Neil Rigby, Adam Macierzanka), and internationally with Gudmund Skjåk-Bræk and Bjorn-Torge Stokke at NTNU in Norway. His research has significant implications for pharmaceutical development, food science, and understanding biological barriers in human health.