Position: Head of Biology
Division: Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery
Address: College of Life Sciences,
University of Dundee,
Dundee
Telephone: +44 1382 386247, int ext. 86247
Email: d.w.gray@dundee.ac.uk
Our group, also known as the Scottish Hit Discovery Facility, is a key cornerstone of the Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) and contributes both to the scientific and strategic direction of the programmes that run within the Unit.
Our primary aim is to increase the efficiency and success in translating life sciences research into therapeutic applications to address unmet medical need.
Key Objectives
to translate basic biomedical research into candidate medicines for neglected diseases
to greatly enhance the value of novel therapeutic targets through small molecule discovery
Our Capabilities
Our laboratory contributes state of the art compound management, assay development and screening facilities to the DUU which collectively houses all the necessary disciplines to support the generation of hits through to preclinical candidates; including medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, DMPK and in vivo pharmacology.
Our Research
Neglected Disease Drug Discovery
The DDU is currently active in human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas Disease, Leishmaniasis and malaria. These programmes are managed within an overall portfolio of molecular target and phenotypic approaches to generate validated hits, leads and preclinical candidates for these disease areas. Importantly the DDU partners with DNDi for downstream clinical activity providing a clear mechanism by which leads and candidates produced by the DDU can reach patients.
Innovative Targets & Pathways
The DDU also has a strong commitment to facilitating the translational of fundamental research through the development of lead compounds to validate putative drug targets and to investigate disease pathways outside recognised neglected diseases. In this endeavour we do not seek to replicate the activities of the BioPharmaceutical sector but to complement by addressing highly novel targets and pathways. In this respect we are keen to address novel mechanisms and assess their druggability. Such projects are enabled through collaboration with research groups throughout the UK using a variety of funding bodies.
Our group is also active in the exciting and rapidly progressing area of stem cells. We are seeking to develop specific agents that cause differentiation of stem cells for the treatment of cancer.
