Chemical Biology

Tools and Technologies for Cancer Research

Chemical Biology as a discipline seeks to exploit small molecules to probe biological functions in its broadest context and the opportunities to apply these approaches within the Cancer theme are many and varied.  Chemical Biology is multi-disciplinary embracing many traditional disciplines including biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, genetics and pharmacology and is synergistic with a number of relatively new disciplines such as bioinformatics and chemoinformatics.  The Chemical Biology Group in Chemistry has established a number of programmes that map well onto the sub-themes within the cancer portfolio.  Although much of the work undertaken involves basic research aimed at probing fundamental mechanisms and processes, many of the projects have targeted objectives to contribute to the development of better strategies for diagnosis and the treatment of cancer.

These include:

• Strategies for the down regulation of gene expression in biological pathways implicated in cancer induction and progression.
• Development of novel chemoprevention agents and establishment of their   mode(s) of action.
• Development of probes and small molecule inhibitors of cell signalling pathways.
• Innovative methods for the detection and imagining of tissues, cells and single molecules in the context of cancer.

There are a number of key areas of activity where we have critical mass and significant research funding.

Small molecule gene regulators for target validation (EPSRC)

• Cullis, Su

RNA splicing and its relevance to disease (Leverhulme)

• Eperon

Novel spliceosome probes and inhibitors

• Handa, Eperon

Design and synthesis of protein kinase probes and inhibitors (BBSRC, Wellcome, Royal Society, Hope Foundation)

• Cullis, Jenkins, Schmid, Tobin

Probes of histone modification and deconvolution of their role in cancer

• Cullis, Barlev

Chemical approaches to cancer prevention (CRUK)

• Jenkins, Britton, Brown, Gescher, Steward

Small molecule MRI contrast agents

• Lowe

Magnetic Nanoparticle Theranostics (EPSRC)

• Cullis, Su, Binns, Mellon

Multi-functional molecular vectors - delivery, diagnostics and therapy

• Cullis, Lowe

Single molecule technologies (EPSRC, Wellcome)

• Hudson, Bagshaw, Eperon

Investigating the substrate specificity of histone deacetylases

• Jamieson, Cowley

Molecular Expertise