Sussex CiC 2016: Enabling translational discovery of new neuroscience therapeutics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The Confidence in Concept scheme is a key part of MRC’s translational research strategy and provides annual awards to institutions, to be used flexibly to support the earliest stages of multiple translational research projects. The award can be used by the institution to support a number of preliminary-stage translational projects. The projects supported should aim to provide sufficient preliminary data to establish the viability of an approach –– before seeking more substantive funding. It is intended to accelerate the transition from discovery research to translational development projects by supporting preliminary work or feasibility studies to establish the viability of an approach.
Publications
Strawson W
(2022)
Voice Hearing in Borderline Personality Disorder Across Perceptual, Subjective, and Neural Dimensions
in International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
| Title | A stucture based approach to identifying novel inhibitors of serine racemase using state of the art X-ray crystallographic screening (X-Chem) (Mark Roe) |
| Description | We collected data on 712 crystals soaked with fragments supplied by Diamond Light Source. Nearly 200 binding events were observed and investigated further. While many of these were of no interest (i.e. binding at crystal contacts or on surface loops), two sites of interest were found, with over 20 fragments between them. These fragments are allowing us to design new molecules that we hope will inhibit Serine Racemase. The first round of optimisation of these is currently underway. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | These fragments are allowing us to design new molecules that we hope will inhibit Serine Racemase. The first round of optimisation of these is currently underway. |
| Description | 'Identification of potent and selective inhibitors to investigate the Role of Epithelial Sodium Channels in Neurodegeneration' Martin Gosling |
| Organisation | Apconix Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provision of reagents and compound library to screen Assay development |
| Collaborator Contribution | Unlimited access to two IonWorks platforms Guidance during assay development |
| Impact | No current outputs, expect to have HTS screening data from 14000 compounds screened against the ENaC delta channel |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | 5: Identifying neural, cognitive, and phenomenological markers of auditory verbal hallucinations in Borderline Personality Disorder (Hugo Critchley) Wavelength Project |
| Organisation | Mark Ware |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Stimulus construction for experimental studies supported through research studies |
| Collaborator Contribution | n/a |
| Impact | Public communication e.g. at British Science Festival Brighton 2017 Publication: Mind-wandering and alterations to default mode network connectivity when listening to naturalistic versus artificial sounds. Gould van Praag C, Garfinkel SN, Sparasci O, Mees A, Philippides AO, Ware M, Ottaviani C, Critchley HD. Scientific Reports 45273 doi:10.1038/srep45273 Touring at exhibition/ lectures by Mark Ware |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Identifying neural, cognitive, and phenomenological markers of auditory verbal hallucinations in Borderline Personality Disorder Hugo Critchley |
| Organisation | Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Extra staffing resources have been added to function as a personal point of contact with local therapeutic communities, attend more informal meetings to familiarise potential participants with the research staff, and to answer potential questions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Patient recruitment |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | X-Chem fragment based screening as a new approach to identify novel negative allosteric modulators of GluK1 receptor to treat epilepsy (Marco Derudas) |
| Organisation | Diamond Light Source |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | 1. Biological target provided proteins to perform experiments 2. Medicinal chemistry expertise 3. Perform biological screening |
| Collaborator Contribution | Staff training to perform XChem fragment screening and provided fragment libraries, reagents, accommodation and subsistence. |
| Impact | 3 disciplines - Medicinal chemistry, Structural biology and Cellular Biology |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | 3. The role of Sigma1 as a regulator of Ca2+ homeostasis: implications for Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (Ruth Murrel-Lagnado) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Ruth Murrell Lagnado and Majid Hafezparast gave a talk to the Lewes branch of the University of the Third Age in January 2018, on the subject of Drug Discovery in the treatment of neurological disorders. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |