Keith Jones
Professor in Synthetic Chemistry
Institute of Cancer Research
Professor Jones is a medicinal chemist involved in designing, synthesising and optimising small molecules as inhibitors of various proteins and signalling pathways.
Professor Jones carried out his undergraduate studies in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and followed this with a PhD in organic chemistry from the same institution. He was appointed to a lectureship at King’s College London where he stayed for 18 years, with the exception of a year carrying out research at Columbia University in New York. He is most widely known for his work in the area of heterocyclic synthesis and especially the way in which he and his group developed the use of carbon-centred free radicals in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds.
Professor Jones has held a number of positions within the Royal Society of Chemistry including secretary and chairman of the Heterocyclic and Synthesis Group as well as vice-chair of the Organic Division. He has also been chairman of the Fine Chemicals Group of the Society of Chemical Industry. He has been involved in the organising and running a number of national and international meetings in the general area of organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Barcelona and the Australian National University in Canberra.