Prof Helen Hailes Helen received her Ph.D in 1991 at the University of Cambridge, working on polyketide biosynthesis under the supervision of Professor Jim Staunton. She pursued post-doctoral work at Cambridge, and then at Imperial College London with Professor Steve Ley and subsequently with Dr David Widdowson. She joined the Department of Chemistry, University College London as a Lecturer in 1994, becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2002, a Reader in 2005, and Professor of Chemical Biology in 2010. In 2023 she became the Alexander Williamson Professor of Chemistry. Her research is focused on developing new sustainable synthetic methods, particularly using biocatalysts in single-step reactions, and multi-step cascades. Several projects include biocatalyst discovery using functional metagenomics approaches and the use of biocatalytic synthetic strategies with transaminases, transketolases, ene reductases, decarboxylases, tyrosinases, alcohol dehydrogenases, methyl transferases and norcoclaurine synthases. The combination of such enzyme steps into biocatalytic pathways is a particularly efficient method for the molecular assembly of biologically active compounds. A recent focus has also been the use of biomass waste, as a sustainable starting material to produce higher value compounds. As well as the use of enzymes for synthetic applications, we are investigating the discovery and use of enzymes for the degradation of plastics for molecular recycling and upcycling. In other projects we are developing new lipids for use in nanoparticle delivery applications, and the synthesis of chemotherapeutics as anti- tuberculosis agents. Prof Priyani Paranagama Professor Priyani Paranagama is the Chair of Chemistry at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and the Former Director of the Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo (February 2018 – February 2023). Prof. Paranagama earned her MPhil in Bioorganic Chemistry from the University of Kelaniya in 1990 and her PhD from the University of Glasgow in 1994. She has an impressive academic and research portfolio, having published over 65 research papers, presented 210 communications, authored or edited 12 books, and successfully supervised over 25 postgraduate students. She is the Chairperson of the Early Career Networking Committee of the Federation of Commonwealth Chemistry and a founding member of its Executive Board. Additionally, she served as President of the Chemical Society of Sri Lanka (Institute of Chemistry Ceylon) during 2019/2020. Prof. Paranagama is a Chartered Chemist (CChem) and has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Dr. C. L. de Silva Gold Medal (2015) and the Professor M. U. S. Sultanbawa Gold Medal (2008). Her research interests focus on the isolation and characterization of natural products, the analysis of spices and essential oils, value addition to natural products, and the study of trace metal toxicity. Prof. Paranagama’s significant contributions to the field and her dedication to mentoring early-career scientists highlight her status as a leader in the chemical sciences.
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