Anna Valentine BSc

Principal Protein Scientist

Anna has over 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with expertise in construct design, protein purification and analysis.

Anna Valentine BSc Protein Purification Specialist

More about Anna

Anna started her career in the Protein Science group at AstraZeneca, developing protein purification methods and supplying proteins to support a wide range of key drug discovery projects for assays and structural studies. After spending 18 years tending to her proteins, a 5 year spell within QA/QC labs followed, developing and validating QC methods for small drug molecules.

Frustrated by strict GMP and endless documentation, she itched to return to the relative freedom of research and joined Peak Proteins in Jan 2017 to get back to the interesting science.

Outside of work Anna is likely to be found fruitlessly limiting kids Playstation time, listening to 80’s and Indie music, and travelling as much as possible.

Design and Discovery of a novel class of triazolones as Checkpoint Kinase inhibitors—Hit to lead exploration.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 20 (2010) 5133–5138.
V Oza, S Ashwell, P Brassil, J Breed, C Deng, J Ezhuthachan,
H Haye, C Horn, James Janetka, Paul Lyne, N Newcombe, L Otterbien, M Pass, J Read, S Roswell, M Su, D Toader, D Yu, Y Yu, A Valentine, P Webborn, A White, S Zabludoff, X Zheng

Employee Spotlight

I am foremost a protein purification scientist, developing purification methods and delivering high quality proteins to clients across the world for assays and crystallography projects. We have some very challenging projects and its rare that the same method is suitable for any two proteins, but I like a challenge and don’t like to be defeated!

My first spell in Protein Science was during my year in industry in 3rd year at University working at British Gas Research in London purifying enzymes for biosensors to detect impurities in gas. Sitting in the cold room for hours manually collecting purification fractions didn’t seem to put me off and after Uni I worked in the Protein Science group at AstraZeneca for 18 years -luckily the equipment and science had become much more sophisticated by then. I then spent 5 years  in pharma QC/QA developing and validating QC methods for small drug molecules before joining Peak Proteins.

Definitely Biology.

I don’t have a particular one. Some scientists have massive success which changes the world and is great, but it shouldn’t distract from the ones who are dedicated to their cause but don’t succeed-that’s what a scientist is about much of the time!

I was frustrated with strict GMP protocols in my QC role and really wanted to get back to research. I loved the thought of coming into a smaller company with colleagues and friends I used to work with and getting back into Protein Science. I was employee number 6 four years ago and it was very different then in our tiny lab to how it is now with our current 24 employees and bigger labs. It’s been great seeing the company grow and our client base expand hugely.

Well you can’t beat the anticipation of waiting for a gel to stain after a purification step. It doesn’t always give the result you want but you always live in hope! I love also seeing a project through from start to finish and knowing that I have helped someone’s research somewhere in the world-a happy client is very rewarding.

I'm a bit of a sun goddess-if its sunny you will find me soaking up the rays with a good book or going on a family walk, preferably with a nice pub lunch. I love travelling, and usually have several trips to look forward to including skiing – not this year though with Covid!

Selfishness, mustard and wasps.

I love tapas but my favourite has to be a lamb roast dinner with all the trimmings.

Go back in time and stop Covid-19 from spreading. Failing that eradicate it forever.

Strictly (every year I say I’m going to go to dance lessons), seeing my family and friends (something that has been hard this year) and listening to 80’s music. Listening to music makes me happy, especially when Im on my own and can sing my heart out (badly) without an audience!

Dirty Dancing - I love it. I know every word and still can’t believe Patrick Swayze isn’t with us anymore. Favourite song? I have so many to choose from, but if I had to say it would be a toss up between Stones Roses- I am the Resurrection, and Keane- Bend and Break. I have been a massive Lloyd Cole fan since I was a teenager having seen him countless times and love all his music but really can’t choose a favourite of his-he could sing baa baa black sheep and I would love it!

I would have loved to have been in the Police (not the pop group!) if I hadn’t been a scientist.

Protein Science Team