Mehrnoosh Ostovar

Mehrnoosh Ostovar is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Hertfordshire, affiliated with the School of Life and Medical Sciences. She holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from University College London (UCL) and has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Bristol and University of Bath. She also serves as a Course Coordinator and Lecturer in Organic Chemistry Laboratories at New York University in London. Her research focuses on drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, and the development of novel compounds targeting addiction, pain management, and cancer therapies.

Education: PhD in Organic Chemistry (UCL, 2009), Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Bristol (2009–2012) and University of Bath (2012–2018). Awards include Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC).

Key research interests include opioid ligands, GRK2 inhibitors (for analgesia), and small molecule inhibitors for pancreatic cancer. She leads projects funded by The Royal Society, focusing on GRK2 inhibitors to enhance analgesia with reduced side effects. Collaborators include Prof. Stephen Husbands and Prof. Varinder Aggarwal.

Her work spans synthetic organic chemistry, pharmacology, and translational drug development, with publications in high-impact journals like Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. She actively contributes to drug discovery for unmet clinical needs in pain, addiction, and oncology.