Professor Babur Chowdhry BSc Hons, PhD

Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry

Key details

Babur Chowdhry

Professor Babur Z Chowdhry

Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry

Professor Babur Chowdhry obtained a BSc Hons Chemistry/Biochemistry in 1976 from Chelsea College (London University), followed by a PhD Biophysical Chemistry at the same institution in 1980. From 1980–84 he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Chemistry, Yale University, USA.

His post-doctoral work centred on experimental thermodynamics using, among other techniques, high sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry. Much of the work involved detailed calorimetric studies in the burgeoning areas of liposome phase transitions and protein denaturation.

Professor Chowdhry joined the School of Sciences at the University of Greenwich in 1985 as a lecturer in chemistry, biochemistry and biotechnology and was appointed to the Foundation Chair of Biochemistry in 1993.

Biology and biomedical science Chemistry Science

Responsibilities within the university

Professor Babur Chowdhry represents the School of Science on the Research Degrees Committee (RDC) of the University of Greenwich, and is deputy co-chair of the RDC.

Professor Chowdhry teaches on a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

Undergraduate participation

  • Analytical and Advanced Protein Biochemistry (course leader)
  • Fundamentals of Biochemistry
  • Metabolism and Disease
  • Bioanalytical Techniques
  • Physiology and Pharmacology
  • Drug Design and Delivery
  • Immunology
  • Advanced Physical Chemistry
  • Research Project
  • Biological Science

Postgraduate participation

  • MSc Biotechnology
  • MSc Pharmaceutical Science

MPhil/PhD supervision

  • Zakieh Al Kurdi

Refereeing for Journals

Reviewer for scientific journals ( Langmuir; J. Phys. Chem., Thermochimica Acta., J. Pharm. Sci., Biochem. J., J. Raman Spectrosc., Chem. Phys., PCCP, Analytical Bioanalytical Chemistry)

Organization of International/National Scientific Conferences

  1. International Thermodynamics Conference :"Biocalorimetry": St Annes College, Oxford University (September 10-12, 1996); 210 delegates.
    Co-organized by Prof. J. E. Ladbury and Microcal Ltd
    Plenary lecture: "High Sensitivity Differential Scanning Calorimetry Studies of Biopolymeric Systems"
    Additional output: a monograph of review lectures (refer to edited monographs: "Publications").
  2. Calorimetry Conference: August 12-17, 1998 (Asilomar, California, USA): "Calorimetry of Biomolecules".
  3. International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy (ICORS) co-organizer (with Prof. R. Withnall): August 21-26, 2008. This is the premier Raman conference in the world, held bi-annually, and attracted 651 delegates from around the globe (51 countries).
    Additional output: a monograph (refer to edited monographs: "Publications").

Recognition

Affiliation to national bodies

  • EPSRC College Member (1998-2013)
  • Chemistry Board
  • Chemistry/Biology Interface Board
  • Panel member (2008): UK Universities Equipment Board (EPSRC)
  • Panel member (2008): UK Universities Central Facilities Board (EPSRC)
  • Board Member: North American Calorimetry Conference: 1996-1999.

Research / Scholarly interests

Research collaborations and consultancy

Professor Chowdhry welcomes:

  • Scientific collaborations, particularly in the areas of spectroscopy and thermal analysis, from both a blue skies (knowledge base) point of view and an applied (industrial) perspective. Possible research collaborations in areas such as medicinal chemistry, chemical biology and a general analytical chemistry/ biochemistry perspective are also of significant scientific interest.
  • Consultancy in the broad areas/themes of scientific research. Interested individuals/organizations are encouraged to view the wide range of expertise, wet and instrumental analysis methods/techniques available in the School of Science.
  • Key research activities can be viewed here [pdf download]

Research activities

  • Experimental and theoretical studies of drugs/organic molecules using spectroscopic techniques: X-ray crystallography, XRPD, NMR, CD, FT-IR, and Raman spectroscopy including SERS/SERRS.
  • Experimental and theoretical thermodynamic studies-using calorimetric techniques - of e.g. drugs, biopolymers [proteins; nucleic acids, lipid systems (liposomes), biopolymer-drug interactions nanoparticles (microgels) and organic synthetic polymers.

Synopsis of scientific activities

  • Publications in refereed journals: 180
  • Co-Editor: 4 monographs
  • Postdoctoral students supervised: 5
  • PhD students supervised: 27
  • MSc research projects supervised: 51
  • MRes students: 8.

Current postgraduate research students

  • 1 Masters
  • 6 PhD
  • 2 Postdoctoral Researchers.

Recent publications

Article

Dadou, Suha M. , El-Barghouthi, Musa I., Alabdallah, Samer K., Badwan, Adnan A. , Antonijevic, Milan D. , Chowdhry, Babur (2017), Effect of protonation state and N-acetylation of chitosan on its interaction with xanthan gum: a molecular dynamics simulation study. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Marine Drugs, 15: 298 (10) ISSN: 1660-3397 (Print), 1660-3397 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/md15100298) NB Item availability restricted.

Owusu-Ware, Samuel K. , Chowdhry, Babur Z., Leharne, Stephen A., Antonijevic, Milan D. (2016), Phase behaviour of dehydrated phosphatidylcholines. Springer US. In: , , , . Springer US, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 127 (1) . pp. 415-421 ISSN: 1388-6150 (Print), 1572-8943 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-5957-x) NB Item availability restricted.

Maniruzzaman, Mohammed , Farias, Smirna, Slipper, Ian J., Boateng, Joshua S. , Chowdhry, Babur Z. , Nair, Arun , Douroumis, Dennis (2016), Development and optimization of ketoconazole oral strips by means of continuous hot-melt extrusion processing. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 68 (7) . pp. 890-900 ISSN: 0022-3573 (Print), 2042-7158 (Online) (doi: http://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12569) NB Item availability restricted.

Scoutaris, Nikolaos , Chai, Feng, Blandine, Maurel, Sobocinski, Jonathan , Zhao, Min , Moffat, Jonathan G. , Craig, Duncan Q. , Martel, Bernard , Blanchemain, Nicolas , Douroumis, Dennis (2016), Development and biological evaluation of Iinkjet printed drug coatings on intravascular stent. American Chemical Society. In: , , , . American Chemical Society, Molecular Pharmaceutics, 13 (1) . pp. 125-133 ISSN: 1543-8384 (Print), 1543-8392 (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5b00570).

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