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Staff Profile

Professor Paul Race

Professor of Biotechnology

  • Email: paul.race1@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 4852
  • Address: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
    Devonshire Building
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    Â鶹´«Ã½ upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU, UK
Background

B.Sc Microbiology, University of Leeds

Ph.D Biochemistry, University of Birmingham

PDRA, Institute of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Â鶹´«Ã½

Royal Society URF, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol

Senior Lecturer, Reader, then Professor of Biological Chemistry, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol

Professor of Biotechnology, Natural and Environmental Sciences, Â鶹´«Ã½

Research

Structural enzymology, natural product biosynthesis and industrial biotechnology

My lab are interested in all aspects of microbial natural product (bio)chemistry from discovery to applications. This includes the isolation and characterisation of natural products from microbes that inhabit 'extreme' environmental niches, e.g., the depths of the ocean, along with elucidation of the structures and functions of the often elaborate multi-enzyme pathways that assemble these complex molecules in nature. We have a particular fondness for antimicrobial natural product drug discovery. We are highly interdisciplinary in our approach and the lab includes a mix of microbiologists, chemists, biochemists, bioinformaticians and structural biologists. Our work benefits from significant national, international and industrial collaboration. We also have more than a passing interest in microbial virulence, in particular cell surface proteins from streptococci and the development of polymeric (bio)materials.

Complete list of publications

Funding

BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, InnovateUK, MRF, DSTL, Wellcome Trust, CONACyT, Royal Society and Industry.

Examples of some other things that keep me busy...

Director of Molecular Life Sciences (2023-present); Committee Member (2013-present), elected Treasurer (2016-2023), Chairman (2023-present) and Felix Franks Medal committee member (2019-present), RSC Biotechnology Group; Pool (2020-2023) then Core member (2023-present), BBSRC Committee D; Member, EPSRC Peer Review College (2016-present); Panel member (Biochemistry) The Italian Ministry of Education Universities and Research (2018-present); External examiner, B.Sc Biochemistry, B.Sc Biochemistry with Year in Industry and M.Sci Biochemistry, University of Warwick, UK (2021-present); Editor, Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2016-present); Advisor to the UK Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology, National Engineering Biology Project (2022-2023); Cofounder (2017), non-Executive Director (2017-2023) and Scientific Advisor, (2017-present) Zentraxa Ltd; drinking craft beer and running ultramarathons (though not at the same time); etc.

Teaching

Contributions to:

NES1303 

NES1504

NES3309

NES8002

Publications

  • Articles

    • Williams SE, Stennett HL, Devine AJ, Song Z, Back CR, Wang L, Mantell J, Neal C, Jepson MA, Essex-Lopresti AE, Sellars JD, Stach JEM, Willis CL, Curnow P, Race PR. . Applied and Environmental Microbiology 2026, 92(3), e01877-25.
    • Keenan L, Younger RL, Race PR, Bawn M. . Emerging Topics in Life Sciences 2025, 9(2), 35-45.
    • Williams SE, Faurdal D, Jorgensen TS, Back CR, Rooms LD, Hayes MA, Willis CL, Stach JEM, Curnow P, Race PR. . Microbiology Resource Announcements 2025, 14(2).
    • Russell SJ, Back CR, Perry C, Cheung KA, Maschio L, Charlton SN, Lees NR, Manzo-Ruiz M, Hayes MA, van der Kamp MW, Race PR, Willis CL. . Chemical Science 2025, 16(36), 16993-16999.
    • Costa F, Riziotis I, Andreeva A, Kalwan D, de Jong J, Hinchliffe P, Parmeggiani F, Race PR, Burston SG, Bateman A, Barringer R. . Protein Science 2025, 34(12), e70342.
    • Maddock RMA, Marsh CO, Johns ST, Rooms LD, Duke PW, van der Kamp MW, Stach JEM, Race PR. . Extremophiles 2024, 28(3), 42.
    • Williams SE, Varliero G, Lurgi M, Stach JEM, Race PR, Curnow P. . Microbiology 2024, 170(7), 001478.
    • Maschio L, Back CR, Alnawah J, Bowen JI, Johns ST, Mbatha SZ, Han L-C, Lees NR, Zorn K, Stach JEM, Hayes MA, van der Kamp MW, Pudney CR, Burston SG, Willis CL, Race PR. . Chemical Science 2024, 15(29), 11572-11583.
    • Mbatha SZ, Back CR, Devine AJ, Mulliner HM, Johns ST, Lewin H, Cheung KA, Zorn K, Stach JEM, Hayes MA, van der Kamp MW, Race PR, Willis CL. . Chemical Science 2024, 34(15), 14009-14015.
    • Devine AJ, Parnell AE, Back CR, Lees NR, Johns ST, Zulkepli AZ, Barringer R, Zorn K, Stach JEM, Crump MP, Hayes MA, van der Kamp MW, Race PR, Willis CL. . Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2023, 62(3), e202213053.
    • Winter AJ, Khanizeman RN, Barker-Mountford AMC, Devine AJ, Wang L, Song Z, Davies JA, Race PR, Williams C, Simpson TJ, Willis CL, Crump MP. . Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2023, 62(47), e202312514.
    • Zorn K, Back CR, Barringer R, Chadimova V, Manzo-Ruiz M, Mbatha SZ, Mobarec J-C, Williams SE, van der Kamp MW, Race PR, Willis CL, Hayes MA. . ChemBioChem 2023, 24(14), e202300382.
    • Barringer R, Parnell AE, Lafita A, Monzon V, Back CR, Madej M, Potempa J, Nobbs AH, Burston SG, Bateman A, Race PR. . Proteins: Structure, Function and Bioinformatics 2023, 91(8), 1007-1020.
    • Williams SE, Back CR, Best E, Mantell J, Stach JEM, Williams TA, Race PR, Curnow P. . Microbial Genomics 2023, 9(5), 000996.
    • Hutchins GH, Noble CEM, Bunzel HA, Williams C, Dubiel P, Yadav SKN, Molinaro PM, Barringer R, Blackburn H, Hardy BJ, Parnell AE, Landau C, Race PR, Oliver TAA, Koder RL, Crump MP, Schaffitzel C, Oliveira ASF, Mulholland AJ, Anderson JLR. . Proceedings of the National Academy of the United States of America 2023, 120(31), e2306046120.
    • Winter AJ, Rowe MT, Weir ANM, Akter N, Mbatha SZ, Walker PD, Williams C, Song Z, Race PR, Willis CL, Crump MP. . Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2022, 61(50), e202212393.
    • Neves AT, Stenner R, Race PR, Curnow P. . Protein Expression and Purification 2022, 190, 106011.
    • Stennett HL, Back CR, Race PR. . Antibiotics 2022, 11(9), 1237.
    • Bunnak W, Winter AJ, Lazarus CM, Crump MP, Race PR, Wattana-Amorn P. . FEBS Letters 2021, 595(1), 133-144.
    • Davies JA, Bull FM, Walker PD, Weir ANM, Lavigne R, Masschelein J, Simpson TJ, Race PR, Crump MP, Willis CL. . Organic Letters 2020, 22(16), 6349-6353.
    • Back CR, Higman VA, Le Vay K, Patel VV, Parnell AE, Frankel D, Jenkinson HF, Burston SG, Crump MP, Nobbs AH, Race PR. . The Journal of Biological Chemistry 2020, 295(19), 6689-6699.
    • Williams SE, Stennett HL, Back CR, Tiwari K, Gomez JO, Challand MR, Hendry KR, Spencer J, Essex-Lopresti AE, Willis CL, Curnow P, Race PR. . Antibiotics 2020, 9(8), 509.
    • Nair AV, Robson A, Ackrill TD, Till M, Byrne MJ, Back CR, Tiwari K, Davies JA, Willis CL, Race PR. . Scientific Reports 2020, 10(1), 15323.
    • Wang L, Song Z, Race PR, Spencer J, Simpson TJ, Crump MP, Willis CL. . Chemical Science 2020, 11(20), 5221-5226.
    • Marucci L, Barberis M, Karr J, Ray O, Race PR, de Souza Andrade M, Grierson C, Hoffmann SA, Landon S, Rech E, Rees-Garbutt J, Seabrook R, Shaw W, Woods C. . Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 2020, 8, 942.
    • Walker PD, Rowe MT, Winter AJ, Weir ANM, Akter N, Wang L, Race PR, Williams C, Song Z, Simpson TJ, Willis CL, Crump MP. . ACS Chemical Biology 2020, 15(2), 494-503.
    • Wang W, Moreau NG, Yuan Y, Race PR, Pang W. . Computational Materials Science 2019, 168, 180-187.
    • Xiao W, Green TIP, Liang X, Delint RC, Perry G, Roberts MS, Le Vay K, Back CR, Ascione R, Wang H, Race PR, Perriman AW. . Chemical Science 2019, 10(32), 7610-7618.
    • Walker PD, Williams C, Weir ANM, Wang L, Crosby J, Race PR, Simpson TJ, Willis CL, Crump MP. . Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2019, 58(36), 12446-12450.
    • Lees NR, Han LC, Byrne MJ, Davies JA, Parnell AE, Moreland PEJ, Stach JEM, van der Kamp MW, Willis CL, Race PR. . Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2019, 58(8), 2305-2309.
    • Marsh CO, Lees NR, Han L-C, Byrne MJ, Mbatha SZ, Maschio L, Pagden-Ratcliffe S, Duke PW, Stach JEM, Curnow P, Willis CL, Race PR. . ChemCatChem 2019, 11(20), 5027-5031.
    • Mohammad HH, Connolly JA, Song Z, Hothersall J, Race PR, Willis CL, Simpson TJ, Winn PJ, Thomas CM. . ChemBioChem 2018, 19(8), 836-841.
    • Wang L, Parnell A, Williams C, Bakar NA, Challand MR, van der Kamp MW, Simpson TJ, Race PR, Crump MP, Willis CL. . Nature Catalysis 2018, 1(12), 968-976.
    • Back CR, Sztukowska MN, Till M, Lamont RJ, Jenkinson HF, Nobbs AH, Race PR. . Journal of Biological Chemistry 2017, 292(5), 1538-1549.
    • Francis O, Baker GE, Race PR, Adams JC. . Bioscience Reports 2017, 37(1), BSR20160401.
    • Gao S-S, Wang L, Song Z, Hothersall J, Stevens ER, Connolly J, Winn PJ, Cox RJ, Crump MP, Race PR, Thomas CM, Simpson TJ, Willis CL. . Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2017, 56(14), 3930-3934.
    • Thistlethwaite IRG, Bull FM, Cui C, Walker PD, Gao S-S, Wang L, Song Z, Masschelein J, Lavigne R, Crump MP, Race PR, Simpson TJ, Willis CL. . Chemical Science 2017, 8(9), 6196-6201.
    • Byrne MJ, Lees NR, Han LC, van der Kamp MW, Mulholland AJ, Stach JEM, Willis CL, Race PR. . Journal of the American Chemical Society 2016, 138(19), 6095-6098.
    • Rego S, Heal TJ, Pidwill GR, Till M, Robson A, Lamont RJ, Sessions RB, Jenkinson HF, Race PR, Nobbs AH. . Journal of Biological Chemistry 2016, 291(31), 15985-16000.
    • Sedgley KR, Race PR, Woolfson DN. . Biochemical Society Transactions 2016, 44(3), 689-691.
    • Abood A, Al-Fahad A, Scott A, Hosny AE-DMS, Hashem AM, Fattah AMA, Race PR, Simpson TJ, Cox RJ. . RSC Advances 2015, 5(62), 49987-49995.
    • Tilley FC, Williamson RC, Race PR, Rendall TC, Bass MD. . Small GTPases 2015, 6(1), 36-42.
    • Williamson RC, Cowell CAM, Hammond CL, Bergen DJM, Roper JA, Feng Y, Rendall TCS, Race PR, Bass MD. . Journal of Cell Science 2014, 127(19), 4292-4307.
    • Till M, Robson A, Byrne MJ, Nair AV, Kolek SA, Shaw Stewart PD, Race PR. . JoVE 2013, (78), e50548.
    • Cuskin F, Solovyova AS, Lewis RJ, Race PR. . Acta Crystallographica. Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications Online 2011, 67(4), 464-466.
    • Solovyova AS, Pointon JA, Race PR, Smith WD, Kehoe MA, Banfield MJ. . European Biophysics Journal 2010, 39(3), 469-480.
    • Crow A, Race P, Jubelin G, Chavez C, Escoubas J, Oswald E, Banfield M. . PLoS ONE 2009, 4(5), e5582.
    • Race PR, Bentley ML, Melvin JA, Crow A, Hughes RK, Smith WD, Sessions RB, Kehoe MA, McCafferty DG, Banfield MJ. . Journal of Biological Chemistry 2009, 284(11), 6924-6933.
    • Marles-Wright J, Grant T, Delumeau O, van Duinen G, Firbank S, Lewis P, Murray J, Newman J, Quin M, Race P, Rohou A, Tichelaar W, van Heel M, Lewis RJ. . Science 2008, 322(5898), 92-96.
    • Race PR, Lovering AL, White SA, Grove JI, Searle PF, Wrighton CW, Hyde EI. . Journal of Molecular Biology 2007, 368(2), 481-492.
    • Race PR, Solovyova AS, Banfield MJ. . Biophysical Journal 2007, 93(2), 586-596.
    • Race PR, Lakey JH, Banfield MJ. . Journal of Biological Chemistry 2006, 281(12), 7842-7849.
    • Race PR, Lovering AL, Green RM, Ossor A, White SA, Searle PF, Wrighton CJ, Hyde EI. . Journal of Biological Chemistry 2005, 280(14), 13256-13264.
    • Openshaw AEA, Race PR, Monzo HJ, Vazquez-Boland J-A, Banfield MJ. . Journal of Biological Chemistry 2005, 280(41), 35011-35017.
    • Hu L, Yu C, Jiang Y, Han J, Li Z, Browne P, Race PR, Knox RJ, Searle PF, Hyde EI. . Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2003, 46(23), 4818-4821.
    • Grove JI, Lovering AL, Guise C, Race PR, Wrighton CJ, White SA, Hyde EI, Searle PF. . Cancer Research 2003, 63(17), 5532-5537.

  • Book Chapters

    • Stennett HL, Tiwari K, Williams SE, Curnow P, Race PR. . In: Biotechnological Applications of Extremophilic Microorganisms. De Gruyter, 2020, pp.43-72.
    • Maschio L, Parnell AE, Lees NR, Willis CL, Schaffitzel C, Stach JEM, Race PR. . In: Methods in Enzymology. Academic Press, 2019, pp.63-82.
    • Race PR. . In: Lara Marks, ed. Engineering Health: How Biotechnology Changed Medicine. Royal Society of Chemistry, 2017, pp.196-215.
    • Till M, Race PR. . In: Bradley S. Evans, ed. Nonribosomal Peptide and Polyketide Biosynthesis: Methods and Protocols. New York: Humana Press Inc, 2016, pp.31-49.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)

    • Searle PF, Chen M-J, Hu L, Race PR, Lovering AL, Grove JI, Guise C, Jaberipour M, James ND, Mautner V, Young LS, Kerr DJ, Mountain A, White SA, Hyde EI. . In: 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists. 2004, Sydney, Australia: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  • Reviews

    • Maddock RMA, Pollard GJ, Moreau NG, Perry JJ, Race PR. . Biopolymers 2020, 111(9), e23390.
    • Till M, Race PR. . Biotechnology Letters 2014, 36(5), 877-888.