Lanyon-Hogg Group | Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Chemical biology
Medicinal chemistry
Biochemistry
Drug discovery
Our group uses synthetic chemistry and biochemistry to develop small-molecule therapeutics and generate new insights into fundamental biology. We are interested in using tool molecules and interdisciplinary methodology to identify and validate new drug targets and mechanisms of action.
MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
As part of the Medicinal Chemistry Group in the Department of Pharmacology, our research involves the synthesis and development of biologically active small molecules. This includes identification of new inhibitors by screening approaches, design of improved molecules using rational and computational guidance, and testing of molecules in biochemical, cellular and in vivo settings. Current Medicinal Chemistry projects include: development of new approaches to slow or reverse antibiotic resistance; non-natural modulation of protease activity; light-activated therapies for treatment of cancer.
CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
Our research in Chemical Biology involves the use of chemical methodology and small molecules to probe biological questions. This encompasses a range of techniques including organic synthesis, bioorthogonal 'click' chemistry, and biochemical or mass spectrometry-based proteomic analyses. Current areas of interest include: profiling of small-molecule targets in live cells using chemoproteomics; synthetic functionalisation of proteins; use of machine-learning for analysis and optimisation of biochemical processes.
JOINING THE LAB
We are always on the lookout for motivated people to join our group. If interested, please make contact to discuss further (thomas.lanyon-hogg@pharm.ox.ac.uk). At the postdoctoral level, we are willing to support applications to fellowship programmes. At the PhD student level, recruitment is conducted via one of the Oxford University doctoral training programmes; please note that these programmes normally close in January each year. We particularly welcome interest from groups that are under-represented in scientific research.
We currently have a full-funded PhD (UK/home-fess only) opportunity open with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Full details of the position and applications can be found here. Deadline 1st March 2026/
Our team
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Thomas Lanyon-Hogg
Associate Professor
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Harriet Haysom
Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Chemical Biology and Antimicrobial Resistance
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Fahimeh Khorsand
Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Chemical/Cell Biology and Antimicrobial Resistance
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Patricia Santos Barbosa
Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Medicinal Chemistry and Antimicrobial Resistance
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Jacob Bradbury
DPhil Chemistry in Cells Student
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Saidu Kamara
DPhil Interdisciplinary Bioscience student
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Nadira Rakhi
DPhil candidate
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Jemima Brimacombe
DPhil in Interdisciplinary Bioscience
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Marine Guingand
DPhil in Pharmacology
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Zoe Nicholas
Chemistry in Cells DPhil programme
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Madia Harvey
Part II Biochemistry Student
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James Simons
Part II student
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Yiqiao Wang
Part II Chemistry Student
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Tanya Watson
Part II Chemistry Student
Alumni
Postdoctoral researchers: 2023: Adam Thomas; 2022: Om Tanwar.
Part II/MSc: 2025: Madia Harvey, Hildur Hreidarsdottir, James Simons, Yiqiao Wang, Tanya Watson; 2024: Amelia Abbott, Lauren Kim, Luke MacKay, Kayla Rowden, Soraya Saghbini, Tricia Seow; 2023: Arina Belov, Isla Sandeman, Amy Stonehouse, Adam Winnifrith; 2022: Kiera Gilbert, Thomas Hodgkinson, Anna McDonald, Vasiliki Mina; 2021: Jemima Brimacombe, Nicholas Etherington.
BSc: 2021: Jasmine Harris, Tara Shutes.
Visiting researchers: 2024: Cherry Marsh (Oxford); 2023: Why Wong (Cambridge); 2022: Gabriele La Monica (Palermo), Vanessa Rogga (Zagreb); 2021: Marine Guingand (Paris), Sarah Kapllani Mucaj (Cambridge).
Collaborating labs
Dr Kerstin Timm (Pharmacology)
Prof. Timothy Walsh (Zoology)
Dr Georgia Isom (Pathology)
Prof. Ben Davis (Pharmacology & Rosalind Franklin Institute)
Prof. Angela Russell (Pharmacology & Chemistry)
Prof. Ming Lei (Pharmacology)