Check out our recent Application Note working with Teledyne Isco to develop flash purification of peptide-peptoid hybrids.

Dr Coxon is Associate Professor in Synthetic Chemistry at Heriot-Watt University (since Sept 2019), appointed as part of the HW Bicentennial Research Leaders scheme. He is co-founder and Director of a Durham University peptide synthesis spin-out, Pepmotec Ltd and was awarded a prestigious Vice Chancellors Medal for Research and Scholarship (LJMU, 2019) for his research into new migraine treatments. He is a current panel member of the Royal Society of Chemistry Protein & Peptide Science Group and helps to organise the annual Early Stage Researchers’ meeting. 

Dr Coxon has previously held academic appointments at Liverpool John Moores University (Senior Lecturer; Oct 14 - Aug 19) and Durham University (Aug 2013 - Sept 2014). Prior to undertaking postdoctoral positions at Durham, he completed his PhD (2010) at the Northern Institute of Cancer Research, Newcastle University as part of the Cancer Research UK Medicinal Chemistry Training Programme.

The Coxon Lab (William Perkin 2.08)

Our Lab uses synthetic organic chemistry, peptide chemistry and fluorine chemistry to solve complex biological problems. Our researchers work in the following areas of medicinal and biological chemistry:

1. Understanding and treating intermittent and progressive neurodegenerative and neurological diseases.

(A) The role of the calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) in migraine pathophysiology and the development of novel therapeutics for migraine.

Our research programme has taken the native hormone, CGRP, that plays a key role in migraine and developed synthetic derivatives that are competitive antagomnists of CGRP. We use a range of in cell and in vivo assays to demonstrate the biological activity of these agents and are working to make these deliverable via nasal administration to treat migraine.

Relevant publications:

• A CGRP receptor antagonist peptide formulated for nasal administration to treat migraine. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 2020, Bengt von Mentzer, Andrew F. Russo, Zhang Zhongming, Adisa Kuburas, Patrick M. Killoran, Vera D’Aloisio, Laura Nizic, Vicky Capel, David A. Kendall, Christopher R. Coxon, Gillian A. Hutcheon

Funding: Innovate UK/MRC Biomedical Catalyst Scheme

Control of protein shape or conformation is essential for correct molecular recognition and precise function. Stabilisation of molecular structures can deliver potent interactions and new medicines. We are typically interested in gaining understanding from a chemical basis and treating neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. The group use a combination of a) model peptide synthesis, b) organofluorine chemistry, and c) F NMR techniques to study this. The molecular and biological basis of protein folding/mis-folding, which are a characteristic feature of a class of diseases called proteopathies, which includes several neurodegenerative diseases e.g. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s etc.

 Relevant publications:

• Fluorinated prolines as conformational tools and reporters for peptide and protein chemistry. ACS Biochem. 2018, 57(43), 6132-6143, Sanne J.M. Verhoork, Patrick M. Killoran and Christopher R. Coxon