University of Birmingham scientists are working with partners at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), China, to develop new drugs that could help tackle global epidemics.
Scientists are working to develop new drugs that could help tackle global epidemics
University of Birmingham scientists are working with partners at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (GIBH), China, to develop new drugs that could help tackle global epidemics.
University of Birmingham researchers have already identified a number of compounds that are looking promising as potential therapeutic treatments, and University of Birmingham Enterprise, the University’s technology transfer company, is optimistic that the collaboration will result in novel drugs for infectious diseases.
The chemistry for drug candidates is designed by a team of Birmingham researchers led by Professor John Fossey, Reader in Synthetic Chemistry, and Dr Luke Alderwick, Director of the Birmingham Drug Discovery Facility.
The team of expert GIBH researchers then design and synthesize new molecules with better drug-like properties.
The biological activity of the resulting molecules is then tested by both institutions before the molecules are optimised further.
This process is expedited by the rapid sharing of data through the University of Birmingham’s BEAR DataShare facility, which was developed by the University to enable secure sharing of project-related data across the world, even by mobile phone.
The University of Birmingham has a long-standing relationship with the city of Guangzhou, which is also the sister city of Birmingham itself. The University opened its Guangzhou Centre in 2011 and its China Institute has forged close links with partners in the city and beyond.
GIBH is a high-profile research institute, run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality. Research areas include stem cell and regenerative medicine, chemical biology, public health, immunology and infectious diseases.
ENDS
For further information contact Ruth Ashton, Reputation & Communications Development Manager, E: r.c.ashton@bham.ac.uk, T: 0121 414 9090, M: 07989 558041
About University of Birmingham Enterprise
University of Birmingham Enterprise supports academics who want to innovate, take their ideas to market, work with businesses and social enterprises, or enrich their professional lives by doing academic consultancy projects. We do this by providing enterprise training, funding, office and laboratory space, and a full technology transfer service. University of Birmingham Enterprise also manages the incubation services and facilities at the Birmingham Research Park.
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.
For more information about the University of Birmingham’s Drug Discovery Facility see: www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/bddf.
About Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health
Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (GIBH) was established in 2006. GIBH is exploring disease mechanism with cutting-edge technologies and developing innovative protocols for disease control and prevention. It provides an R&D platform in biomedicine and functions as an incubator for bioengineering and pharmaceutical industries to support local economic development as well as national strategic science and technology programs.
