National undergraduate industrial placement showcase 2023

Luca Carlino obtained his Doctoral degree in Medicinal Chemistry in 2014 under the supervision of Professor Wolfgang Sippl at the University of Halle/Saale, Germany. Luca’s studies were mainly focused on the discovery, using computational techniques, of novel inhibitors of epigenetic targets. In 2015 he moved to the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy, where he earned a postdoctoral position for the identification of anticancer drugs based on kinase inhibitors with innovative mechanisms of action. One year later he moved to Charles River Laboratory, UK, where he worked as computational chemist providing CADD support and solutions for several projects commissioned by pharmaceutical companies, universities and no-profit research organisation. In June 2020, Luca joined AstraZeneca, UK, where he is currently working as senior scientist in the oncology early discovery department.

Paul obtained his MChem and PhD degrees from the University of Liverpool. Paul’s PhD in synthetic methodology and catalysis was carried out under the supervision of Professor Jianlaing Xiao whom, along with two more group members, cofounded LCC in 2014. Since then, Paul has led the company through international growth and development accelerated by several million pounds of venture capital support. LCC now employs ~30 people in the North-West and has supported >150 companies with their small molecule drug discovery and development projects, more specifically within the hit identification and lead optimisation stages of medicinal chemistry. Paul has been a SCI Mentor for the past 2 years and is a passionate supporter of early career development efforts within life sciences.