Dr Noel Wortham investigating the molecular basis of Vanishing White Matter, one of the many health conditions in which protein synthesis plays a key role
Chris explains: “Antibodies need to be produced in mammalian cells. But you have As well as generating knowledge about the causes of disease, the group’s expertise could to grow a huge number of cells to extract a help sophisticated new drugs to become more relatively small amount of product, which makes this type of drug very expensive. widely available to patients. Building on the knowledge we’ve gained The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly about how cells govern the amount of protein moving away from traditional ‘small they make, we are trying to understand what molecule’ drugs, which are made from limits productivity and therefore how it could chemical compounds, to drugs known as be increased. If we can help to make these monoclonal antibodies. Unlike traditional drugs more affordable, they could be made drugs, antibodies work in a much more accessible to more patients.” targeted way, so they can tackle the cause of Funded by the Biotechnology and Biological disease without affecting healthy cells in the Sciences Research Council, this work is body. However, because they are proteins a collaboration between Chris’s group at rather than simple chemicals, they are much Southampton and Professor Mark Smales at more difficult to produce than traditional the University of Kent. drugs. Innovations in drug development
Further projects being undertaken by the group range from examining the role of protein synthesis in memory formation to analysing the structure of proteins involved in cancer, to help develop better drugs. It is this breadth that Chris finds exciting. “Our research crosses different scientific disciplines and fields of human physiology, creating a deeper understanding of disease that will ultimately benefit patients.” For more information visit www.southampton.ac.uk/biosci
Biological Sciences New Boundaries | University of Southampton
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