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Dr Mahendra Deonarain

Dr Deonarain obtained a first class degree in Biochemistry at Imperial College in 1988, and went on to Cambridge University where he carried out research into enzyme protein engineering, and was awarded a PhD in 1991.

Dr Deonarain's interests in antibody therapeutics started when he was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) Oncology Unit (Headed by Prof. Karol Sikora), at the Hammersmith Hospital campus of the Imperial College Medical
School. In the Tumour Targeting Laboratory (Headed by Prof. Agamemnon Epenetos), he led the development of a number of antibody based therapeutic molecules that have been patented ('Targeted Apoptosis').

He continued his work at the ICRF unit for 4 years, with additional funding from a fellowship from the Lloyds of London Tercentenary Foundation. In 1996, he was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at Imperial College and set up a research group working on the development of recombinant antibodies for therapy.

Much of the work started at the ICRF is being continued in his laboratory, including the Targeted Apoptosis project, which is part of a major collaboration with Antisoma Research plc. Other research interests include development of novel high affinity antibodies from libraries
and gene delivery.

Dr Deonarain runs courses in and teaches molecular biology, protein engineering and enzymology and has published more than 30 papers in the area of protein and antibody
engineering. He is funded by the Medical Research Council, BBSRC, Lipoxen Technologies Ltd
and Antisoma plc. He is on the editorial board for journals such as Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents and the International Journal of Tumour Targeting. Recently he was awarded the 'Young Biotechnologist 2001" award by the London Biotechnology Network, part of the London First organisation.

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