Colin Hayman

Colin Hayman

Dr Colin Hayman is a Senior Scientist in the Carbohydrate Chemistry group. He completed a Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Master of Science (MSc) at Canterbury University and then worked for 18 months in the Department of Biochemistry at Christchurch Hospital. Here, Dr Hayman continued work related to his MSc, developing methods for the analysis of compounds involved in balancing osmotic pressure with particular relevance to normal kidney function.

He went on to complete a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of Otago before spending nearly five years in a postdoctoral position at the University of Loughborough in the United Kingdom. 

Dr Hayman joined the Carbohydrate Chemistry group after returning from the UK in 2004. He says his time with the group has been “an enjoyable mix of commercial and government funded research each of which has been both challenging and rewarding”.

Most of his recent research has focused on the synthesis of immunologically relevant carbohydrate-containing compounds for which the Carbohydrate Chemistry group has a particular strength. These compounds are used by collaborators, nationally and internationally, to progress lead compounds for the treatment of immune system-related conditions such as asthma and eczema.

Dr Hayman’s experience in commercially funded projects began with managing an IRL contract to provide materials for the US National Cancer Institute’s research programmes. More recently, a major commercial undertaking has been designing and managing the synthesis of a complex carbohydrate target which has now progressed to cGMP manufacture with GlycoSyn and is destined for human clinical trials.

“It is fantastic to be able to work amongst very talented scientists and engineers and to see the compounds produced by us as chemists progressed into the clinic.”