Stratification of MRC funded scientific technologies and reagents for rapid and simple dissemination to the wider scientific community
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Dundee
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Reagents and technologies will be accessed via a web-based resource similar to PPU’s current model (https://mrcppureagents.dundee.ac.uk/) or (https://dub-screen.mrc.ac.uk/). Reagents and technologies will be distributed from the Dundee facility or from the relevant MRC Unit where appropriate. Centralisation of a catalogue of reagents and technologies as well as the administration and distribution systems under a single web-based access point will greatly enhance the open science and translational outputs of MRC funded research to both academia and industry.
Technical Summary
Reagents and technologies will be accessed via a web-based resource similar to PPU’s current model (https://mrcppureagents.dundee.ac.uk/) or (https://dub-screen.mrc.ac.uk/). Reagents and technologies will be distributed from the Dundee facility or from the relevant MRC Unit where appropriate. Centralisation of a catalogue of reagents and technologies as well as the administration and distribution systems under a single web-based access point will greatly enhance the open science and translational outputs of MRC funded research to both academia and industry.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Dario Alessi (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Armstrong LA
(2021)
Biochemical characterization of protease activity of Nsp3 from SARS-CoV-2 and its inhibition by nanobodies.
in PloS one
Rihn SJ
(2021)
A plasmid DNA-launched SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics system and coronavirus toolkit for COVID-19 research.
in PLoS biology
De Cesare V
(2023)
Deubiquitinases - Methods and Protocols
Daniels A
(2023)
One for all-human kidney Caki-1 cells are highly susceptible to infection with corona- and other respiratory viruses.
in Journal of virology
Hatcher JM
(2023)
Development of a highly potent and selective degrader of LRRK2.
in Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
Hurst CH
(2023)
S-acylation stabilizes ligand-induced receptor kinase complex formation during plant pattern-triggered immune signaling.
in Current biology : CB
Traynor R
(2024)
Design and high-throughput implementation of MALDI-TOF/MS-based assays for Parkin E3 ligase activity.
in Cell reports methods
| Description | CVR Reagent Repository |
| Amount | £200,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_PC_20035 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | DSTT 2024-2028 |
| Amount | £2,700,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | N/A |
| Organisation | Boehringer Ingelheim |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 06/2024 |
| End | 06/2028 |
| Description | MJFF LITE Initiative see https://www.michaeljfox.org/grant/lrrk2-investigative-therapeutics-exchange-lite |
| Amount | $41,000,000 (USD) |
| Organisation | Michael J Fox Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Description | Mapping the LRRK2 Signalling Pathway |
| Amount | £4,640,241 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aligning Sciences Across Parkinson's |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 08/2024 |
| End | 08/2026 |
| Description | Mutational screen of GBA1, PARKIN and LRRK2 |
| Amount | £201,110 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Michael J Fox Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | |
| Description | Single Cell proteomics |
| Amount | £270,181 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Title | Distribution of MRC funded Reagents and Technologies through a central hub |
| Description | Project underway to centralise the listing and distribution of outputs from all MRC establishments through a central hub. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Project in early stages - impact will be that all MRC funded reagents and technologies will be accessible through a central hub. |
| URL | https://resources.mrc.ukri.org |
| Title | Method to rapidly enrich lysosomes from clinical samples |
| Description | Lysosomes are implicated in a wide spectrum of human diseases including monogenic lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), age-associated neurodegeneration and cancer. Profiling lysosomal content using tag-based lysosomal immunoprecipitation (LysoTagIP) in cell and animal models allowed major discoveries in the field, however studying lysosomal dysfunction in human patients remains challenging. Here, we report the development of the "tagless LysoIP method" to enable rapid enrichment of lysosomes, via immunoprecipitation, using the endogenous integral lysosomal membrane protein TMEM192, directly from clinical samples and human cell lines (e.g. induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSCs) derived neurons). Isolated lysosomes are intact and suitable for subsequent multimodal omics analyses. To validate our approach, we employed the tagless LysoIP to enrich lysosomes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from fresh blood from patients with CLN3 disease, a neurodegenerative LSD. Metabolic profiling of isolated lysosomes showed massive accumulation of glycerophosphodiesters (GPDs) in patients' lysosomes. Interestingly, a patient with a milder phenotype and genotype displayed lower accumulation of lysosomal GPDs, consistent with their potential role as disease biomarkers. Altogether, the tagless LysoIP provides a framework to study native lysosomes from patient samples, identify novel biomarkers and discover human-relevant disease mechanisms. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | We have provided this method and technology to several companies and researchers. Our new major MJFF LITE initiative (LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange) involves isolating lysosomes from blood cells of up to 1,000 Parkinson's patients using this innovative approach. A commentary article discussing our method can be found here. This technique holds great potential for improving the identification of lysosome-related disease biomarkers. Since lysosomes make up only ~2% of the cell, isolating them before analysis-rather than working with whole-cell extracts-offers significant advantages in detecting lysosome-specific biomarkers. |
| URL | https://www.jci.org/articles/view/183592 |
| Description | MRC Reagents and Services Hub |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The formation of a National Hub to list and distribute reagents and scientific technologies to the research community across the globe. We host the hub, websites and laboratories to enable this. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each partner lists their outputs on our website and we distribute these to academics and industry on request. |
| Impact | The collaboration is in its early stages with the Scotland part of the project near completion. Once up and running, the outcomes will be the access to all MRC funded reagents and technologies under a single MRC branded website. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | MRC Reagents and Services Hub |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The formation of a National Hub to list and distribute reagents and scientific technologies to the research community across the globe. We host the hub, websites and laboratories to enable this. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Each partner lists their outputs on our website and we distribute these to academics and industry on request. |
| Impact | The collaboration is in its early stages with the Scotland part of the project near completion. Once up and running, the outcomes will be the access to all MRC funded reagents and technologies under a single MRC branded website. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | CURTAIN-A unique web-based tool for exploration and sharing of MS-based proteomics data |
| Description | To facilitate the analysis of mass spectrometry-based proteomics data, we have generated free-to-use interactive tools termed CURTAIN and CURTAIN-PTM. These enable users to save analyzed proteomics data as an interactive and customizable volcano plot which can be shared with a weblink that can be included in publications. This permits other researchers to visualize and further analyze data contained within the volcano plots. CURTAIN and CURTAIN-PTM serve as a repository for mass spectrometry-based proteomics data as well as an easy-to-use interactive analysis and visualization tool, allowing researchers to maximize the impact of their data. To help users familiarize themselves with the tool, we have created a series of video tutorials available on a dedicated YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@CURTAIN-me6hl). |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | CURTAIN is being widely used by many groups in Dundee and Beyond to help researchers share and analyse mass spectrometry data |
| URL | https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2312676121 |
| Description | 60 years f the Colworth Medal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On Thursday 14th September I participated in a webinar organised by the Biochemical Society termed "60 years of the Colworth Medal" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Connect and collaborate Parkinson's outreach event in the School of Life Sciences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | On November 7 of this year, the chief executive team of Parkinson's UK including CEO Caroline Rassell, Deputy director of research Professor David Dexter and the new Scotland director James Jopling visited the Parkinson's research team at the University of Dundee. In the morning, researchers from Dundee including Professor Dario Alessi, Dr. Paul Davies, ProfessorMiratul Muqit, Dr. Andy Howden, Professor Ian Ganley and Dr. Esther Sammler, from Aberdeen Professor Bettina Platt and Julie Jones, from St. Andrews Doris Chen and from Edinburgh, Professor Tilo Kunath gave an overview of their work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Dundee Research Interest Group meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | I participated at the Dundee Research Interest Group meeting with local Parkinson's patients to provide an update on our research progress |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Interview with Bloomberg news journalist |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed by and helped the journalist Robert Langreth prepare the below bloomberg article. https://www.michaeljfox.org/sites/default/files/media/document/Businessweek_Michael%20J.%20Fox%20and%20Sergey%20Brin%20Take%20Their%20Push%20for%20a%20Parkinsons%20Cure%20to%20the%20Next%20Level.pdf |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.michaeljfox.org/sites/default/files/media/document/Businessweek_Michael%20J.%20Fox%20and... |
| Description | Interview with Journalist from Bloomberg News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On Thursday 19th January, I spent ~90 minutes talking with Robert Langreth, a Journalist from Bloomberg News, on the subject of Pakrinson disease, Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases. Robert was looking to write a story on where the efforts for parkinson's disease modifying drugs stand. Robert was interested in finding out more about lrrk2 and parkinson's disease research. Robert advised he had also spoken with the MJFF and ASAP re how the influx of funding from MJFF/Sergey Brin/Asap is changing things, and how is the approach taken in parkinson's differ from the more single minded focus in Alzheimer's. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Interview with Journalist from Bloomberg News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On Thursday 19th July I met with Robert Langreth, via Zoom, from Blomberg Newsroom to discuss research and treatments for Parkinson's disease |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Interview with That's TV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On 21st October 2024, I had an Interview, via Zoom, with Conal Tracey from That's TV, where we discussed the launch of the Michael J Fox Foundation LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutic Exchange. That's TV were planning to feature this on their 5.30pm news bulletin on Channel 8 Freeview. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Interview with jounalist from the Herald and Times |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Myself and Esther Sammler had a zoom interview with Helen Mcardle who is as journalist from the Herald and Times to go over our Parkinson's research. This interview relates an upcoming RSE Curious event on Parkinson's disease and we expect an article to be published to coincide with this event |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23786235.parkinsons-disease-hope-this-exciting-time/?ref=socialf... |
| Description | Meeting with UoD alumni |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Myself, and other members of SLS, participated in an event which welcomed medics who graduated from Dundee University in 1977. I discussed with them the current research that is taking place in our Unit and beyond in Dundee. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Outreach event for Parkinsons patients and their families. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | On 6th February, an outreach activity event was organised in our Unit that was attended by ~45 people with Parkinson's and their family members. We organised talks about our research whether the people living with Parkinson's had to explain what each of our scientists was doing, followed by tours of the labs and discussions with lab members. This visit was covered by STV and I participated in an interview; https://news.stv.tv/north/scientists-at-the-university-of-dundee-confident-they-are-close-to-slowing-progression-of-parkinsons-disease |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk/news/open-day-connects-researchers-and-people-lived-experience-parkinsons |
| Description | Parkinson's UK West of Scotland Research Interest group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | I gave a general public talk today 15th June to the Parkinson's UK West of Scotland Research Interest group and answered their question on Parkinson's disease. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Participated in a Michael J Fox Research podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I recently participated in a Michael J Fox Research podcast, to talk about our research on Parkinson's-see below link. The interview was conducted by Marie McNeely, PhD Managing Partner Unfold Productions marie@unfoldnow.com unfoldnow.com. https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcast/episode-4-elucidating-pathobiology-lrrk2-parkinsons-disease-dr-dario-alessi?em_cid=mc-a1bVL000000DzP3 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcast/episode-4-elucidating-pathobiology-lrrk2-parkinsons-disease-dr-d... |
| Description | Pursuing a breakthrough for Parkinson's |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Pursuing a breakthrough for Parkinson's |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.dundee.ac.uk/stories/pursuing-breakthrough-parkinsons |
| Description | Rallying to the Challenge - a general discussion |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | On Wednesday 8th September, myself, Miratul Muqit and Esther Sammler held a recorded a general discussion with Marc Van Greiken and Helen Matthews for the Cure Parkinson's trust on the research that we are doing in Dundee. This talk will be shown at a special 2021 conference for people with Parkinson's called "Rallying" that will have a worldwide audience. Rallying is a meeting for people with Parkinson's with the agenda designed by and with people living with Parkinson's. It is based on the Grand Challenges which were in person meetings held at the Van Andel Institute in Michigan. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://cureparkinsons.org.uk/rallying-to-the-challenge-2021/ |
| Description | Seminar to the Nigerian Biochemical Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | On Wednesday 6th September I presented a zoom seminar to the Nigerian Biochemical society on the Importance of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the 21st Centaury |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | That's TV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In June 2023 I gave a short interview to Petra Kotkova, a news reporter from That's TV, with regards to me receiving an OBE. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | That's TV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In November 2023, I gave a short interview to Emma McAndrew, News Reporter for That's TV, with regards to me receiving The Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson's Research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | WPC Barcelona update call with Parkinson's patients |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | On Monday 11th September, I had a call with Parkinson's patients who attended the WPC in Barcelona in the summer of 2023 to reflect on our experiences in attending the conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | World Parkinson's Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | I attended the World Parkinson's Conference in Barcelona 4-7 July 2023 in which there were more than 2000 people impacted with Parkinson's at this event. I talked with many patient groups and took all Dundee patients + a few others from other places from the UK for dinner on two of nights about the importance of scientific research and the work that we are undertaking at the University of Dundee. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |