Member Article

High Force Research Wilton Centre team member celebrates PhD success

University of Durham Postgraduate, David Chisholm, is celebrating completing his Biological Chemistry PhD. David has spent the last four years studying synthetic retinoids and their potential uses for treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. His postgraduate research, undertaken with Ph.D. supervisor Professor Andrew Whiting from Durham University’s School of Chemistry, was sponsored by High Force Research.

David, who recently joined the team at leading North East-based chemical research and development company, High Force Research will continue his post-doctoral research which is being co-funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and High Force Research from his new base at High Force Research’s Wilton Centre laboratory in Teesside. It is part of a new two year project, funded by the BBRSC and led by a team of scientists at the University of Aberdeen in conjunction with Durham University and High Force Research, that is researching a synthetic version of retinoic acid usually created from vitamin A – a vitamin most commonly found in a number of vegetables, including carrots and sprouts – which it is hoped may be used to treat neurological disorders.

In the body vitamin A is turned into retinoic acid, which then interacts with specific receptors in the brain and plays a role in the development of the human central nervous system. Scientists from the University of Aberdeen, Durham University and High Force Research have collaborated to design a synthetic version of retinoic acid that interacts with the body’s natural receptors in the brain in an even more powerful way than regular retinoic acid. It is hoped the research will contribute towards the development of therapeutics – primarily for Alzheimer’s but potentially Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Commenting on the news, David said: “I’m very pleased to have completed my PhD and that all the hard work paid off in the end. It has been a great experience and I have particularly enjoyed being able to collaborate with scientists from different disciplines and institutions. I am now looking forward to carrying on the project at the Wilton Centre with High Force Research.”

High Force Research’s Dr Neil Sim said: “We’re delighted that David has completed his PhD – it’s testament to his skill as a chemist and the outstanding work he has been undertaking on the synthetic retinoid research project with Durham University and the University of Aberdeen. David recently joined our Wilton Centre team and we’re looking forward to observing how his research progresses in the coming months.”

Located in the heart of the North East chemical industry, High Force Research the company recently announced it was doubling the size of its 1018 sq. ft. laboratory at Redcar’s Wilton Centre which was originally in February 2016 after its existing Bowburn laboratory and office space became full to capacity.

Founded nearly three decades ago, High Force Research is one of the UK’s longest established chemical research companies. The company is expert in developing and scaling up complex syntheses of molecules used by researchers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and chemical sectors.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by John Rodgers .