معرفی
Dr. Katie Simmons is a Lecturer in Structural Pharmacology at the School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds. Her research integrates computational and experimental approaches to identify bioactive molecules for early-stage drug discovery, targeting diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, epilepsy, and cardiometabolic disorders.
Research Interests:
- Medicinal Chemistry and Ligand Design
- Molecular Modelling and In Silico Screening
- Chemical Biology and Fragment-Based Discovery
- Molecular Biology and Assay Development
- Targeting Integrins, Ion Channels, and Receptor Hybrids
Her work emphasizes the development of therapeutic leads through collaborations within the University of Leeds and with industrial partners. Key projects include RGD-mimetics for insulin sensitization, fluorine-containing inhibitors for cardiovascular protection, potassium channel blockers for epilepsy, and modulators of IR-IGF1R hybrids.
Research Trends in Publications: Her recent scholarly output centers on early-stage drug discovery, combining computational prediction with synthetic chemistry and biophysical validation. Articles reflect a strong focus on structural pharmacology, targeting protein-protein interactions, receptor modulation, and fragment-based screening, particularly using NMR and in silico methods.
Scientific Contributions:
- Lead discovery for cardiometabolic diseases
- Development of novel therapeutics for rare epilepsies
- Innovation in fluorine-based NMR screening
- Tool compound generation for hybrid receptor studies
Advising and Research Support: Dr. Simmons leads an active research group focused on structural pharmacology and drug discovery. She mentors students and researchers in interdisciplinary projects combining computational modelling, synthetic chemistry, and molecular biology. Her work is supported by academic collaborations and aims to translate findings into industrial partnerships for further development.
Laboratory and Research Environment: Based in Garstang 6.44F at the University of Leeds, her lab utilizes a range of techniques including molecular modelling, small molecule synthesis, assay development, and biophysical methods such as NMR. The group collaborates widely across institutions to advance therapeutic leads.
