Question: What is your proudest moment in science? and have you ever made a chemical that has been successful and if so, what was the chemical and what does it help with?

Robert Hampson answered on 18 Nov 2014:

Finally reaching the end of a chemical synthesis with a lot of difficult steps is always rewarding. I’ve managed it three times so far.

Of these classes of chemical, one of them has been successful in reducing the activity of my target. It does it in a different way to how we expected. Unfortunately it is still quite weak and has someother problems. I am changing the molecule slightly to try and improve its characteristics.

If ths molecule was finally successful and became a drug, it would prevent MRSA releasing chemicals which make you ill and prevent your immune system working properly. If this is prevented, it should be safe for the immune system to clear the infection on its own, without requiring antibiotics to kill the bacteria.