Prof. Zoë Waller
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drzoewaller.bsky.social
Prof. Zoë Waller
@drzoewaller.bsky.social
Professor in Drug Discovery at UCL School of Pharmacy. Mum of 3. Researching. Lecturing. Chemistry. Pharmacy. DNA. RNA. i-Motif. G-Quadruplex. Cycling. Commuting. Legs. Shoes.
Dr Chris Morris and I have a new paper in Nucleic Acids Research.

This paper has been a long time in the making & was affected by COVID so we are proud to have it published!

@shozebhaider.bsky.social
@effrosynialexandr.bsky.social
@chriswaudby.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Affinity-selected peptide ligands specifically bind i-motif DNA and modulate c-Myc gene expression
Abstract. c-Myc is an oncogene that is dysregulated in ∼70% of cancers. Its multifaceted function complicates effective drug targeting of the protein. i-Mo
academic.oup.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Congratulations to Yaxuan for passing your upgrade viva - many thanks to @cjserpell.bsky.social and Chris Morris for examining
November 6, 2025 at 8:06 PM
In my sadness that Irregular Choice is going out of business I'm making more effort to wear my collection - today are black flats with Queen and Corgi #irregularchoice
October 17, 2025 at 9:25 AM
DNA docs and Halloween vibes today ✨️
October 16, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Green tomato or mitochondrion?
October 15, 2025 at 6:20 PM
DNA dress on today!
October 8, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
In memoriam...
October 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
Primatologist Jane Goodall's recent passing left an incredible legacy that transformed our understanding of chimpanzee behavior and intelligence. New insights show that great apes use medicinal plants to treat wounds like humans. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪
Chimpanzees use the same plants we do to treat similar illnesses
A new review of recent studies shows the great apes rely on medicinal plants to heal infections, but the plants’ chemistry remains mostly a mystery
cen.acs.org
October 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
A study found that at cellular concentrations of magnesium, the Cas9 enzyme often nicks only one strand—and this small cut is enough to defend against phages. cen.acs.org/biological-c... #chemsky 🧪
Low magnesium dulls Cas9 molecular scissors
But even when the CRISPR-Cas system is less efficient, it’s still enough to protect against phages
cen.acs.org
October 3, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
From finding a "universal language" in science, to comedy, conferences and following her passion, Prof Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu @ucllifesciences.bsky.social tells BBC World Service about her fascinating path to becoming a pioneer of pharmaceutical nanoscience and champion for race equality
Outlook - One suitcase, three kids: a broke scientist pursues a dream - BBC Sounds
Once a homeless single mum, Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is now a nanomedicine pioneer
www.bbc.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
Gain insights into regulatory affairs by learning from professionals who work in this field. Hear about their career journeys, their roles, & the skills needed to work in this sector – plus you’ll have the chance to ask questions. Attendance is free for RSC members: https://rsc.li/3IAEnWv #ChemSky
October 3, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
Thanks to @jesspanch.bsky.social at Trends in Chemistry for handling this review article on DNA-peptide self-assembly which is just out. This outlook is going to frame some more papers you'll see coming out my lab over the next year or so.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Self-assembly of (poly)peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates: from orthogonality to emergence
Peptides and DNA both display characteristic self-assembly motifs which underpin the spectacularly varied and functional nanostructures of biology. Ea…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Meeting Tutees from Drug Discovery and Development today!
October 3, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
It's #ChemNobel season again!

Surely this year should go to the most important chemical breakthrough of our lifetimes: DNA synthesis/Marvin Caruthers 🧬

Phosphoramidite DNA synthesis is the bedrock of modern biology and enabled the development of therapies for untreatable diseases
#chemsky 🧪
It's Chem Nobel Prize season, so your reminder that DNA synthesis/Marvin Caruthers needs to win! chemsky 🧪

Without DNA synthesis there is NO *PCR*, *sequencing*, *cloning*, *CRISPR*, *siRNA*, *synthetic biology*, *mRNA vaccines*, *nucleic acid therapeutics*, *Nanotech*

What more am I missing?
October 1, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Twenty years today I started my PhD - tempus fugit
a clock that has the hands on the numbers 10 and 12
ALT: a clock that has the hands on the numbers 10 and 12
media.tenor.com
October 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Congratulations to Dilek to getting a position as a Lecturer! It's not goodbye - just a pivot from Postdoc to collaborator ❤️
September 30, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
The fabulous Naked Scientists have just produced a podcast episode about colour in art, a topic about which I was of course delighted to speak to them.
www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/nak...
Painting: where art meets science
The chemistry behind the craft...
www.thenakedscientists.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
It gets earlier every year... Next Wednesday, join me and an expert panel to discuss who might win the 2025 #ChemNobel. Free to attend.

Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 2–3 PM ET

Register here: lnkd.in/eD8cdWRS
September 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller
Early career researchers or PhD students, could £500 develop your career?

Our Researcher Development and Travel Grant can help you organise a scientific meeting and more.

Apply by 20 October: https://rsc.li/4gB2D7s

#ChemSky
September 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Reading comments on a post and someone spelled Acetone *Assitone* and now I only want to spell it this way #chemsky
September 26, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Matching in a different way today #Docs #leopardprint
September 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
More matching the platform yesterday #Docs #snag
September 26, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Congratulations to all the recent promotions in the school of Pharmacy
September 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Happy World Pharmacist Day folks
September 25, 2025 at 5:35 PM