EPSRC logo

Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M46686/01
Title: TOWARDS A PRACTICAL SYNTHESIS OF (+)-DISCODERMOLIDE
Principal Investigator: Paterson, Professor I
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Cambridge
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 19 April 1999 Ends: 18 April 2000 Value (£): 48,326
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Biological & Medicinal Chem.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Discodermolide, a novel polyketide metabolite from the Caribbean sponge Discodermia dissoluta, has recently been shown to be a potent anti-cancer agent which has a similar microtubule-stabilising mechanism of action to the clinical drug Taxol. Notably, it is effective against Taxol-resistant cancer cells. Therefore, discodermolide is a prime candidate for clinical development as a new chemotherapeutic agent against various human cancers, which are resistant to Taxol. Unfortunately, there is a very serious supply problem hampering its development in the clinic. The current cost of isolating natural discodermolide is around $50,000 per milligram. This programme plans to develop a practical synthetic route to (+) -discodermolide, which might alleviate this supply problem. The proposed route addresses the efficient control of stereochemistry by exploiting robust aldol methodology from our laboratory.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Summary
Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.cam.ac.uk