Per Colliander Simonsson

PhD in Translational Medicine

Biography

I am a PhD student in Translational Medicine, working to advance the Fab-PEG-peptide (FpP) platform developed at the Biotherapeutic Drug Development group at UWL THRIVE Centre. My work revolves around the development of an FpP targeting the chronic inflammation and oxidative stress that drive retinal degenerative disease, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). My professional experience in regulated, quality-driven environments at ThermoFisher, Cytiva and Cepheid has given me a disciplined approach to precision and reproducibility, which I will bring to my research.

During my MSc in Biopharmaceuticals at Uppsala University, I cultivated a strong interest in the utility of, and challenges associated with the medical use of monoclonal antibodies. I went on to conduct my thesis with the Molecular Geriatrics research group at the Rudbeck laboratory, where I got the opportunity to design my own antibody against the dopamine 2 receptor. This antibody was coupled to a transferrin receptor binder to enable transport across the blood-brain-barrier.

Qualifications

  • PhD Translational Medicine, University of West London, London, UK (Ongoing)

  • MSc Biopharmaceuticals, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (2025)

  • BSc Biomedicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (2023)

Supervisors

Prof. Hanieh Khalili, Prof. Richard Morgan

Research Projects

My PhD project focuses on the development of a novel bispecific Fab–PEG–peptide (FpP) platform for the treatment of ocular diseases. The research involves the design, synthesis and characterisation of innovative antibody–peptide conjugates, followed by evaluation of their biological activity using cell-based assays and molecular biology techniques. The project aims to develop a versatile and scalable therapeutic platform for retinal diseases, including inflammatory eye conditions and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), with potential applications in other diseases requiring targeted therapeutic intervention.

Research Interests

  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

  • Antibody Conjugation

  • Intraocular Drug Delivery

  • Ocular Inflammation

  • Oxidative Stress

  • Peptide and Protein Characterisation

  • Protein Engineering and Expression

Additional Responsibilities

  • Undergraduate Research Supervision

  • Teaching Assistant in UWL School of Medicine and Biosciences