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Gemma Nixon: Within ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ team I was involved with ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ identification and assessment of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ chemical starting points, development and optimisation of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ hit series and oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr medicinal chemistry activities within ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ project.

Paul O'Neill: ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ biggest chemistry challenges within ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ project included designing molecules that could achieve all of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ drug candidate profile targets and also to provide synÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØsis routes that could be scaled. With both Astra Zeneca and Eisai in collaboration ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØse challenges were met.

David Hong: Using medicinal chemistry strategies to identify and overcome ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ translation between in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy.

Mark Taylor: ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ team is truly multidisciplinary, with each member bringing ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØir individual expertise to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ project. Strengths lie in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, parasite and Wolbachia biology both within cells and animals, industrial screening platforms, clinical trials expertise and many more. Experts within ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ team were from both multiple industry and multiple academic institutions.

Steve Ward: Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are two neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that togeÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr affect around 117 million people and inflict severe disability. This work has delivered a quality drug candidate and multiple oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr starting points to significantly contribute to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ drug development pipeline in this area.

David Hong: This work has ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ potential to deliver new drugs for ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ treatment of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis by targeting Wolbachia within ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ adult female nematode leading to gradual parasite death. This provides a significantly better patient outcome than existing drugs, which directly kill ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ nematode – this is associated with significant side effects.

Joe Turner: Our work holds tremendous potential to be translated into novel ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØrapeutic treatments for both human and veterinary filariasis. Establishing a seven-day short-course anti-Wolbachia curative treatment would be a powerful and disruptive new tool to accelerate ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ elimination of human filarial neglected tropical diseases as a major global health problem, particularly in regions of Central Africa where oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr approaches are not suitable for deployment.

Joe Turner: We continue to maintain an active anti-Wolbachia translational research programme, and our collaborative focus is now to explore ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ structure-activity relationship of exciting new chemistry emerging from screening ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ 1.3 million AZ diversity library with ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ promise of deriving sub-seven-day candidates ready for clinical testing against river blindness.

Joe Turner: Working on exciting and fascinating medicinal chemistry solutions which also have ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ potential to deliver life-changing health impacts for some of ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ most marginalised in global society are major motivating factors.

Neil Berry: Collaboration is crucial in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ chemical sciences – at every level individual, institutional/company and extra-institutional/company.

Gemma Nixon: Collaboration is imperative as it brings togeÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr multidisciplinary teams to maximise ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ expert knowledge within a team and ultimately ensure project success.

Gemma Nixon: Good research culture should be open, inclusive and value both ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ research process and findings in equal measure. A constructive, collaborative research environment is key to achieving this.

Neil Berry: A good research culture is one that attracts, develops and retains a diverse community of talented people.

David Hong: Good research culture means working togeÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr as a team with a common goal, in which team members are open and trustful to each oÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØr. A strong leadership is essential for this too.

Gemma Nixon: Chemical Sciences play a pivotal role in so many aspects of everyone’s day-to-day life. From ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ medicines we take, products we use in our homes through to ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ technology we use on a daily basis. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ contribution it makes to society should not be underestimated.

Neil Berry: Chemical sciences deliver positive changes to society and ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ economy.

David Hong: Be patient and resilient – work in chemistry can be challenging sometimes. ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØre are lots of ups and downs in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ way of creating or finding new medicines.

Neil Berry: A career in chemical sciences will enable you to be impactful in a rapidly changing world.

Gemma Nixon: A career in ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ chemical sciences can be hugely rewarding and ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØre are a multitude of career paths within ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ area. Speak to as many people as possible about those career paths to scope ÀÖÌìÌÃappÏÂÔØ options available.