Drug Discovery and Pharmacology
Our research into anticancer drug discovery involves a strong medicinal chemistry group located in the School of Chemistry (Bedson Building) and cancer pharmacologists based in the Paul O’Gorman Building as a cooperative. Prototype compounds and associated biomarkers are investigated in tumour models using state-of-the-art imaging methods. Six targets are currently being exploited:
- FGFr receptor tyrosine kinase – in collaboration with Astex Therapeutics, Cambridge
- MDM2/p53 – in collaboration with Professors Jane Endicott and Martin Noble, Oxford University
- NEK2 kinase – in collaboration with Dr Andrew Fry, Leicester University, and the Institute of Cancer Research, London
- ERK5 kinase – in collaboration with Professor Hing Leung, Beatson Institute Glasgow, and Cancer Research Technology
- DNA dependent protein kinase – in collaboration with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
- MDM2-X/p53 – as part of the Designing Protein Protein Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy (DePPICT) Framework Programme 6 consortium
The DDI Group also has strengths in the molecular pharmacology of platinum anticancer drugs and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) where research is focussing on:
- Determining the impact of genome structure on the formation and repair of drug-induced DNA damage
- Defining the role of specific genetic defects in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, e.g. p53 loss and ATM mutation, the signalling pathways involved and their potential for targeting with DNA repair inhibitors
