Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
PhD Project PI name & contact details: School: Dr. Fawaz Aldabbagh, E‐mail: Fawaz.Aldabbagh@nuigalway.ie Chemistry NCBES Research Centre / & collaborator, Dr. Michael Carty, Centre of Chromosome Biology; group affiliation: http://ccb.flaus.net/ Research group / http://www.nuigalway.ie/chemistry/ centre website: PI website / link to http://www.nuigalway.ie/chemistry/level2/staff/NewFA/faldabbagh.html
CV: Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity: The group led by Dr. Aldabbagh has an international reputation for cutting edge research in organic, medicinal and polymer chemistry. Heterocyclic anti‐cancer molecules are prepared, and biological response evaluated. Title & brief description of PhD project: New Heterocyclic Anti‐Tumor Cross‐linking Agents Women with abnormal BRCA‐genes are known to be much more susceptible to hereditary breast cancer, because they lack the ability to repair damaged DNA. Cell lines with mutated BRCA genes give a hypersensitive response to crosslinking agents, such as mitomycin C and cisplatin. The problem with these clinically used cytotoxic drugs is their tendency to kill a high proportion of healthy (non‐cancerous) cells leading to significant side‐effects in chemotherapy. The aim of this project is the development of new breast cancer specific therapies by synthesis of crosslinking agents that selectively cross‐link to the DNA of BRCA‐mutated cell lines. See the following related publications: S. Bonham, L. O’Donovan, M. P. Carty, F. Aldabbagh, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2011, 9, 6700‐6706. K. Fahey, M. P. Carty, F. Aldabbagh et al., Eur. J. Med. Chem., 2010, 45, 1873‐1879. L. O’Donovan, M. P. Carty, F. Aldabbagh, Chem. Commun., 2008, 5592‐5594. Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway: The School of Chemistry has state‐of‐the‐art synthetic laboratory and analytical facilities (500 & 600 MHz NMR, mass, X‐ray, IR and UV‐spectrometry & automated chromatography systems). Training will be provided on use of all equipment and analysis of data produced. The proposed research is inter‐disciplinary, and training is also provided in tissue culture and DNA‐
damage response techniques. The School of Chemistry operates a structured PhD programme as well as producing the research thesis, PhD students take extra courses in order to improve personal and professional skills which Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras
are relevant to employment in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Aldabbagh has supervised 18 PhDs to completion since 2004, and timely completion (within 4 years) of this productive PhD is expected. Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above: Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply: Chemistry or pharmacy or pharmaceutical science and/or related disciplines Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area: Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits‐ choose only one (tick box): Engineering and other technological areas Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)
Health and Biomedical Sciences Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
Aerospace Pharmaceuticals 
Oil, Gas and Coal Renewable Energy Minerals Biotechnology Nanotechnology and New Materials Technology of prevention and remediation of natural disasters
Biodiversity and Bioprospection Marine Sciences Creative Industry New technologies in constructive engineering
Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): No, collaboration with Brazil colleagues also considered. Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): Yes Suitable for either: Yes Has project been agreed with head (or nominee) of proposed registration school? Yes