Dr Claire Weekley
Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bio21 Institute
I explore the structure of human proteins and how they interact with current and newly-discovered therapeutic drugs. I like asking and answering the questions of: (1) do these drugs work as we expect them to, and (2) if not, how do they actually work?
I use X-rays to study proteins and drugs in crystals and human cells, but we can also use electron beams to study these biological systems. The development of these electron beam microscopes to study biology in new and exciting ways is going to advance the field in coming years.
If I could have dinner with anyone from history, I would pick Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin, a pioneer in the use of X-rays to study proteins and biomolecules who won a Nobel Prize. She had a long career and fascinating life at a time when women were largely excluded from science.