Chemical Biology
Research Focus
- Apoptosis
- Drug and vaccine targets in malaria
- Cancer therapeutics
Overview
The ACRF Chemical Biology division aims to develop and exploit chemical approaches for studying important biological and medical problems, and to discover and develop novel therapeutics to treat diseases with unmet needs.
The division was formed in 2010 to focus research efforts linking chemistry with biology at the institute. It applies chemical approaches to biological problems, bringing together expertise in high-throughput chemical screening (HTCS), medicinal chemistry and biology. The laboratories within the division collaborate extensively with scientists in the other divisions and with external organisations.
Research programs and collaborations
Most notably, there are significant programs relating to cancer targets. Together with two biopharmaceutical giants, Genentech and Abbott, scientists from our divisions of Chemical Biology, Structural Biology and Molecular Genetics of Cancer are developing better drugs for cancer treatment by specifically targeting the defective cell survival machinery in cancer cells. In partnership with the CRC for Cancer Therapeutics (CTx), we are also working on a number of other cancer targets. In addition to cancer, there are projects tackling targets in infections such as malaria and HIV, degenerative diseases and inflammatory conditions.
High-throughput chemical screening (HTCS) of large chemical libraries is a proven way to identify novel chemical entities that target and modulate specific biological systems associated with disease. Since the establishment in 2003 of the institute’s HTCS facility, we have successfully executed in excess of 40 screening projects with both academic and commercial partners.
We plan to undertake additional screens that will underpin our efforts to identify novel targets, especially in cancer. We will also be using and developing novel chemical tools to unravel molecular processes that mediate normal physiology, and those that are defective in disease states.
Faculty Members
Professor David Huang (Division Head)
Professor Keith Watson (Honorary)
Click here to support the research of the Chemical Biology Division
ACRF supported the fit-out of the laboratories in the Chemical Biology division.