Elucidation of mechanisms that restrict the activation of Toll-Like Receptors and the IL-1 receptor to prevent inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Dundee
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
The immune system is vital for defense against microbial pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, but if it is activated too strongly or cannot be switched off efficiently, it can cause serious tissue damage and lead to many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. These diseases include arthritis, asthma, colitis, fibrosis, lupus, psoriasis and sepsis, which affect the lives of millions of people. It is therefore critical to not only understand the mechanisms that switch on the immune system, but also those that prevent it from being activated to strongly and those that switch it off again when it is no longer needed. Our research proposal builds on novel and exciting recent findings made by our research teams, which have advanced the understanding of how the immune system is kept under control and switched off. In the longer term, our research may lead to the development of improved drugs to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. It may also help to treat some forms of cancer because the immune system has a key role in helping to destroy the tumour cells that cause cancer. With these aims in mind, we are working will both University researchers and pharmaceutical companies to launch and accelerate the development of new medicines to treat these diseases that target key controller proteins that our research has identified.
Technical Summary
We have identified novel mechanisms by which the innate immune system is kept in check to prevent the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We plan to enhance our understanding of these mechanisms, which will facilitate the development of improved ways to diagnose, prevent and treat these conditions.
One aspect of our research will be to elucidate how the ABIN family of ubiquitin-binding proteins prevent the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. These studies will build on an exciting discovery that we have made, which may explain why mice-expressing a ubiquitin-binding-defective mutant of ABIN1 develop lupus. We will also elucidate why ubiquitin-binding to ABIN2 is required for the IL-1-dependent induction of cyclo-oxygenase 2 in fibroblasts, following our discovery that this pathway protects mice against intestinal inflammation and DSS-induced colitis. We will also elucidate the function of ABIN3, which is unknown.
A further aspect of our research focuses on the SIK subfamily of protein kinases, which function to restrict production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 through a mechanism that we have defined. A major aim now is to discover how SIKs promote pro-inflammatory cytokine production and how they operate synergistically with other signalling networks. A further goal is to exploit mouse lines lacking expression and/or catalytic activity of one or more SIK isozymes, which we have made and will develop. In particular, we will investigate whether these mice are protected in several mouse models of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We will also investigate the effects of potent and specific small molecule inhibitors of the SIKs in these systems.
This is a multidisciplinary research programme that will exploit state-of-the-art techniques such as mass spectrometry, proteomics, signal transduction, immunology, molecular pharmacology, mouse genetics and mouse models of inflammatory and autoimmune disease.
One aspect of our research will be to elucidate how the ABIN family of ubiquitin-binding proteins prevent the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. These studies will build on an exciting discovery that we have made, which may explain why mice-expressing a ubiquitin-binding-defective mutant of ABIN1 develop lupus. We will also elucidate why ubiquitin-binding to ABIN2 is required for the IL-1-dependent induction of cyclo-oxygenase 2 in fibroblasts, following our discovery that this pathway protects mice against intestinal inflammation and DSS-induced colitis. We will also elucidate the function of ABIN3, which is unknown.
A further aspect of our research focuses on the SIK subfamily of protein kinases, which function to restrict production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 through a mechanism that we have defined. A major aim now is to discover how SIKs promote pro-inflammatory cytokine production and how they operate synergistically with other signalling networks. A further goal is to exploit mouse lines lacking expression and/or catalytic activity of one or more SIK isozymes, which we have made and will develop. In particular, we will investigate whether these mice are protected in several mouse models of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We will also investigate the effects of potent and specific small molecule inhibitors of the SIKs in these systems.
This is a multidisciplinary research programme that will exploit state-of-the-art techniques such as mass spectrometry, proteomics, signal transduction, immunology, molecular pharmacology, mouse genetics and mouse models of inflammatory and autoimmune disease.
Planned Impact
Abnormalities in protein phosphorylation and protein ubiquitylation cause many diseases including cancer and diseases of the immune system. Protein kinases, the enzymes that catalyse protein phosphorylation, have become the pharmaceutical industry's most important class of drug target with 37 kinase inhibitors approved for clinical use since 2001, and hundreds more at various stages of clinical trials. Gleevec, the first kinase inhibitor approved for clinical use, has transformed a fatal leukaemia to a manageable condition. The JAK inhibitors Tofacitinib and Ruxolitinib approved during the last five years, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and myelofibrosis, respectively, are the first kinase inhibitors approved outside the field oncology. Sales of kinase inhibitors now exceed $US 30 billion per annum.
The recent research of our laboratories on the role of SIK family members in controlling macrophage polarity, has attracted considerable interest in these protein kinases as drug targets for the treatment of macrophage-driven inflammatory diseases. Several pharmaceutical companies and academic drug discovery groups are now working to develop drugs that inhibit SIKs which, if successful, will benefit many patients afflicted with these diseases and generate revenue for the companies that develop and sell them. Over the past two years alone, we have provided 16 academic laboratories with 36 reagents we have generated from our SIK-related research, while two companies have purchased 18 of our reagents. Our research has also had a positive impact on the Support companies that market the reagents produced by my research team.
In 1998 I founded the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT), which became the largest collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. It continues to this day with fundng renewed for a fifth time from July 2016-June 2020, a clear demonstration of its value to pharma. The DSTT is widely regarded as a model for effective interaction between academia and industry, and has received a Queen's Anniversary Award for Higher Education. Through this collaboration the participating companies obtain rapid access to the result of my research and that of my co-applicant Simon Arthur, as well as the reagents and technologies that that are produced and developed by our labs. I am and will continue to be the Deputy Director of the DSTT.
Like protein phosphorylation, protein ubiquitylation regulates most aspects of cell life and is an emerging area of drug discovery (Cohen and Tcherpakov, 2010, Cell 143, 686-693). To stimulate progress in this area, I founded the Scottish Institute for Cell Signaling (SCILLS), the world's first Unit dedicated to the study of ubiquitylation, with funding of £10 million from the Scottish Government. SCILLS was merged with the MRC Protein phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU) at Dundee in 2013. These developments let to the founding of Ubiquigent Ltd, a new UK-listed company in Dundee, which markets proteins, assays and services developed by my research team and by other research groups in the MRC-PPU. A significant proportion of the shares in Ubiquigent are owned by the MRC and the University of Dundee, which may acquire a substantial value when Ubiquigent becomes a listed company on a stock exchange.
The recent research of our laboratories on the role of SIK family members in controlling macrophage polarity, has attracted considerable interest in these protein kinases as drug targets for the treatment of macrophage-driven inflammatory diseases. Several pharmaceutical companies and academic drug discovery groups are now working to develop drugs that inhibit SIKs which, if successful, will benefit many patients afflicted with these diseases and generate revenue for the companies that develop and sell them. Over the past two years alone, we have provided 16 academic laboratories with 36 reagents we have generated from our SIK-related research, while two companies have purchased 18 of our reagents. Our research has also had a positive impact on the Support companies that market the reagents produced by my research team.
In 1998 I founded the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT), which became the largest collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical industry in Europe. It continues to this day with fundng renewed for a fifth time from July 2016-June 2020, a clear demonstration of its value to pharma. The DSTT is widely regarded as a model for effective interaction between academia and industry, and has received a Queen's Anniversary Award for Higher Education. Through this collaboration the participating companies obtain rapid access to the result of my research and that of my co-applicant Simon Arthur, as well as the reagents and technologies that that are produced and developed by our labs. I am and will continue to be the Deputy Director of the DSTT.
Like protein phosphorylation, protein ubiquitylation regulates most aspects of cell life and is an emerging area of drug discovery (Cohen and Tcherpakov, 2010, Cell 143, 686-693). To stimulate progress in this area, I founded the Scottish Institute for Cell Signaling (SCILLS), the world's first Unit dedicated to the study of ubiquitylation, with funding of £10 million from the Scottish Government. SCILLS was merged with the MRC Protein phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC-PPU) at Dundee in 2013. These developments let to the founding of Ubiquigent Ltd, a new UK-listed company in Dundee, which markets proteins, assays and services developed by my research team and by other research groups in the MRC-PPU. A significant proportion of the shares in Ubiquigent are owned by the MRC and the University of Dundee, which may acquire a substantial value when Ubiquigent becomes a listed company on a stock exchange.
Publications
Chrysostomou S
(2021)
Repurposed floxacins targeting RSK4 prevent chemoresistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer.
in Science translational medicine
Cohen P
(2020)
HOIL-1, an atypical E3 ligase that controls MyD88 signalling by forming ester bonds between ubiquitin and components of the Myddosome.
in Advances in biological regulation
Cohen P
(2021)
Edmond Fischer (1920-2021)
in Nature
Cohen P
(2023)
The scientific career and life of Edmond H. Fischer-A personal tribute.
in IUBMB life
Cohen P
(2021)
Kinase drug discovery 20 years after imatinib: progress and future directions.
in Nature reviews. Drug discovery
Cohen P
(2023)
Biographical memoir of Edmond H. Fischer.
in National Academy of Sciences Website
Cohen P
(2018)
Ubiquitin chains as second messengers.
in Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology
Darling NJ
(2021)
Nuts and bolts of the salt-inducible kinases (SIKs).
in The Biochemical journal
Darling NJ
(2021)
Salt-inducible kinases are required for the IL-33-dependent secretion of cytokines and chemokines in mast cells.
in The Journal of biological chemistry
Hutchinson LD
(2020)
Salt-inducible kinases (SIKs) regulate TGFß-mediated transcriptional and apoptotic responses.
in Cell death & disease
Kelsall IR
(2022)
HOIL-1 ubiquitin ligase activity targets unbranched glucosaccharides and is required to prevent polyglucosan accumulation.
in The EMBO journal
Kelsall IR
(2019)
The E3 ligase HOIL-1 catalyses ester bond formation between ubiquitin and components of the Myddosome in mammalian cells.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Lange SM
(2021)
Dimeric Structure of the Pseudokinase IRAK3 Suggests an Allosteric Mechanism for Negative Regulation.
in Structure (London, England : 1993)
McCrory EH
(2022)
Identification of ester-linked ubiquitylation sites during TLR7 signalling increases the number of inter-ubiquitin linkages from 8 to 12.
in The Biochemical journal
Nanda SK
(2018)
ABIN2 Function Is Required To Suppress DSS-Induced Colitis by a Tpl2-Independent Mechanism.
in Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
Nanda SK
(2019)
Distinct signals and immune cells drive liver pathology and glomerulonephritis in ABIN1[D485N] mice.
in Life science alliance
Nanda SK
(2021)
IKKß is required for the formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
in EMBO reports
Nefla M
(2021)
Salt inducible kinases 2 and 3 are required for thymic T cell development.
in Scientific reports
Odqvist L
(2019)
Genetic variations in A20 DUB domain provide a genetic link to citrullination and neutrophil extracellular traps in systemic lupus erythematosus.
in Annals of the rheumatic diseases
Petrova T
(2021)
HOIL-1-catalysed, ester-linked ubiquitylation restricts IL-18 signaling in cytotoxic T cells but promotes TLR signalling in macrophages
in The FEBS Journal
Petrova T
(2022)
Why are the phenotypes of TRAF6 knock-in and TRAF6 knock-out mice so different?
in PloS one
Petrova T
(2021)
Prevention and partial reversion of the lupus phenotype in ABIN1[D485N] mice by an IRAK4 inhibitor.
in Lupus science & medicine
Petrova T
(2023)
Pacritinib abrogates the lupus phenotype in ABIN1[D485N] mice.
in Lupus science & medicine
Rodrigues M
(2022)
TAK1 protein kinase activity is required for TLR signalling and cytokine production in myeloid cells.
in The Biochemical journal
Description | Arthritis UK |
Amount | £261,068 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MP/19518 |
Organisation | Versus Arthritis |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | AstraZeneca |
Amount | £32,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | AstraZeneca |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 02/2022 |
Description | BBSRC EastBio studentship |
Amount | £94,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2017 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Elucidation of mechanisms that restrict the activation of Toll-like receptors and the IL-1 receptor to prevent inflammatory and autoimmune disease |
Amount | £1,229,672 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/R021406/1 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | MRC DTP I-Case studentship |
Amount | £87,697 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/N013735/1/ |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 02/2022 |
Description | Sugar Ubiquitylation, a New Quality Control Mechanism for the Recognition and Elimination of Misfolded Macromolecules? |
Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/Y512965/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2024 |
End | 06/2025 |
Description | Efficacy of IRAK4 inhibitors for the treatment of Lupus - Vikram Rao |
Organisation | Pfizer Inc |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We gave an IRAK4 inhibitor developed by Pfizer to a mouse model of lupus that we developed. The results demonstrated the therapeutic potential of IRAK4-inhibiting drugs to both prevent and reverse Lupus. |
Collaborator Contribution | Pfizer developed the IRAK4 inhibitor and paid the cost of incorporating it in large amounts of the mouse food prior to the start of the experiments that we performed in Dundee. |
Impact | 10.1136/lupus-2021-000573 |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Efficacy of the drug pacritinib in a mouse model of lupus |
Organisation | CTI BioPharma |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Pacritinib is a drug developed by CTI pharma, which was recently approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis. Pacritinib inhibits the three protein kinases JAK2, FLT3 and IRAK1 We gave pacritinib incorporated into the food of a lupus prone mouse line that we had developed. Pacritinib prevented many of the facets of the lupus phenotype. As pacritinib is approved for the clinical treatment of another disease, it can also be used for the treatment of human patients with lupus. |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of pacritinib incorporated into the mouse food The collaborator also paid for the cost of the research consumables and animals used in the study (£16,277 |
Impact | A paper was published in 2023 in Lupus Science and Medicine http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2022-000822 |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Evaluation of the efficacy of drugs that switch off the protein kinase SIK for the treatment of asthma and other diseases |
Organisation | Beatson Institute for Cancer Research |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Testing whether SIK inhibitors prevent disease in a mouse model of allergic asthma |
Collaborator Contribution | Development and synthesis of SIK inhibitors. |
Impact | https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.06.07.447230 SIK inhibitor programme purchased by a biotechnology company focused on the development of anti-inflammatory drugs Collaboration with Japanese Pharmaceutical company on SIK inhibitors. Discussion with major UK pharmaceutical company on SIK inhibitors. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Role of ALPK1 in regulation of innate immunity |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Synthesis of the bacterial metabolite ADP-heptose; use of cell signalling technology and mass spectrometry to understand how ADP-heptose signals. |
Collaborator Contribution | Generation of ALPK1 knock-out mice, mouse model of colitis. |
Impact | ADP-heptose produced and shipped to Oxford.to enhance Oxford's programme on ALPK1 and colitis |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Role of SIKs in plasma cell differentiation |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Department | Leeds Institute of Cancer & Pathology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided tissues from SIK kinase-inactive mice; Ran in vivo immunisation models in SIK kinase-inactive mice and provided tissues for analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Analysis of B cell markers, plasma cell differentiation and signalling |
Impact | Poster presentation at Immunology 2018 conference (by collaborator's student) PhD award (collaborator's student) |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Role of SIKs in plasma cell differentiation |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided tissues from SIK kinase-inactive mice; Ran in vivo immunisation models in SIK kinase-inactive mice and provided tissues for analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Analysis of B cell markers, plasma cell differentiation and signalling |
Impact | Poster presentation at Immunology 2018 conference (by collaborator's student) PhD award (collaborator's student) |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Steve Ley |
Organisation | Francis Crick Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are studying the mechanism by which mice expressing a ubiquitin-binding defective mutant of ABIN2 develop intestinal inflammation |
Collaborator Contribution | Steve Ley our collaborator has provided an antibody that recognises ABIN2 and has provide advice that has been useful in advancing this project |
Impact | Publication .10.4049/jimmunol.1700614 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | British Council sponsored lecture tour of India |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I gave 6 lectures over an 8 day period, 2 in Kolkata, two in Guwahati and 2 in Mumbai. In Kolkata I lectured at the Indian Institute for Chemical Biology and talked with staff and students about my current research on the innate immune system. I also lectured to doctors, patients and staff at the Tata Medical Centre, one of the world's largest cancer hospitals, about the development of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. In Guwahati I lectured at the Indian Institute of Technology and had discussions with staff and students and gave a further lecture to a Dhwani an association of medical doctors about the therapeutic value of kinase inhibitors. In Mumbai, I gave a lecture to undergraduates at the KJ Somaiya College of Science and Commerce and lectured and had discussions with doctors and research staff at the Tata Memorial Centre |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Careers talk to PhD students at UCL |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Gave a careers talk to a group of PhD students at the University College London. Question and Answer session followed the talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Interview published in the Dundee Courier |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview to mark the 50th anniversary of my appointment at the University of Dundee. News article released in the Dundee Courier and featured on the Scottish news on national television. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Keynote Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The International Society for Systemic and Auto-Inflammatory Disseases (Genoa, Italy, March 31st - April 2nd 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Keynote Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | International Meeting on Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Indiana University, USA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Keynote lecture at Biotechnology conference at the University of Extramadura, Badajoz, Spain |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I gave the closing Keynote lecture at a Biotechnology conference organised by PhD students at The University of Extramadura, Badajoz, Spain in July 2023. The lecture was attended by the Spanish Minister of Science. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Lecture at AstraZeneca, Cambridge UK (July 23rd 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lecture to celebrate the Centenary of the founding of The University of Wales Cardiff School of Pharmacy (Nov. 20th 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh (July 30th 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The biannual UK and Ireland meeting on NF-?B (Liverpool, UK, October 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Lecture at a scientific symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | On 29th September 2020, I gave a lecture at a scientific symposium held to celebrate the 100th birthday of my Post Doctoral mentor Edmond Fischer - Seattle, USA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Lecture at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I gave an invited research seminar at the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria in September 2023 and spent the rest of the day talking with the Research Team Leaders in the institute about the ongoing research projects in their labs. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Lecture to Pfizer USA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Gave a virtual lecture to staff members of Pfizer USA in April 2021. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | MacTV BBC Alba Documentary on Parkinson's |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A documentary on Parkinson's that will also include a segment on the MRC PPU's Parkinson's research as well as an interview with myself on the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee. To be aired on BBC Alba, the BBC's Gaelic Channel, on Monday 18th March 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Motion lodged in Scottish Parliament by Morrice Golden MSP |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Motion lodged in Scottish Parliament by Morrice Golden MSP and supposed by 25 other MSPs was passed unanimously by parliament and stated that "The Parliament congratulates Professor Sir Philip Cohen on 50 years of working for the University of Dundee". Notes that Sir Philip spearhead the creation of Life Sciences and Biotechnology industry in Dundee, providing a significant boost to the local economy; understands that his discoveries concerning a new class of enzyme called Protein Kinasis have been used by pharmaceutical companies to develop and improve treatments for Cancer diseases; recognises that Sir Philip has sought to encourage young researchers through his establishment of the Tricia Cohen Memorial Trust, in memory of his late wife with will fund 6 PhD studentships; commends Sit Philips status as one of the UK's most honoured Scientists, with 44 world wide awards between 1977 and 2016; and wishes him well in his continued research in to the inmate immune system. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Opening Keynote lecture of a conference on pseudokinases |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | On 20th April 2020 I gave the opening keynote lecture of a conference on pseudokinases, Munich, Germany. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Publicity surrounding the two Lifetime Achievement Awards |
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 | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Following The Lifetime Achievement Awards that I received from Scotland's Life Science Industry and The Herald Higher Education Lifetime Achievement Award from The Herald Newspaper, press articles about the awards were published in The Scotsman and the Herald respectively. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | The Edgar da Cruz e Silva Memorial Lecture. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | SIGNAL 2019, Algarve, Portugal The Edgar da Cruz e Silva Memorial Lecture. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | The GAP summit, Trinity College Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I participated in a discussion about "The road from Academia to Industry" with Sir Greg Winter and Stephen Caddick at the GAP summit, Trinity College Cambridge in April 2018. This was a meeting of 100 selected PhD students who are from across the world who are interested in Biotechnology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | The Great Lectures series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Great Lectures series - British Council sponsored lecture tour of India. Six lectures given at Universities and Hospitals in Kolkata, Guwahati and Mumbai - February 2nd-12th 2019 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | The Special Symposium Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The 60th annual meeting on Advances in Biological Regulation, Bologna, Italy (September 2019) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Translational oncology meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Translational oncology meeting in Madrid, May 2021 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |