Novel signalling disruptors and enhancers that affect function of the cAMP signalling pathway

This Proposal outlines plans for further development of a research group competing at an international level in the field of cell signalling. The group employs functional genomics and platform technologies in the national FUGE programme to identify new genes implicated in specific pathways and networks and to study the function of identified genes and the corresponding proteins and their integrated function in signal pathways and complex signal networks. Specifically, our group has formed alliances with technology platform applications to FUGE on proteomics, mouse genetics and molecular imaging. Furthermore, a set of alliances with excellent international collaborators have been formed that will serve the projects we are developing in terms of new technologies in functional genomics, providing opportunities for exchange of researchers and technology transfer. Evaluation will be through rigorous internal review in weekly project meetings and regular contacts/meetings with collaborators. In addition, the group will recruit one or two excellent international reviewers to follow progress. International benchmarking will be by extensive travelling, exchange of postdocs and international collaboration. The group aims to elucidate molecular mechanisms of cellular communication (called “cellular signalling”) that contribute to disease. We are interested in mapping of new signal molecules in the cAMP signal pathway and to devise and evaluate therapeutic strategies where disrupted or enhanced signalling events overcome disease states.We expect to unravel new drug targets and develop new therapeutic strategies for commercial exploitation and have a commercial strategy that includes handling of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) before interfacing with biotechnology and bio-pharmaceutical industries.