`Make my molecule': research chemicals on tap on campus

Synthetic chemicals for creating new medicines, materials and technologies will be manufactured on the University of Auckland campus in response to rocketing demand.

Supported by seed funding from the University, Dr Sung Hyun Yang will make peptides, proteins, and small molecules in the Harris Peptide Laboratory in the School of Biological Sciences.

University of Auckland researchers are the first priority, but scientists at other universities can use the service and the ultimate goal is to serve allcomers.

“We were being swamped with requests for molecules,” says Associate Professor Paul Harris, who co-invented the molecule Daybue which ultimately became an FDA-approved treatment for the genetic disorder Rett Syndrome.

The myriad health uses of synthetic peptides include anti-cancer treatments, infectious disease, diabetes and pain management.

“The sheer scale of the demand over the past 18 months outstripped our resources and hence the decision to set up a dedicated platform,” says Harris. “The advantage of being local and not overseas is the in-person contact.”

Yang is a veteran synthetic chemist who has been at the University for 20 years as student and scientist and is described by Harris as “our molecule making machine”.

"We are excited to launch this service and meet the growing demand for molecule synthesis," says Yang. “We can help to advance science in New Zealand.”