Dr. Alex Cayley
Name: Dr. Alex Cayley
Job Title: Principal Scientist
After obtaining an MSci degree in Chemistry from Imperial College London I moved across the city to complete a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry at University College London (focussing on the degradation of isohumulone compounds and attempting to make beer even better!). I then moved to the north of England to carry out post-doctoral research at the University of York and from here joined Lhasa in 2007.
Much of my early work at Lhasa involved making improvements to our Derek knowledge base for the prediction of genotoxicity endpoints. This research primarily involved the analysis of in vitro endpoints such as Ames mutagenicity and chromosome damage, and as a result I have a good knowledge of these endpoints and their associated tests. I have also gained significant experience of the in vivo genotoxicity assays in more recent years (micronucleus test, chromosome aberration tests, transgenic rodent assays) and have a continued interest in mechanisms leading to and methods of detecting genototoxicity.
I now act as a scientific advisor in the development of Lhasa’s statistically-based Ames mutagenicity prediction system, Sarah Nexus. My experience with genotoxicity endpoints helps significantly in this role and I find witnessing and helping to guide the development of this relatively new tool a very rewarding process.
I am also currently the project leader of the long running collaborative project between Lhasa and the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) of Japan. I particularly enjoy this role because of the productive scientific discussions it facilitates. This project has focussed on both improving our genotoxicity and target organ toxicity predictions in Derek with particular attention now being given to improving our models for in vivo mutagenicity and hepatotoxicity.
Outside of work I am a keen home brewer and gardener. Sometimes I even combine the two hobbies and grow the ingredients needed to brew my beer.
