Joint PhD project on steroid synthesis with the University of Perugia

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the University of Perugia (UniPG) have recently signed a 4-year agreement for a joined PhD project in the area of sustainable synthesis of steroids using novel chemo-enzymatic strategies and flow technology. The cooperation harnesses the expertise of the laboratory of Medicinal and Advanced Synthetic Chemistry led by professor Antimo Gioiello at UniPG Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Biocatalysis lab led by professor Francesco Mutti at the UvA's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences. Gioiello's MASC lab contributes with expertise in the field of steroids synthesis and continuous flow chemistry, whereas Mutti's HIMS-Biocat group contributes with expertise in the area of organic synthesis using enzymes and enzyme engineering. This creates the ideal synergy for the success of the project and the training of the PhD candidate in the area of flow biocatalysis. Hard to synthesise. Steroids are ubiquitous in nature and perform essential vital functions. An example is the regulation of hormonal activity or the digestion and absorption of lipids.