Professor Stephen Neidle is a distinguished chemical biologist whose pioneering work has significantly advanced the field of nucleic acid structure and drug design. He currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Chemical Biology and CRUK Professorial Fellow at the UCL School of Pharmacy, where he has been a leading figure since 2002. Educated at Imperial College London, he earned his BSc, PhD, and DSc in Chemistry, establishing the foundation for his future contributions to structural biology. His career trajectory included significant appointments at King's College London and the Institute of Cancer Research, where he was appointed to the Chair of Biophysics in 1990 and subsequently served as Academic Dean from 1997 to 2002 before transitioning to his role at UCL.
Professor Neidle's groundbreaking research has focused on the structural characterization of nucleic acids and their interactions with therapeutic compounds, particularly advancing the understanding of DNA quadruplex structures. His work has led to the development of novel therapeutic agents, most notably Ridinilazole, an innovative antibiotic for Clostridium difficile infection that successfully completed phase III clinical trials. With over 500 published papers and 14 patents to his name, his contributions span from fundamental structural studies of anticancer drugs like doxorubicin to the rational design of targeted therapeutics. His high-resolution structural analyses of nucleic acid-drug complexes have provided critical insights that inform modern drug discovery approaches, particularly in oncology and infectious disease treatment.
Beyond his direct research contributions, Professor Neidle has significantly influenced the field through his mentorship of numerous scientists and his role in establishing structural biology as a cornerstone of rational drug design. His thirty-plus year career demonstrates a consistent commitment to translating fundamental structural insights into clinically relevant therapeutic approaches, bridging the gap between basic science and medical application. Currently, his research continues to focus on innovative cancer therapeutics and amyloid-related diseases, building upon his extensive expertise in nucleic acid structure and molecular recognition. He remains actively engaged in the scientific community as a CRUK Professorial Fellow, contributing his decades of experience to guide the next generation of chemical biologists toward developing novel therapeutic interventions.
