New methods to access radiolabeled peptides
PhD defence, Friday 23 October 2026, Anika Schick
During her PhD studies, Anika Schick developed new methods for introducing carbon-14 and tritium labels into peptide molecules. Radiolabeled drug analogs are essential tools in drug development because they can be traced in complex tissues which allows to study a drug candidate’s properties. Although peptide molecules have become an important class of pharmaceuticals, efficient methods for preparing radiolabeled peptide drug candidates are still limited. In her work, Anika Schick developed chemical strategies that introduce the radiolabel in a late stage, thereby minimizing radioactive waste. Moreover, the methods allow the radiolabeling of natural amino acids, or close analogs thereof, which broadens their applicability across different peptide pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry. These radiolabeling strategies should facilitate access to peptide radiotracers and thereby support different stages in drug discovery and development.
The PhD study was completed at Early Chemical Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden; and at Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
This summary was prepared by the PhD student.
Time: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 13:15-16:00
Place: Building 1520, room 1520-737, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, 8000 Aarhus C.
Title of PhD thesis: Late-stage Generation of 14C- or 3H-Radiolabeled Residues in Peptides
Contact information: Anika Schick, e-mail: anika.schick@astrazeneca.com, tel.: +49 1575 7080273
Members of the assessment committee:
Prof. Timo Repo, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Finland
Prof. Christian Marcus Pedersen, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Prof. Alexander Zelikin (chair), Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Professor Troels Skrydstrup, Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor: PhD Charles S. Elmore, Early Chemical Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences R&D, AstraZeneca, USA
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C