Strategic Vision for Biomedical Translation at Sussex
We aim to translate our excellent biomedical discovery science, based on world recognised research strengths in Genome Stability and in Neuroscience, to :
- understand the links between biological mechanisms and human disease
- identify and develop biomarkers for disease stratification
- identify novel lead compounds for discovery science and clinical development
- influence future clinical practices.
Progress to Date
In 2009/10, as part of the renewal of the MRC Centre grant for the Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC), a 10 year plan was developed to implement translational science in the School of Life Sciences (SoLS) at the University of Sussex (UoS). Over the past 3 years SoLS has implemented this translational strategy by exploiting the opportunities arising from our internationally recognised biomedical discovery research activities in Genome Stability (in the GDSC) and in Neurosciences. In support of this strategy we have:
- established a Translational Drug Discovery Group (TDDG) based in the Department of Chemistry, which has already attracted substantial external investment;
- established Sussex Neurosciences (SN) to bring together a broad range (>50 PIs) of neurosciences research across the Schools of Life Sciences, Psychology, Informatics and Engineering, and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS);
- developed a portfolio of funded early-stage translational projects through collaboration of discovery scientists within the GDSC and TDDG, and clinician scientists in BSMS (see Supplementary Information);
- formed a strategic partnership with the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) including shared PhD students;
- developed a joint Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) with the Barts Cancer Institute (BCI).
Translational Platform
The Next Stage
Over the next 2 years, we will develop this strategy by providing an environment in which clinically targeted multi-disciplinary translational research projects can be pursued. Over 5 years we will develop a platform for early-stage translation using the established GDSC-TDDG collaboration (years 1-3) and role this out to SN-TDDG collaborations during years 3-5.
To achieve the next phase we are establishing a multidisciplinary infrastructure platform connecting clinical, biological, structural and medicinal chemistry components of ‘early-stage’ translational projects, by :
- identifying target proteins and pathways linked to disease aetiology/progression;
- defining clinical settings amenable to pharmacological target manipulation;
- providing preliminary data on tractability and disease relevance to support further competitive funding applications
In addition we are strengthening the clinical power of the platform by leveraging regional clinical associations with ICR and BCI and by shaping and driving developing translational research programmes in cancer and neurological/psychiatric disease in BSMS and the Brighton and Sussex University Hospital (BSUH), as part of pending new BSMS appointments in Cancer Medicine and in Neurology, and the implementation of the BSUH NHS Trust’s 3Ts development.