Drug Discovery
The drug discovery initiative draws on a broad range of skills within Newcastle Biomedicine. At one end of the spectrum of expertise is our extensive catalogue of natural products from plants, fungi and marine organisms that have the ability to combat disease. We have, for example, new ways of finding effective antibiotics to replace those to which bacteria are becoming resistant. From these products, our chemists can design simpler molecules that are more easily and cheaply available. We can then test these on cells in culture to determine their usefulness and follow this up with clinical trials in patients to show their value as treatments.
The initiative also takes in new ways of detecting disease. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a way of looking into the body to look at the progress of disease, as is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We are using these high-tech methods to find out as soon as possible whether drug treatments work. PET is particularly useful in cancer treatment, where we have already discovered new drugs. We are aiming to develop new PET and MRI approaches that will help early detection of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It is known that early detection is the key to effective treatment.
For details of the Drug Discovery Initiative please contact Colin Reid
