• Graduated BSc (Hons) and PhD Chemistry, University of Edinburgh
• Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Texas A&M University,
• Post-doctoral Research Fellow, University College London
• Project leader, British Gas plc
• Senior Research Fellow (funded by Cancer Research UK and Wellcome Trust, University Award) University of East London

• Field Leader Biosciences
• Responsible for modules and programmes in the Biosciences Field which includes Sports Science, Life Sciences and Complementary Medicine

• The development of novel ways of cancer treatment, specifically chemotherapy and new drug development.

• Life Science and Complementary Medicine undergraduate programmes
• Bioscience Masters programmes

• Module leader for Medical Biochemistry (level 3)
• Human Health and Disease (level 1)
• Individual Research Projects, (undergraduate and masters)

Redox processes in cancer development, protection and therapy.

Over the years a diverse research interest has developed. A general description would be the redox activation of bio-reductive compounds used to target hypoxic cells in cancer therapy and in the treatment of anaerobic infections. Techniques include the use of electrochemical methods to generate short-lived redox intermediates and their interaction with biological molecules (primarily DNA) The importance of biological relevance is a key feature of these studies. The range of compounds investigated has included nitro-aromatic derivatives, benzotriazine N-oxides, azo-dyes and novel transition metals as therapeutic agents. A more recent interest is the implementation of natural products in cancer therapy.

Journal publications

A total of 36 publications in peer-reviewed Journals, including:

• M.A. Naylor, M.A. Stephens, J. Nolan, B. Sutton, J.H. Tocher, E.M. Fielden, G.E Adams and I.J Stratford, Anti-Cancer Drug Design, (1993), 8, 439

• R.F Walmsley, J.H. Tocher and D.I Edwards, Int. J. Radiat. Biol., (1994), 65, 125

• J.H. Tocher and D.I. Edwards, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys., (1994), 29, 307

• J.H. Tocher and D.I Edwards, Biochem. Pharmacol., (1994), 48, 1089

• J.H. Tocher and D.I Edwards, Free Rad. Res., (1994), 21, 277

• J.H. Tocher and D.I Edwards, Biochem. Pharmacol., (1995), 50, 1367

• J.H. Tocher Free Radical Research, (2001), 35, 159-166

Contributions to Symposia Proceedings and Chapters in Books, Seventeen Symposia contributions; two book chapters:

• D.I. Edwards, J.H. Tocher, L.D. Dale, D.A. Widdick and N.S. Virk, in Selective Activation of Drugs by Redox Processes (1990) eds. G.E. Adams, A Breccia, E.M. Fielden and P. Wardman, Plenum Press, New York

• J.H. Tocher, L.D. Dale and D.I. Edwards, in Selective Activation of Drugs by Redox processes (1990) eds. G.E. Adams, A, Breccia, E.M. Fielden and P. Wardman, Plenum Press, New York

Invited reviews, overviews, monographs.

• Invited Review, General Pharmacology (1997) 28, 485

Unpublished monographs and technical reports.

• Six technical reports produced for British Gas (restricted access).

• British Association of Cancer Research