| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C006542/1 |
| Title: |
Consortium for the development of high-throughput techniques for delivery, characterisation and evaluation of engineered proteins to mammalian cells |
| Principal Investigator: |
Sutherland, Dr AJ |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Engineering and Applied Science |
| Organisation: |
Aston University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
09 January 2005 |
Ends: |
08 May 2005 |
Value (£): |
10,000
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The aim of this proposal is to generate a consortium of individuals with wide ranging interdisciplinary and complementary expertise. It is envisaged that the full consortium will comprise 6 core members with expertise ranging from materials science, via various aspects of chemistry, through to molecular and cell biology. Based upon his existing/recent collaborations the PI has identified five potential core members all of whom have expressed, in principle, an interest in forming part of the consortium. Initially, a meeting of these five individuals will be convened and it is anticipated that a sixth core member (a stem cell biologist) and additional affiliate/advisory members will be identified and recruited. For the recruitment of affiliate/advisory members specific focus will centre on the US which is generally accepted to be internationally leading in high-throughput technologies.Once membership has been finalised, the consortium will focus on developing a step change in post genomic technology centred on direct, high-throughput, delivery of proteins to living mammalian cells that circumvents the involvement of nucleic acids. This target area has been selected as current methods to deliver proteins into cells, either directly via protein tagging methods or indirectly by gene therapy are problematic when applied in a high-throughput format. High-throughput delivery of functional proteins to living mammalian cells is a highly desirable objective as it would enable large numbers of potentially active molecules to be screened rapidly and in vivo, for a desired biological mode of action.This technology platform will potentially generate new therapeutic proteins, identify and potentially allow the correction of errant metabolic pathways and may even enable the promotion of stem cell differentiation. The ability to promote stem cell differentiation without recourse to nucleic acids (gene therapy) is especially desirable since it will completely preclude the potential dangers of long term, unwanted gene activation in all daughter cells.In addition to refining the ideas underpinning the general research area outlined above and generating a full research proposal, it is anticipated that the core consortium members will, through the various planned group and sub-group meetings, identify additional areas for collaboration. Thus, in turn it is envisaged that a second tranche of proposals will result.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.aston.ac.uk |