Professor Alan M. Jones PhD, BSc (Hons), MRSC, PGCert, FHEA

• Certificate in External Examining, University of Cardiff, 2023
• PGCert (FHEA), Manchester Metropolitan University, 2016
• Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), 2009
• Ph.D. (Chemistry), University of St Andrews, 2009
• BSc. Hons (Chemistry), University of Aberdeen, 2005

Alan is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the School of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences. His research applies chemistry to challenges at the interface of biology and drug discovery, with a focus on delivering patient benefit.

His work includes the development of novel drug molecules, the use of electrochemical methods to identify drug metabolites, and the application of chemical, pharmacological and adverse drug reaction datasets to predict drug liabilities in patient populations. His research group has also commercialised tributylsulfoammonium betaine (TBSAB), discovered here in Birmingham.

Alongside his research and education portfolio, Alan holds several senior leadership roles that support health and safety, governance, and sustainable research practice across the University. These include Chair of the School of Health Sciences Health and Safety Committee, Chair of the College Chemical and Hazardous Substances Committee, Deputy Chair of the College Health and Safety Management Committee, Deputy Chair of the University Hazardous Substances Advisory Group, and the University Sustainable Research Practices Action Group.

Alan has extensive experience in teaching and external examining at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Alan teaches on the highly successful MPharm programme including Science of Medicines, Research Project supervision, personal tutoring, and OSCEs.

Alan has a track record of successfully supervising to completion a number of postgraduate students. View currently available PhD projects.

PhD candidates with ambition to work at the cutting edge of chemistry-led drug discovery are encouraged to enquire.

Our group is concerned with the design and execution of innovative synthetic strategies towards structurally sophisticated, biologically active small molecules. Through the integration of methodology development, chemical biology, and translational pharmacology, we seek to address fundamental challenges at the interface of chemistry and medicine.

Electrochemical Synthesis

We are advancing electrochemical methodologies for the efficient and sustainable construction of small molecules of relevance to the pharmaceutical and fine chemical sectors. By harnessing the unique reactivity enabled by electrochemical activation, we aim to streamline access to high-value scaffolds, thereby accelerating early-stage drug discovery and reducing reliance on stoichiometric reagents.

Medicinal Chemistry

Our medicinal chemistry programme explores the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of small molecules implicated in oncology and cardiovascular disease. Emphasis is placed upon mechanistic insight, target engagement, and the rational optimisation of molecular properties to inform therapeutic development.

Adverse Drug Reactions and Polypharmacology

We investigate the molecular determinants of adverse drug reactions, with particular attention to polypharmacology as a driver of drug toxicity and off-target liability. By integrating chemical, biological, and pharmacological data, we aim to develop predictive frameworks that improve drug safety and inform prescribing practice.

The Chemical Biology of Sulfation

Sulfation represents a distinctive and underexplored post-translational modification, serving both as an epigenetic marker and as a principal pathway for metabolic detoxification. Our work seeks to elucidate the chemical biology of sulfated species and to develop enabling synthetic methodologies for the installation, manipulation, and study of these highly polar functional groups.

Alongside his research and education portfolio, Alan holds several senior leadership roles that support health and safety, governance, and sustainable research practice across the University, College and School. These include:

• Deputy Chair of the University Hazardous Substances Advisory Group (UHSAG)
• Deputy Chair of the College Health and Safety Management Committee (CHSMC)
• Chair of the School of Health Sciences Health and Safety Management Committee (SHS-HSMC)
• School of Health Sciences Executive Committee (H&S Lead)
• Chair of the College Chemical and Hazardous Substances Committee (CHSC)
• University Sustainable Research Practices Action Group (USRPAG) – CMH Lead

Alan holds an honorary research contract with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and is committed to meaningful patient and public involvement (PPIE) in research.

His group has also successfully developed and commercialised, through UoB Enterprise, a novel sulfating reagent for Phase II metabolism studies: tributylsulfoammonium betaine (TBSAB), also known as the Gill–Jones reagent. This technology is distributed internationally through thirteen companies across the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and China.

Alan is an Expert Grant Panellist for the Poland National Science Council, British Council Newton Fund and grant reviewer for UKRI, EU, US, and Universities and charities.

He is a journal editor for Discover Pharmaceutical Sciences (Springer) and extensively reviews for journals from ACS, RSC, Wiley and Elsevier.

Alan is an external undergraduate programme examiner for Cardiff University most recently and PhD examiner for Nottingham, Cardiff, Swansea, MMU, and Bologna. He is a longstanding member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC).