Sharon is the Head of the new provisional Centre for Research in Mechanisms of Disease and Drug Design, in the School of Life and Medical Sciences. The Centre integrates the university's scientific expertise in the understanding of health and disease, and the design of new therapeutic strategies.

Sharon is a synthetic and medicinal chemist, with extensive research experience in the development of novel small molecules applied to understanding and treating disease.

Sharon obtained her PhD in the synthesis of natural product analogues to treat parasitic diseases, followed by postdoctoral experience in the areas of cancer pro-drug design and cardiovascular mechanisms, before joining the University in 2005.

Medicinal and biological chemistry, drug design and synthesis. Cancer drug targets and drug design. Antiobiotic-restoring peptides to combat antimicrobial resistance. Natural product analogues with anti-inflammatory properties. Small molecule cardiovascular system probes. Novel synthetic technologies.

Organic and medicinal chemistry. Integration of science and clinical aspects of pharmacy; relating structure and functions of medicines to their clinical use.