About iDesign

iDesign is led by Dr Liam Cox, Reader in Biological Organic Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, and a team of experienced researchers from University of Birmingham, Mercachem and AnalytiCon Discovery. For full details, please visit our People  page.  

Project Aim: Through their individual PhD research projects, six early-stage researchers will use cutting-edge organic synthesis and catalysis methods to prepare bespoke compound libraries of structurally and functionally diverse, three-dimensional molecules with desirable physicochemical properties for drug discovery.

Not just a PhD: In addition to their individual projects, the appointed researchers will undertake a multidisciplinary training programme, delivered by experts from academia and industry. With time spent in both sectors, they will graduate with the knowledge and skills to set new agendas that inform the future directions of drug discovery.

Secondment Schedule:  All six researchers will begin their projects at the University of Birmingham in September 2018.  After 16 months, four researchers will transfer to Mercachem and two researchers will transfer to AnalytiCon for an 18-month period.  All six researchers will return to Birmingham for their final two months to write up their PhD theses under the guidance of their academic supervisors.

For more information on our partners and funding, please visit our Partners  page.

Funded by

EU logo

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 765116.