(Pharmaceutical Chemistry MSci, 2019)
Being among the first generation in my family to go university is quite a proud feeling, for myself and my family. All of the hard work my parents have put into raising me and encouraging me to pursue my dreams has been brought to fruition.
Why did you choose to study MSci Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Queen Mary? From a young age, I was fascinated by the effects of medicinal drugs, such as painkillers/anaesthetics, upon individuals and thus became intrigued by the impact of drugs on bodily systems. To broaden my knowledge around this area, I undertook a work experience placement at a local pharmacy which gave me exposure to the influence and distribution of drugs to the public. My curiosity to learn more about the operational activities of drugs fundamentally kindled my interest in the pharmaceutical industry. My desire to learn about the pharmacodynamics (the way drugs act on the body) and pharmacokinetics (what the body does to the drug) led me to undertake a degree in MSci Pharmaceutical Chemistry.
Moreover, Queen Mary appealed to me as it is a reputable Russell Group University in London. It was also one of the few universities that provided the option of choosing this course as a Masters, which is something I knew I wanted to do from Day 1.Which modules did you most enjoy and did any academics have a strong influence on shaping your time and studies at Queen Mary?Basic Biochemistry (Year 1), Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Year 2), Advanced Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Year 3) and Drug Design and Development (Year 4) were modules I thoroughly enjoyed. During these modules I was able to learn about receptors, the different types of drugs that bind to these receptors and about their mechanism of action. From this, I learnt about how our understanding of drugs can be used in drug design and development to elicit certain therapeutic effects. I also really enjoyed my Pharmaceutical Chemistry MSci Research Project in Year 4 as I was able to put the theory I learnt into practice.Dr Lesley Howell had a very strong influence during my studies. She first taught me during the second semester of my second year and she taught with such passion and enthusiasm that it was infectious. The way in which she was able to teach us through simplifying complex concepts was also very helpful. She really cared for her students and this was evident through her well-prepared lectures as well as her continuous support throughout the years, which is something that I am truly grateful for.
My PhD research could help contribute towards diseases such as Parkinson’s and Dementia, targeting obesity, and the treatment of osteoarthritis, a disease that currently has no cure.
Queen Mary prides itself on ‘opening the doors of opportunity’ for all students and you are proud to be among the first generation in your family to go to university. What does this mean to you as an individual and to your family? Being among the first generation in my family to go university is quite a proud feeling, for myself and my family. It provides a sense of achievement as all the hard work my parents have put into raising me and encouraging me to pursue my dreams has been brought to fruition. I feel fortunate that I was able to go to university and make my parents proud. My family have played an instrumental role as they have been so supportive of me throughout my journey – they really have been my rock. Without them, I would not have made it this far for sure.What advice would you give to prospective students based on your experience?Stay organised! One thing I realised during university is that one moment you have hardly any work to do, whereas the next, you feel like you are drowning. Staying organised (using calendars, for instance) will help space out your work evenly, allowing you to meet deadlines but also enjoy the social aspect of your university experience.During your time at university, try and get some experience related to what career you would like to pursue. For example, if you see yourself working in a lab, ask one of your lecturers if they have any lab work you could do during the holidays – you’ll be amazed by how much work experience you can get from simply asking your lecturers.Following on from my previous point, don’t be afraid to ask for help! New experiences can be scary as there will be a lot of things you don’t know about. However, you’ll be surprised to see that a lot of people are going through the same experiences, so don’t feel shy to ask your tutor, your lecturers, or even some of your peers.You are currently undertaking your PhD at the William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI). What or who inspired you to continue your journey with us?The thought of undertaking a PhD never crossed my mind. I always thought that after I gain my MSci Pharmaceutical Chemistry qualification I would start applying for jobs. My current PhD supervisor, Dr Peter J. McCormick, ultimately inspired me to do a PhD. I did my MSci research project at the WHRI under Dr Peter J. McCormick’s supervision in his research group. It was during this period that Peter saw me work within the pharmacology lab (despite only ever having worked in a chemistry lab before) and he saw potential in me to pursue a PhD. I remember refusing at first as I knew it was a huge commitment and I wasn’t sure if I had what it takes.
Eventually though, after Peter’s persistent encouragement, I began to believe that I had the potential as I was really enjoying the research I was conducting in the lab for my research project. The opportunity to gain another qualification whilst continuing this type of research was too big to deny and it was after this realisation that I agreed.What is the focus of your current research and how did you decide upon this particular area of study?The focus of my current research involves investigating allosteric sites, allosteric modulators, and allosteric interactions of different G Protein-Coupled Receptors to help target specific receptors/pathways implicated in diseases. Allosteric sites are binding regions found on a receptor that are distinct to the typical site where a ligand would bind. Allosteric modulators are ligands that bind to the allosteric site and interactions that occur between the allosteric site and modulators are termed as allosteric interactions. It was during my MSci Research Project at the WHRI that I was exposed to the concept of allosterism. I found the idea of targeting specific receptors through exploiting a different site on a receptor fascinating, hence why I believed it would be a great theme to explore within my research.
My research is currently composed of exploring allosterism of three individual receptors/pathways. The first is investigating the allosteric site of the Dopamine 2 (D2) receptor, a receptor that is a validated drug target in both neurology and psychiatry. Secondly, it involves investigating an allosteric modulator that was identified in our lab that binds to the 5-HT2c receptor, a receptor involved in energy homeostasis and an important target for obesity. The last part of my research involves investigating the allosteric interactions made in Wnt signalling. This is one of the signalling pathways implicated in osteoarthritis.What will be some of the practical implications of your research? By exploring the theme of allosterism through either targeting allosteric sites, modulators, or interactions, we can target specific receptors/pathways, thereby reducing the likelihood of off-target side effects whilst producing the desired therapeutic effect.Selectively targeting the D2 receptor through exploiting the allosteric site could open a plethora of opportunities for designing selective allosteric modulators that could be used in the treatment of CNS disorders. My research could help contribute towards diseases such as Parkinson’s and Dementia.Targeting the 5-HT2c receptor through investigating allosteric modulators that bind to its allosteric site would contribute towards research into targeting obesity. Previous interventions have been shown as being unsuccessful due to the several off-target side effects experienced. By designing allosteric modulators that can bind to allosteric sites of the 5-HT2c receptor, we can reduce the likelihood of such side effects, which would be advantageous for therapeutic drugs to treat obesity.Finally, understanding the several allosteric interactions that occur within the Wnt signalling pathways would contribute towards research into the treatment of osteoarthritis, a disease that currently has no cure.
My journey at Queen Mary has taught me to push myself to achieve my full potential by seizing every learning opportunity I get, even when it seems impossible.
What are your short-term and long-term career aspirations once you finish your degree?Once I finish my degree, I aspire to work in the pharmaceutical industry! It would allow me to apply the skills I have learnt in academia to an industrial setting but also allow me to learn new skills. Most importantly, working in the pharmaceutical industry will enable me to make significant contributions towards helping other individuals.What has been special about your Queen Mary journey so far? My whole journey in the multicultural environment of Queen Mary has been so rewarding as it has given me so many new experiences to learn new things.Marissa Mayer once said, ‘If you are the smartest person in the room, then you need to get out as you are in the wrong room’. To me, I interpret this as a person can only really succeed when you feel you have something new to get out of every experience you get. My journey at Queen Mary has really enforced this idea as it has taught me to push myself to achieve my full potential by seizing every learning opportunity I get, even when it seems impossible.Personally, I believe I have also grown as a person. I have learnt a lot about my own personality, something that I never really thought too much about previously. It has allowed me to identify my strengths and work on my weaknesses.Finally, outside of work, what do you do in your spare time? I love going to new places, socialising and creating new experiences! This could simply be going to new cafes that have opened around London, exploring new locations in/around London, or attending different events.
If you would like to get in touch with Amandeep or engage her in your work, please contact the Alumni Engagement team at alumni@qmul.ac.uk.