Basic Science > Development of Novel Compounds

This programme integrates the application of work in the high throughput synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratory with the expertise in Molecular Pharmacology to investigate new drugs with the potential for the treatment of cancer ultimately linking in with the LECMC. This strategy is based on the ability to facilitate detailed structure activity study relationships of drugs, which are expected to define efficacy and safety through the identification of pharmacophores and possible toxicophores; provide a logical library of chemical analogues with which to interrogate the fundamental basis of drug action; and provide compounds in sufficient quantities and purity for the complete in vitro analysis for early candidate selection.

The initial phase involves the total synthesis of product targets using innovative strategies that are amenable to modification to enable the preparation of related derivatives. These compounds will then provide an essential resource to interrogate the cell responses in order to define the mechanistic basis of potency, selectivity and mode of cell death in the context of Structure Activity Relationship Studies. These findings will inform mechanism-based chemical-design with the ultimate aim of creating a potential drug-like compound, with a novel biological target, which retains high levels of cancer specificity. The in vitro/in vivo relationships for pharmacological and toxicological responses, including systems to assess drug disposition and safety will be undertaken. The link to the clinic will be provided by use of cell lines, primary cell cultures and appropriate genetic animal models.

Groups specialising in this field:
Professor Kevin Park		Dr Neil Kitteringham