Image: Dr Zoran Rankovic joins the Institute of Cancer Research
An international leader in the study of protein degradation – considered one of the most promising areas of drug discovery – has joined The Institute of Cancer Research, London. Dr Zoran Rankovic has been appointed to direct the pioneering Centre for Protein Degradation at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).
The Centre for Protein Degradation was launched in 2022 and made possible by a generous philanthropic donation to the ICR by David and Ruth Hill. The centre is a key element of the ICR’s wider Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery.
A distinguished leader in drug discovery
Dr Zoran Rankovic joined the ICR from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, USA. Before joining St. Jude, Dr Rankovic had a distinguished career in industry at several major pharmaceutical companies, including Merck and Eli Lily. Over his career, Dr Rankovic has directed the delivery of drug candidates across therapeutic indications, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatry and cardiovascular disease.
He brings a wealth of leadership, medicinal chemistry and drug discovery experience which will drive the new Centre for Protein Degradation forward in discovering drugs that target cancer in new ways.
Targeted protein degradation involves hijacking the cell’s natural waste disposal system so that it targets and destroys cancer-causing proteins – more established targeted cancer treatments tend to involve blocking a cancer protein’s function, to which the cancer often evolves resistance. By degrading the cancer protein so it’s no longer present and able to function at all, researchers believe treatments will be more effective and longer lasting. The approach could also allow researchers to discover drugs that target proteins which have previously proved ‘undruggable’ with inhibitor-type cancer drugs.
Building on an unrivalled track record
The Centre for Protein Degradation was founded following a £9 million donation to the ICR by David and Ruth Hill. Their visionary generosity has helped the ICR establish the centre and now recruit a leader of equal vision.
Targeted protein degradation is one strand of the ICR’s world leading drug discovery programme – no other academic institution has discovered more potential cancer drugs in recent decades. Since 2005, the ICR has discovered 21 clinical candidates and 13 of which have entered clinical trials, and in 2012 NICE approved the ICR-discovered drug abiraterone for use on the NHS – it has been used to treat advanced prostate cancer in hundreds of thousands of men around the world.
Most recently, capivasertib, a drug discovered by AstraZeneca following a programme of research by the ICR and Astex, was approved by the US drug regulator the for treating some forms of breast cancer.
Made possible by philanthropy
The ICR is seeking further visionary support from philanthropists who want to contribute to the continuing of this unrivalled track record in drug discovery – donors can be part of discovering the next abiraterone or capivasertib.
Before establishing the Centre for Protein Degradation, the ICR was already developing a strong pipeline of potential degrader drugs – that research even led to a spin-out company, Monte Rosa Therapeutics, which is one of the leaders in the field with multiple degraders in clinical trials.
Dr Zoran Rankovic, Director of the Centre for Protein Degradation at the ICR, said:
“There is no more exciting field in drug discovery than targeted protein degradation – it has phenomenal potential to improve cancer treatment and beyond. With its long track record of drug discovery and its recent progress targeted protein degradation research, I am tremendously excited to move to the ICR. We are also extremely fortunate to have the incredible support of David and Ruth Hill – their generous donation will power our progress over the coming years.”
Dr Olivia Rossanese, Head of the Division of Cancer Therapeutics and Director of the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery at the ICR, said:
"I am delighted to welcome Dr Zoran Rankovic to the ICR. His experience and knowledge will be instrumental in building up our Centre for Protein Degradation and will bring huge benefits to our wider drug discovery programme. The potential for groundbreaking advances in discovering new cancer drugs is tantalising – we’re extremely motivated to deliver for cancer patients."
Attracting the best talent from around the world
Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of the ICR, said:
“Our mission is to defeat cancer. To do this, we want to attract the best and brightest people from around the world. We’re excited and proud to have Dr Zoran Rankovic join our efforts. This appointment demonstrates the attractiveness of the ICR to leading scientists based in institutions around the world.”
Angela Bowen, Chief Development and Communications Officer at the ICR, said:
“Philanthropy is helping the ICR take on some of the biggest challenges in cancer research – we need to discover new and improved drugs that extend lives and offer potential cures. Recruiting such a high calibre scientist to lead our Centre for Protein Degradation is possible because of philanthropy. It’s wonderful to have the support of David and Ruth – their generosity is an investment in the cancer drugs of the future and could even lead to treatments for other diseases.”