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Phil Williams

Professor of Biophysics, Faculty of Science

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Biography

I am a Pharmacist and gained my PhD from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham under the supervision of Drs David Jackson, Martyn Davies and Saul Tendler. I was appointed a Lecturer in the School in 1996 and in 2000 was awarded a five-year EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship. I was promoted to Reader in 2003.

I work within the Laboratory of Biophysics and Surface Analysis (LBSA), a Research Division of the School of Pharmacy, (www.nottingham.ac.uk/lbsa), which has an internationally leading reputation and track record in scanning probe microscopy and surface chemical analysis of pharmaceuticals, polymers and biomaterials. The LBSA remain the only grouping to receive the GlaxoSmithKline International Achievement Award (2003), given for "internationally recognized work on drug delivery and new techniques for surface and interface analysis". I am the co-founder and Company Secretary of a successful spin-out from the LBSA, Molecular Profiles Ltd (www.molprofiles.com).

 

Research Summary

My research centres on the understanding of biomolecular forces and their role in nature such as in protein folding and signal transduction. I have developed new methodologies that permit single… read more

Selected Publications

Current Research

My research centres on the understanding of biomolecular forces and their role in nature such as in protein folding and signal transduction. I have developed new methodologies that permit single molecules to be manipulated and the forces that hold them together to be measured. To complement these studies, I have also developed both the necessary theoretical understanding of the behaviour of molecules and novel computational tools to model these experimental investigations. Such measurements on single molecules have opened up new avenues to study normal and aberrant biological processes that are important therapeutic targets in biology and medicine. My work in these areas of theory, computation, and bio-nanotechnology are exemplified by:

• Development of the theoretical understanding of molecular interactions and how nature tailors energy potentials for biological function. Part of this work is undertaken with Dr Clarke, Cambridge, and Prof. Lindsay, Arizona. • Research in bio-nanotechnologies, such as the UK's only biomembrane force probe, and experimental methodologies to measure biological systems and processes. Part of this work is undertaken with Dr Emsley, Prof. Jensen (School of Mathematics), Prof. Lane, Imperial, and Prof. Evans, British Columbia. • Derivation and application of computational methodologies to predict and interpret measurements of biological processes. Part of this work is undertaken with Prof. Elber, Cornell.

I have supervised research students from the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge and Department of Physics, University of Genoa, in my laboratories. I have used funds from my EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship to enable my students to work in the laboratories of Evan Evans at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver and at Boston University, of Stuart Lindsay at the Department of Physics and BioDesign Institute, Arizona State University, and of Ron Elber, Department of Computer Science, Cornell. I have published over 150 research papers and book chapters. Students recently obtained their PhDs from my group have gone on to undertake postdoctoral work with world-leading protein folding groups (Seattle) and tissue engineering and molecular biology groups (Hawaii).

Memberships of Committees and Professional Bodies

  • Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
  • Member, Institute of Physics
  • Member, Biophysical Society
  • Member, EPSRC Peer Review College
  • Pool of Experts, BBSRC

Teaching

I teach across all four years of the MPharm degree course on subjects ranging from fundamental acid/base chemistry and titration, through spectroscopic techniques for chemical analysis, to rational drug design, protein folding studies, and the latest biophysical analysis techniques. I teach through a combination of large and small group lectures, hold workshops and tutorials, laboratories classes, and run final year research projects. I also teach on the University's Nanotechnology Masters degree.

B31A01 Pharmaceutical & Biological Chemistry I Workshops

B31A07 Practical Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory Class

B32C05 Pharmaceutical Analysis and Spectroscopy Lectures and tutorials

B32C08 Laboratory Studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory Class

B34G07 Project Study 1

B34H07 Project Study 2

B34HAK Biophysical Methods Lectures

B34HAM Single Molecule Biophysics Lectures



School of Pharmacy

University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 5100
fax: +44 (0) 115 951 5102
email: pharmacy-enquiries@nottingham.ac.uk