Award details

A targeted-assembled fluorescent probe detection system

Reference	ABY10425
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Kenneth Thomas Douglas
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor David Clarke
Institution	The University of Manchester
Department	Manchester Pharmacy School
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	379,712
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/11/1999
End date	01/05/2003
Duration	42 months

Abstract

The advent of the human genome will present the medical world with huge databases of gene sequence information becoming usable for both the design of new molecular approaches to disease control and novel therapeutics. It will also herald the introduction of new methods of molecular diagnosis. It is reasonable to envisage that several approaches to diagnosis will require probes to highlight and detect particular DNA sequences. This will allow the concept of individualised medicines to progress, in which the effect of a proposed drug treatment for a particular individual will be assessed from the use of suitable DNA probes for a sample of blood from that patient. Our knowledge of drug handling by the human body already allows us to realise that for certain individuals particular drugs are unsuitable for metabolic reasons. Being able to assess individuals in such a way will allow decreased incidences of drug- associated side effects by avoidance of particular drugs for that person or by the use of rationally guided dosages. To achieve such goals requires the development of powerful, specific probes capable of detecting particular DNA sequences against the background of all the other cellular DNA present. The preferred probe would also be easy to use and not require sample processing (for example as is used in PCR methods). A non- radioactive method is also an advantage. For such reasons we are working on novel approaches to fluorescent signal generation from DNA-directed probes and we are combining this with approaches to achieve highly specific targeting of biological target sites.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	LINK: Analytical Biotechnology (ABY) [1995-2000]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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