“What I like most about my role is the ability to actively contribute to molecule design and evaluate their performance”
What’s your name and job title?
Dr Alba Pujol, Principal Chemist.
How long have you been at LightOx and what was it that attracted you to the role?
I have been at LightOx for just over five years now. What attracted me to the role was the opportunity to work on research that would allow me to learn more about how the work we do in the lab gets applied to a real clinical need. For example, seeing the development of an API (Active pharmaceutical ingredient) then being turned into a drug.
Can you share a bit about your previous experience in the health and life sciences industry?
My job at LightOx is my first venture in the health and life sciences industry. My previous experience was more academic based, as a postdoctoral research associate. It was here I worked on exploring the synthesis and properties of organoboron compounds in the US where I moved after completing my PhD on the development of novel catalytic asymmetric diborylation methodologies.
What are your particular areas of interest and expertise?
I am an organic synthetic chemist by training, interested in drug design and development with a focus on the study of the structure activity relationship.
What role do you play in the development of LightOx’s new therapies for oral cancer and wound care or in supporting the LightOx business?
At LightOx I work in the Chemistry team, where alongside my colleagues David and Eva, we focus on research that looks at the design and synthesis of novel molecules that could potentially have a use with the technology developed by LightOx.
What do you like the most, or find the most interesting about your role?
What I like most about my role is the ability to actively contribute to molecule design, and how once synthesised you get to test them (through the Biology team) and evaluate their performance regarding the application of interest.
This is extremely useful in building up knowledge of how certain chemical moieties affect the different properties which as a synthetic chemist I find very interesting.
What does a typical working day at LightOx look like for you?
It depends on what commitments I have for the day but may include a company meeting or catch up with collaborators, for which I arrange my lab work around. But in general, a typical working day for me consists of a quick chat with my colleagues to discuss workflow for the day and any other relevant points that affect the different projects we are working on. Then I either get in the lab and set up/work on reactions or process data from previous experiments. Another important part of my day-to-day work involves the planning of forthcoming projects.
What are your hopes or ambitions for the projects you’re working on?
Getting the two current research programs further down the preclinical and clinical pipeline would be very rewarding as both treatments have the potential to vastly improve some relevant clinical needs as well as have a huge impact on the patient’s quality of life.
When you are not at work how do you like to unwind?
When I’m not at work, I love to spend time with my partner and our little son, especially going on nice nature walks with our dog too (when the weather allows it!). To unwind, I also enjoy a spot of gardening and baking!
Who are the 4 guests dead or alive you would invite to your dinner party?
I’m not really bothered about famous people, but I would love to have the chance to catch up with my family over some nice food, as I live far away from them and can only do it a couple of times a year.
Finally, in another life what would have been your dream job?
Since I was very little, I’ve loved animals, and have been involved in volunteering at cat and dog shelters. So, in another life I would have loved to have been a vet.
