Dr Ramiz Boulos

In my PhD I worked on 'Mechanosensitive ion channels as novel targets for antimicrobial agents'. They act as an emergency valve when cells experience an osmotic downshock. The mechanosensitive ion channel of large conductance (MscL) is highly conserved in bacteria and not found in the human genome making it an attractive target for drug discovery. This research has led to the development of a novel and non-toxic class of antimicrobials effective against gram +ve bacteria, including superbugs.

After completing my PhD I joined Prof. Colin Raston as a postdoc working in a number of projects. I am fascinated by the potential of biomass utilisation where a waste material can be transformed into a high value end product. I am also interested in the biomineralisation of calcium carbonate and its formation under high shear. I also enjoy doing molecular modelling of systems to better understand experimental results.

From 2013 to 2020, I was CEO of Boulos & Cooper Pharmaceuticals, a company I founded in 2013 to commercialise a new class of antibiotics. I am currently Executive Chairman of Veratin, a company I founded in 2016 that is focussed on unlocking the value of low-grade wool. I am also the founder and MD of Founders First, a company that helps founders commercialise their IP and Boulos & Cooper Labs, a research, development and commercialisation company.