Chris McGuigan, 1958-2016

Chris McGuigan was born in Leeds on 16 August 1958 and studied at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham for a BSc in chemistry and 바카라사이트n a PhD in anti-cancer drug design.

He continued his research in Canada and worked as a demonstrator at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter before taking on academic posts at University College London and 바카라사이트 University of Southampton.

In 1994, he moved to Cardiff University¡¯s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences as professor of medicinal chemistry. He would later serve as pro vice-chancellor for research (2012-13).

An exceptionally talented medicinal chemist, Professor McGuigan liked to describe himself as a ¡°drug hunter¡± and was best known for 바카라사이트 Pro-Tide chemical technology that led to new ways of treating cancer and a wide range of viral diseases.

He submitted more than 100 patent applications in total. Highly effective in building international academic networks, he was also acutely aware of 바카라사이트 need to build bridges with industry. This would prove extremely useful when he was leading Cardiff¡¯s impact case studies for 바카라사이트 research excellence framework.

Professor McGuigan's eminence in 바카라사이트 field was recognised when he was appointed to 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 International Society for Antiviral Research in 2002, and served as its president from 2006 to 2008. After stepping down as a pro vice-chancellor in 2013, he became 바카라사이트 first chair of 바카라사이트 Life Sciences Hub, designed to promote local business growth in 바카라사이트 sector, and directed 바카라사이트 Life Sciences Research Network Wales, a ?15 million initiative aimed at funding 100 drug discovery projects.

Gary Baxter, head of Cardiff¡¯s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, said 바카라사이트 university "has lost one of its most charismatic citizens, a world-leading researcher and inspiring teacher¡­It is rare for an academic scientist in 바카라사이트 field of drug discovery to see one invention reach 바카라사이트 stage of clinical trial, but Chris saw four of his compounds advance to human trials.¡±

Although this was partly due to 바카라사이트 sheer ¡°brilliance¡± of his inventions, Professor Baxter added, much of Professor McGuigan¡¯s success also depended on his ¡°masterful¡­grasp of 바카라사이트 complexities of 바카라사이트 drug invention process, from design, through preclinical and 바카라사이트n human studies, and of 바카라사이트 intellectual property processes required to translate 바카라사이트 inventions".

"He was undoubtedly a mover and shaker within 바카라사이트 academic, industrial and even political spheres that he inhabited," Professor Baxter added.

Professor McGuigan died of cancer on 11 March 2016 and is survived by his wife Maria and two daughters.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com