Chemistry

Research Interests

Most pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs and fine chemicals are crystalline solids in their pure forms. Crystallization provides a method of isolating pure compounds in a convenient physical form. Many compounds crystallize in more than one form - crystal polymorphs and solvates. Crystals can also differ in their shape (morphology, habit), size and size distribution. Controlling crystal form and morphology is very important for pharmaceuticals, foods, pigments and many other high-value fine chemicals.

 In UCC, molecular crystallization research is carried out in collaboration between Dr. Humphrey Moynihan, Dr. Simon Lawrence and Prof. Anita Maguire. Major grant awards for this team include SFI Strategic Research Cluster funding (Solid State Pharmaceutical Cluster; in collaboration with UL [Prof. B. K. Hodnett], NUIG, TCD, UCD and nine PharmaChemical companies), FP6 Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge funding (DEPMaB), SFI UREKA Site funding, the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund Proof of Concept scheme, IRCSET and other awards.