GREat Medway Talks – The next generation of biological drugs

The next in the series of Great Talks at Medway delivered by the Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University of Greenwich at Medway takes place on Wednesday 15th January 2020 and is titled “The next generation of biological drugs: hacking code, lock and keys.  The lecture is presented by Dr Simon Richardson and Benedita Feron from the School of Science.

The biological world is defined by a four letter code within DNA.  The effects of this code are indirect, which makes understanding it or even describing its influence difficult.    Since the structure of DNA was published in 1953, we have begun to understand how to read this information.  Several Nobel prizes aside, this knowledge has enabled the sequencing of the human genome, which is the documentation of the code responsible for every function inside a cell.  To make use of this information we need to understand how the proteins encoded by the genome interact and function, as this defines both normal biological processes and pathology.

This talk is aimed at exploring gene-editing technologies, i.e. our newfound ability to edit the code.  We will discuss current limitations and divorce fact from fiction.  What are the dangers and benefits this technology brings to society at large?  Who should regulate this technology and how far away from it being a clinical reality are we?

Dr Simon Richardson is the Reader of Drug Delivery and Membrane Trafficking at the University of Greenwich and runs the Exogenix laboratory within the School of Science.

Benedita Feron is co-inventor of the recent intellectual property developed by the Exogenix laboratory.  Publications can be found on Google Scholar (site for searching scholarly literature)  or ResearchGate (European commercial social networking site for scientists and researchers).

This talk will be held in the Wardroom, Pembroke Building on the Medway Campus.  It starts at 6 pm and will be followed by light refreshments.

This series of talks are free of charge and very popular.  Admission is by registration only and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.  To register a place call 01634 883495 or email: 

There is free parking on campus after 5 pm arrival.