Prof. Tom Brown

Prof. Tom Brown

Group leader

Tom Brown is Professor of Nucleic Acid Chemistry at Oxford University. He works on applications of nucleic acids in biology and medicine (mainly diagnostics and therapeutics). He is co-inventor of technologies for genetic analysis and co-founder of three Biotech companies: Oswel (custom oligonucleotide synthesis) ATDBio (synthesis of modified oligonucleotides) and Primer Design (DNA-based diagnostics). He has published over 450 research papers and patents. Awards include the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Josef Loschmidt prize, the Royal Society of Chemistry prizes for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and for Interdisciplinary Research. Tom was Chemistry World (Royal Society of Chemistry) entrepreneur of the year in 2014 and BBSRC Innovator of the Year in 2016.

Curriculum vitae

Personal

Date of Birth 10th November 1952
Nationality British

ACADEMY MEMBERSHIPS

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE)

CURRENT POSITION

Professor of Nucleic Acid Chemistry, University of Oxford

PREVIOUS POSITIONS

1995-2013 Professor of Chemical Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Southampton
1985-1995 Lecturer, Reader, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Edinburgh University

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

1992 Royal Society of Edinburgh MakDougall-Brisbane Prize for scientific research
1992 Royal Society of Chemistry Josef Loschmidt Award for organic chemistry
1993 Royal Society of Edinburgh Caledonian Research Fellowship
2004 Royal Society Leverhulme Senior Research Fellowship
2007 Royal Society of Chemistry Medal for Nucleic Acids Chemistry
2009 Royal Society of Chemistry Interdisciplinary Prize
2014 Royal Society of Chemistry Entrepreneur of the Year
2016 Oxford University lifetime award for external engagement and promoting impact
2016 BBSRC commercial Innovator of the Year and Overall Innovator of the Year

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS

1985-2021 > 60 Postdocs, >80 PhD students.

ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

Co-Chair 7th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress, Liverpool, UK, 2018 “Molecular frontiers and global challenges.” 1500 delegates from 60 countries (largest European General Chemistry conference).

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

2016-2021 Head of Research and Associate Head of Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford.

REVIEWING/COMMITTEE ACTIVITIESS

2014-2017 Member of CRUK multidisciplinary research grant reviewing committee
Current BBSRC Pool of experts
Current EPSRC College member

EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS

2006-2010 Chair of EPSRC Senior and Advanced Chemistry Fellowships Panel
2006-2010 Member of BBSRC Biomolecular Sciences committee (BMS)
2014-2017 President, RSC Chemistry and Biology Interface Division
Until 2019 Editorial Board member Chemistry World Journal
Until 2019 Editor-in-Chief RSC Book Series on Chemical Biology
2015-2019 Member of BBSRC Strategic Advisory Panel “Exploring new ways of working.”
2018-2021 RSC Review of Recognition advisory committee.