Research in The Biomolecular Science and Medicinal Chemistry Division
The multidisciplinary research activities undertaken within the Biomolecular Science and Medicinal Chemistry Division fall within four key areas:
- Biomolecular Science
- Computational Modelling and Informatics
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Structural Biology
which combine to provide a unique multidisciplinary environment focused on the development of new treatments for many different diseases.
In Biomolecular Science the main interests are:
a) Investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms of the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells, with a focus on the dysfunction of these processes in human disease.
b) The investigations of activity and mechanisms of action of new chemical entities, natural products and novel formulations of test agents to enhance and target drug delivery.
Computational Modelling and Informatics utilises high-performance methods to study the structure, function, and recognition properties of biomolecules proteins, nucleic acids, and biologically active small molecules.
The area of Medicinal Chemistry applies both bioscience and synthetic chemistry expertise to drug discovery research projects in therapeutic areas of unmet medical need (eg oncology, neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease and infection and immunity). This necessities a broad research platform focussed on high throughput assay design, structure guided drug design and small molecule and peptide synthesis.
Structural Biology uses biophysical tools (eg X-ray crystallography and cryo-election microscopy) to investigate the three dimensional structure of macromolecules and their complexes.