New Centre to translate Imperial’s research strengths into future medicines

Turning fundamental research into new medical therapies is the aim of the newly established cross-faculty Drug Discovery Centre at Imperial College London.

Monday 10 November 2008
By Naomi Weston

Turning fundamental research into new medical therapies is the aim of the newly established cross-faculty Drug Discovery Centre at Imperial College London.

The Centre translates Imperial’s research strengths into drug discovery projects by providing pharmaceutical industry expertise.

Pioneered by former Rector, Sir Richard Sykes, the Centre was set up to support and manage research projects from across the College, which could potentially lead to new drugs being developed. It is funded by the College to support building infrastructure in the area of medicinal chemistry, lead screening technology and managing research projects.

It was set up to address the issue of the pharmaceutical industry lacking the breadth and diversity of expertise available at research intensive universities.

Dr Cathy Tralau-Stewart, Head of the Drug Discovery Programme at the Centre, says: “In the past drug discovery has been wholly undertaken within pharmaceutical companies but now it is becoming more common for universities to participate as the size and attrition rate of pharmaceutical industry pipelines are disappointing. The Drug Discovery Centre is vital in coming up with novel, inventive, important medicines. We are here to support Principal Investigators at the College and help translate their research into future medicines.”

She added: “Researchers might not know what the next step to take in developing their work is. We want people to come to us and we can help them take their projects forward. We can offer advice on all aspects of the drug discovery process.”

The newly established Centre provides researchers with access to laboratories and advice from staff with considerable pharmaceutical industry experience to develop their work.

Drug discovery is the hunt for agents with specific biological actions that provide new ways of tackling human disease. New drugs can take up to 15 years to develop from a scientist’s initial idea to being available for patients.

The process begins with scientists studying a disease process and identifying a potential drug target. This is a part of a cell or cellular process, which the future drug interacts with to have its effect. Drug targets are usually enzymes, receptors or proteins involved in signalling within cells. Choosing targets can involve several different approaches including, clinical observation, understanding disease mechanisms and modifying current therapeutics.

Once a biological target has been identified, the search for an agent that will interact with it begins. A molecule is designed which has the best biological profile and minimal side effects. Testing a new drug is a lengthy process and can take up to 10 years. The process includes clinical trials of the drug on firstly small groups and then larger groups of people, long term toxicology studies, registration of the drug and finally manufacturing and product development.

The Centre has a laboratory suite and a compound library. The library consists of many different chemicals stored in environmentally controlled conditions which are tested for their activity against selected drug targets. There is also a screening lab which uses robots to carry out many of the tests.

There are currently six major projects being undertaken by the Centre and a further eleven possible projects on their portfolio. Research topics range from working on drugs for MRSA to breast and ovarian cancer and looking at ways to fight malaria.

Professor Paul Freemont, Head of the Division for Molecular Biosciences, has been working with the Centre from its inception. His research group are working on the molecular mechanisms of human proteins involved in disease.

He said: “The Centre is important to academics at the College as it can help turn research into new medicines. There are industry experts who can advise on any aspect of drug discovery. It is particularly important for my work as it is a way to try and translate some of our molecular mechanisms and understandings into new therapies.”

The Centre was first set up in January 2007 as a Facility and has since expanded with more staff and research projects. It is part of the Faculty of Medicine but works across the whole College.

For more information please see Drug Discovery Centre