ÉîÒ¹¸£Àû¹ú²ú¾«Æ·

Biography

Professor Helen Hailes MRSC is the Alexander Williamson Professor of ÉîÒ¹¸£Àû¹ú²ú¾«Æ· at University College London. Helen obtained her BA in chemistry (natural sciences) and PhD in biological chemistry from the University of Cambridge, then pursued post-doctoral work at Cambridge, and at Imperial College London. In 1994 she joined the Department of ÉîÒ¹¸£Àû¹ú²ú¾«Æ· at University College London as a lecturer, then became a senior lecturer, then reader, and in 2010 she was promoted to a Professor of Chemical Biology. In 2023 she became the first female Alexander Williamson Professor of ÉîÒ¹¸£Àû¹ú²ú¾«Æ·.

Helen’s research team focuses on developing sustainable synthetic methods using biocatalysts in single-step reactions and multi-step cascades. Activities include biocatalyst discovery using functional metagenomics approaches and the use of a range of C–C, C–N and C–O bond forming enzymes, and redox enzymes. Combination of these into smart biocatalytic cascades is a particularly efficient method for molecular assembly which she is exploring. A recent focus has been the use of biomass waste as a sustainable starting material to produce higher value compounds. Also, the enzymatic degradation of plastics for molecular recycling and upcycling and applications with different materials. Other research interests include the design and synthesis of new lipid conjugates for nanoparticle delivery and the synthesis of chemotherapeutics as anti-tuberculosis agents.

Helen has been an active member of the Royal Society of ÉîÒ¹¸£Àû¹ú²ú¾«Æ· throughout her career, with active roles on several organic chemistry and chemical biology committees, and she has (co)organised several conferences.

Collaborations in my area of research are absolutely key, mainly because we can’t be experts in everything, and so the most effective route to solving a problem is doing it together as a team.

Helen Hailes

Q&A

Can you tell us more about your work?

My research has chemistry at its core, combined with diverse disciplines such as biotechnology, molecular biology, engineering, materials, pharmacy and medical therapies. By working together, we are finding workable solutions to make chemicals using more sustainable methods and using waste to produce materials and compounds for use in drug synthesis. By working together as a team tackling big problems, we continue to broaden our skills and identify innovative solutions.

Who or what first sparked your interest in chemistry, and how has that interest evolved over time? 

I always enjoyed maths and the sciences at school, but it was at university where I became most interested in chemistry. With an inspirational tutor, Jim Staunton, organic chemistry just started to click and become rather logical.

Subsequent to this, I did my PhD with Jim on polyketide biosynthesis – he was an outstanding scientist and very supportive of women in chemistry. With that encouragement I went on to broaden my skills during my postdoctoral years and when I joined UCL my interests evolved into using enzymes in synthesis. With collaborations with colleagues, we focused on assembling a range of molecules using enzymes and as a team bridged fundamental enzymology with synthesis and bioprocessing for scale up. Key to this success was getting on with colleagues in other disciplines and learning new skills.

What have been the biggest challenges that you have faced over the course of your time in science, and what have you learned from those experiences? 

The early years of my career were not always easy juggling a young family and a challenging job. Having confidence in what you do, working hard, and collaborating with people that you get on with helped me through that stage.

Thinking back to earlier in your career, are there any words of wisdom that you wish someone had told you? 

Don’t believe anyone who tells you that your ideas are rubbish and you won’t succeed!

What impact would you say that your work is having on your field and/or the wider world? 

The field of biocatalysis in synthesis is now well established in industry and academia – certainly much more that it was in the early 2000s. I believe our work has contributed significantly to this, with enzymes we have discovered and their uses being adopted by industry, and enzyme discovery strategies being used by others. Moreover, there is significant interest in plastic degrading enzymes and applications to tackle different plastic waste streams – this is an area that is currently expanding rapidly.

What future directions or opportunities do you see for your work? 

Many as the area is still growing – waste utilisation will be an important area into the future to avoid reliance on crude oil for chemicals and materials production.

How important would you say collaboration is for producing high-quality science? How has collaboration influenced your work? 

Collaborations in my area of research are absolutely key, mainly because we can’t be experts in everything, and so the most effective route to solving a problem is doing it together as a team. Sure, you will be unlikely to understand the details in all areas, but this does not stop you from asking pertinent questions to help solve big challenges. The key to a good collaboration is getting on well as the team, being respectful to all, and treating everyone equitably.