Prof Fernanda Duarte is among five academics from the University of Oxford who will lead new research projects supported by European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grants. These grants support highly promising mid-career scientists of any nationality and any field with building a research team at an eligible host organisation.
Prof Duarte's project ML4MetaLigM will develop new computational methods to model chemical reactions that occur in liquid solution. The project will focus on challenging systems containing metals.
Metal ions are essential for biological and technological functions, including protein function, acceleration of chemical reactions (catalysis), and development of advanced materials. But predicting their behaviour in real-world conditions is difficult. This is limiting progress in areas such as drug discovery and the sustainable synthesis of materials.
By combining physics-based models with AI and experimental validation, the project will accurately describe metal-ligand interactions, reveal fundamental mechanisms behind processes such as self-assembly and catalysis, and guide the design of new catalysts and metalloenzyme inhibitors (drug-like molecules that target enzymes containing a metal ion). These advances will transform molecular modelling and accelerate the design of new molecules with tailored functionalities.
Prof Duarte said:
This project bridges a critical gap between theory and applications in chemistry, by creating predictive and accessible tools. I am grateful to my team, past and present members, and collaborators whose feedback and support were key in shaping this proposal.
Consolidator Grants award around €2 million for projects typically lasting 5 years. Awardees must have 7–12 years of highly promising postdoctoral experience plus an excellent research proposal. With funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, these grants will support cutting-edge research at universities and research centres in 25 EU Member States and associated countries. The ERC received 3,121 applications for this call, of which 11.2% were successful.
Prof James (Jim) Naismith, Head of the Mathematical, Physical, and Life Sciences Division (MPLS), said:
These ERC awards recognise exceptional ambition and talent. Each project has the potential to deepen scientific understanding and deliver tangible benefits for society – from biodiversity and climate resilience to sustainable technologies and advanced chemistry.
You can read more about all the Oxford recipients here.
