Award details

Mass spectrometric analysis of new chemical entities designed for unmet therapeutic needs

Reference	REI18436
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Malcolm Stevens
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Weng Chan, Dr Siri Chhabra, Professor Barrie Kellam, Dr Andrew Westwell
Institution	University of Nottingham
Department	Sch of Pharmacy
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	117,200
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/04/2003
End date	31/03/2006
Duration	36 months

Abstract

In 2003 a unique opportunity will arise for the drug discovery community at Nottingham with the opening of a new Institute of Biomolecular Sciences which will include, inter alia, facilities for structural biology (X-ray crystallography, high-field NMR), molecular biology (particularly relevant to infections and immunity) and drug discovery (medicinal chemistry/developmental pharmacology). New Chair occupants are currently sought in the areas of: structural biology, medicinal chemistry and pharmacogenomics. This application is concerned with enhancing the equipment provision in the drug discovery components of the new Institute. The current synthetic medicinal chemistry community (currently 7 academics, 9 postdocs and 20 postgraduate students) has currently no priority access to mass spectrometry facilities and has to rely on service arrangements within Nottingham (School of Chemistry) and Swansea (EPSRC quota). This application seeks to establish a mass spectrometry facility within the new Institute. This will provide new opportunities for programmes of research in: novel cancer chemotherapeutic agents; bacterial quorum sensing signal molecules; synthesis of fluorophore-tagged drug molecules for cellular-based screening assays. The overall focus of work in the drug discovery and cancer chemotherapy is to develop novel therapeutic products for unmet clinical needs. Already a new agent Phortress is scheduled for clinical trials (breast/ovarian cancer) in early 2003; further novel agents are in the developmental pipeline. Research in quorum sensing (also supported by MRC programme grant to the Institute of Infections and Immunity) is ultimately seeking novel generations of antibiotics. Scientists to be located within the new Institute have an excellent record of new drug discovery: one product (temozolomide) licensed by CRC to Schering-Plough is currently achieving sales of 250 million dollars per annum in the cancer market. Mass spectrometry represents an essential technology to ensure a successful and innovative future.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	Research Equipment Initiative 2002 (REI) [2002]
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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