PhD, Southampton University (under Prof. T. D. H. Bugg). Postdoctoral research Fellow, University of St. Andrews 1997-1998. Post doctoral research fellow, Birmingham University 1998-2005. Post doctoral research fellow, Cardiff University 2005-2007. Appointed research fellow, 2007.

I am interested in the use of synthetic organic chemistry as applied to the solution of biological problems and vice versa. The understanding of how Nature's macromolecules such as proteins and DNA work and interact with one another can often be probed by use of small organic molecules. Such molecules are often not available from the natural pool and so the synthetic chemist is central to solving such problems. Similarly, synthetic chemistry although well capable of preparing the most complex and intricate of molecules can often only do so at great expense of time and resources. Natural systems, if harnessed correctly offer the opportunity to construct molecules of such complexity much more quickly and efficiently.

Adams, S.et al. 2015. Conformationally restricted calpain inhibitors. Chemical Science 6(12), pp. 6865-6871. (10.1039/c5sc01158b) pdf Touchet, S.et al. 2015. Novel olfactory ligands via terpene synthases. Chemical Communications 51(35), pp. 7550-7553. (10.1039/C5CC01814E) pdf Adams, S.et al. 2014. The structural basis of differential inhibition of human calpain by indole and phenyl α--mercaptoacrylic acids. Journal of Structural Biology 187(3), pp. 236-241. (10.1016/j.jsb.2014.07.004) pdf Miller, D.et al. 2013. Calpain-1 inhibitors for selective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: what is the future?. Future Medicinal Chemistry 5(17), pp. 2057-2074. (10.4155/fmc.13.172) Li, J.et al. 2013. Rational engineering of plasticity residues of sesquiterpene synthases from 'Artemisia annua': Product specificity and catalytic efficiency. Biochemical Journal 451(3), pp. 417-426. (10.1042/BJ20130041) pdf Li, J.et al. 2013. Rational engineering of plasticity residues of sesquiterpene synthases from Artemisia annua: product specificity and catalytic efficiency. Biochemical Journal -London- 451(3), pp. 417-426. (10.1042/BJ20130041) Yoosuf-Aly, Z.et al. 2012. Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the alarm pheromone (+)-verbenone from geranyl diphosphate. Chemical Communications 48, pp. 7040-7042. (10.1039/c2cc32883f) pdf Cascón, O.et al. 2012. Chemoenzymatic preparation of germacrene analogues. Chemical Communications 48(78), pp. 9702-9704. (10.1039/c2cc35542f) pdf Miller, D. J. and Allemann, R. K. 2012. Sesquiterpene synthases: Passive catalysts or active players?. Natural Product Reports 29(1), pp. 60-71. (10.1039/c1np00060h) Faraldos, J.et al. 2012. A 1,6-ring closure mechanism for (+)-δ-cadinene synthase?. Journal of the American Chemical Society 134(13), pp. 5900-5908. (10.1021/ja211820p) Adams, S.et al. 2012. Potent inhibition of Ca2+-dependent activation of calpain-1 by novel mercaptoacrylates. MedChemComm 3(5), pp. 566-570. (10.1039/c2md00280a) Gennadios, H.et al. 2009. Crystal structure of (+)-δ-cadinene synthase from Gossypium arboreum and evolutionary divergence of metal binding motifs for catalysis. Biochemistry 48(26), pp. 6175-6183. (10.1021/bi900483b) Miller, D.et al. 2009. 6- and 14-Fluoro farnesyl diphosphate: mechanistic probes for the reaction catalysed by aristolochene synthase. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry 7(5), pp. 962-975. (10.1039/b817194g)