Flow Chemistry for a Greener Tomorrow
The Riley Research Group develops safer, more sustainable pharmaceutical synthesis using flow chemistry and reaction engineering — pioneering continuous manufacturing for Africa and beyond.
Group at a Glance
39
Publications
800+
Citations
15+
Graduates (MSc & PhD)
2013
Group founded
Flow Chemistry · Pharmaceutical Synthesis · Reaction Engineering · Green Chemistry · Drug Discovery
What We Do
Research at the Intersection of Chemistry & Engineering
Flow & Batch-Flow Process Routes
Developing continuous-flow and hybrid batch-flow synthesis routes to active pharmaceutical ingredients, improving yield, safety, and sustainability.
Flow Reactor Design & Testing
Engineering bespoke reactor modules — including ozonolysis reactors, photoreactors, and solid-handling systems — pushing the boundaries of continuous flow capability.
Reaction Engineering
Applying chemical engineering principles — residence time distribution, mass transfer, heat transfer — to optimise synthetic processes at micro and industrial scale.
Drug Discovery
Partnering with medicinal chemists to synthesise and evaluate novel compounds targeting Alzheimer’s disease, malaria, cancer, and other diseases of concern in Africa
Automation & Digital Chemistry
Developing open-source software dashboards for autonomous reaction optimisation using Bayesian methods, enabling self-optimising flow platforms.
African Pharma Manufacturing
Investigating how continuous flow technologies can enable cost-effective local API production in South Africa and broader developing African economies.
Latest Work
Recent Publications
39
Publications
800+
Citations
6.2
HIghest Impact Factor
2026 · #39 — Advances in solid handling for continuous flow synthesis of specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals Johnston Z. et al. · Communications Chemistry, 2026, 9, 101 · IF 6.200
2026 · #38 — Revitalised Hofmann carbylamine synthesis made possible with flow chemistry Johnston Z. et al. · Reaction Chemistry and Engineering, 2026, 11, 42–48 · IF 3.100
2025 · #36 — Synthesis of an 8-membered oxygen-containing benzo-fused heterocycle using flow technologies Currie B.M. et al. · RSC Sustainability, 2025, 3, 1356–1365 · IF 4.900
2024 · #35 — The role of silicon in drug discovery: a review Panayides J-L. et al. · RSC Medicinal Chemistry, 2024, 15, 3286–3344 · IF 4.200 · 81 citations
