Stuart J. Conway

Stuart J. Conway is the inaugural Michael and Alice Jung Endowed Chair in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Discovery at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has held faculty positions at the University of St Andrews and the University of Oxford, where he was E. P. Abraham Cephalosporin Fellow at St Hugh’s College. He is also an Associate Editor for Journal of Medicinal Chemistry and ACS Bio & Med Chem Au, and served as President of the Royal Society of Chemistry Organic Division from 2019–2022.

Education:

• BSc in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry, University of Warwick (1994–1997)
• PhD in Pharmacology, University of Bristol (1997–2000)
• Postdoctoral Research, University of Cambridge (2000–2003)

Research Interests:

Conway's research lies at the intersection of chemistry and biology, using synthetic organic chemistry to develop molecular probes for studying biological systems. His work is organized into three main themes:

• Human Epigenetics: Investigating epigenetic processes in health and disease, particularly targeting bromodomain-containing proteins like BRD4 and CREBBP for cancer therapy.
• Cellular Redox: Designing bio-responsive chemistries to measure and manipulate redox conditions in cells, with applications in cancer imaging and prodrug activation.
• Parasite Epigenetics: Exploring epigenetic regulation in parasites such as Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Schistosoma to identify novel therapeutic targets for neglected tropical diseases.

Publication Trends:

Conway's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on bromodomain inhibitors, hypoxia-activated prodrugs, and parasite-targeted therapies. His work integrates chemical biology, structural biology, and translational medicine, with applications in cancer and infectious disease treatment. Notable contributions include the development of selective ligands for CREBBP and parasite bromodomains, as well as innovative imaging tools for hypoxia and redox states.

Scientific Awards:

• Translational Melanoma Research Alliance Team Science Award (2024)
• UCB-Ehrlich Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry (2024)
• Robert M. Scarborough Award (2024)
• Karle Lecturer, University of Michigan (2021)
• RSC BMCS Lectureship (2016)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2014)
• EFMC Prize for a Young Medicinal Chemist in Academia (2012)

Advising & Grants:

Conway has supervised numerous PhD students and postdoctoral researchers across his labs at UCLA, Oxford, and St Andrews. His research has been supported by major funding bodies including the Royal Society, Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, and the European Research Council. He is actively involved in mentoring early-career scientists and promoting diversity in postgraduate education.

Labs & Teams:

At UCLA, the Conway Group operates across multiple lab spaces in Young Hall (5033, 5036, 5076, 5077, 5085, 5086, 5090, 5096) and offices (5070/5070A). The group collaborates extensively with structural biologists, parasitologists, and translational researchers both within UCLA and internationally.