Research Projects

The primary research focus of the Cell Cycle Control Team is the discovery and development of novel molecular targeted agents for the treatment of cancer. Our research and drug discovery activities are focussed on the cell division cycle and cellular pathways that regulate this process, through growth factor mediated signalling or activation of cell cycle checkpoints in response to DNA damage . We are also using the small molecules identified on our drug discovery projects as chemical probes to facilitate further research on our drug targets, with the potential for new target identification.

PKB(AKT) Kinase

Protein kinase B is a serine/threonine kinase which regulates some of the key cellular activities often found deregulated in cancer. Currently we are using inhibitors of PKB to investigate how growth factor dependant cell signalling pathways may reculate cell cycle checkpoints.

Cell Cycle Checkpoint Kinases CHK1 and CHK2

Both CHK1 and CHK2 are key components of the DNA damage signalling network. We are investigating the therapeutic value of the inhibition of CHK1 and CHK2.