Postgraduate Prospectus

The Molecular and Cellular Bacteriology Research Group (MCBRG) is housed in the Centre for Biomolecular Sciences which provides excellent opportunities for multidisciplinary research in cellular and molecular bacteriology, medicinal chemistry, structural and cell biology, tissue engineering and both computational and mathematical systems biology.

The MCBRG undertakes fundamental and translational research programmes targeted at important bacterial pathogens including Neisseria, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Staphylococcus (MRSA), Pseudomonas and Yersinia. This research incorporates projects on molecular mechanisms and evolutionary aspects of bacterial inter-cellular (quorum sensing) and intra-cellular signaling mechanisms, bacterial host-cell interactions and experimental infection models. Furthermore, MCBRG members are investigating the biology of these micro-organisms using genomic, proteomic and metabolomic approaches with a view to developing novel antimicrobials.

MCBRG also has extensive research projects on protein secretion mechanisms, exotoxin and colicin structure and function, the development of rapid diagnostics for healthcare-associated infections as well as preventative and therapeutic vaccine development. A very well supported research area within this group is the advanced metabolic engineering of clostridia to maximise the production of biofuels (butanol and ethanol) and other useful chemical commodities and the creation of second generation, sustainable biofuel producing strains better able to degrade plant cell walls.

MCBRG is also studying biofilm biology, bacterial sporulation and germination and the exploitation of bacteria for cancer therapy. In addition, systems and synthetic biology programmes are also being developed specifically in the context of biofuels and cell-cell communication.

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The Virus Research Group investigates the pathology, natural history and molecular biology of persistent viral infections.

Current research programmes focus on the pathology and treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections. The group’s research aims to provide a better understanding of virus-host interactions, and to develop novel anti-viral interventions.

It shares close links with clinical virologists at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and is part of the Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, which translates laboratory research findings directly into the clinical research environment. This research programme is currently developing novel treatments for viral hepatitis.

Major research themes are directed towards understanding the natural history and treatment of HCV infection, the molecular biology of virus envelope glycoproteins, mechanisms of virus entry, and the role of humoral immunity in preventing virus infection. In addition the Disease Modelling Group’s programme of research is aimed at the development of novel tissue engineering models of viral pathogenesis. communication.

Key Links

Virology homepage

The five year overall survival rates of patients with AML in the UK are 44 per cent for patients under 55 years old and just 13 per cent for patients older than 55 years. A number of different cytotoxic drugs are used to treat AML and there are many new agents in clinical trials. In addition, patients with AML and other haematological disorders, may undergo a haematopoietic stem cell transplants.

The Nottingham Haematology Group, headed by Professor Nigel Russell, encompasses both clinical and laboratory research. The clinical research has a pioneering interest in the development of peripheral blood stem cells for matched and unrelated donor transplantation.

The group has one of the UK’s largest bone marrow transplant (BMT) programmes with participation in national and international clinical trials in BMT and cord blood transplantation. The laboratory research focuses on understanding both the pathogenesis of AML and the chemo-resistance phenotype often seen in the disease.

Areas of particular interest in AML research include the role of the ABC drug transporter protein family, DNA damage and repair mechanisms, telomere maintenance, identification of factors that predispose to AML and understanding contributory factors underpinning minimal residual disease. The research aims to identify ways to maximise the therapeutic efficacy of existing drugs and to evaluate new treatments for AML.

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Professor Nigel Russell

Dr Claire Seedhouse

The Immunology Research Group’s interests focus on the cellular and molecular basis of immunologically-mediated conditions, with a view to identifying better biomarkers and developing more effective clinical intervention strategies. Working as a cross-disciplinary team, the group’s research interests include the molecular basis of allergy, tissue modelling, autoinflammation and clinical immunology, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) immunopathology, lectin biology and tumour immunology.

Major research themes include allergen recognition by the immune system and the therapeutic potential of anti-allergy antibodies, hereditary autoinflammatory disease with specific emphasis on the mechanisms by which mutations in the Tumour Necrosis Factor Receptor I (TNFR1) give rise to the autosomal dominant autoimmune inflammatory disease, TRAPS (TNF Receptor Associated Periodic Syndrome), the contribution of lectin receptors expressed by macrophages and dendritic cells to disease, and the immunobiology of COPD with particular reference to the roles played by natural killer, T regulatory and dendritic cells.

Key Links

Immunology homepage

Post-genomic Technologies Facility

Oncology aims to develop new treatments for cancer by undertaking research at the interface between laboratory and clinic. The group is focusing on this and brings together scientists and clinicians with a broad range of expertise, including cell and molecular biology, immunology and clinical cancer medicine.

The basic oncology research encompasses the tumour immune interface, the way cancer spreads and the mechanisms by which tumours overcome damage induced by anti-cancer treatments. Novel ways to enhance the anti-cancer immune response have been discovered, mechanisms of how cancers can manipulate the immune system identified and strategies to overcome this immune blockade have been developed.

The Monoclonal Antibody (Mabs) Group have developed a unique strategy to generate Mabs targeting tumour glycolipids and have validated this approach by producing two colorectal cancer Mabs, licensed to Arana Ltd/Kyowa Hakko for clinical development. Glycolipids are ideal targets for drug discovery as they are aberrantly overexpressed by tumours and are functional co-accessory molecules essential for most physiological processes.

Currently the group is producing Mabs targeting ovarian, gastric and pancreatic tumour glycolipids. The Translational Radiation Biology Research team has identified means to improve diagnosis of vascular invasion in cancer and is investigating the genes that regulate metastatic spread. They recently identified proteins that are responsible for regulating responses to conventional therapies and how these may be targeted in future treatment strategies. The DNA Repair team is developing novel agents which increase the sensitivity of cancer to chemotherapy and is working towards bringing these into the clinic.

Academic oncology researchers are working in partnership with the Clinical Cancer Centre to deliver palliative care research and a world class clinical trials service. Phase I, II and III trials are carried out in partnership with other academic institutions and the pharmaceutical industry, in local, national and international clinical trials. The group has an international profile in several cancer types including melanoma, renal, breast, gynaecological and upper gasto-intestinal tract cancers. Importantly the close collaboration between laboratory and clinic encourages fertile exchange of both ideas and clinical material to facilitate more effective cancer research.

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Oncology general

Immunotherapy

Host Tumour interactions

Translational Radiation Biology

Breast Pathology

Translational DNA-repair

Supportive and Palliative Care

The Pathology Research Group is a joint University and NHS venture with bases at both Queen’s Medical Centre and the City Hospital, Nottingham. The group has research interests in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases and the pathology and clinical management of patients with breast and colorectal cancer.

The Breast Cancer Pathology Research Group has an international track record in the classification of breast cancer, diagnosis of breast disease, evaluation of prognostic factors in breast cancer and understanding of the mechanisms governing hormone response in breast cancer.

The group also has expertise in studying the genetics of colorectal cancer and, in particular, the role of Wnt signalling. This signalling pathway is disrupted in a variety of different tumour types and is important for the maintenance of stem cells in normal tissues.

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Professor Ian Ellis

Professor Mohammad Ilyas

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for complex diseases provide an unbiased method for identifying genes involved in disease pathogenesis. The group is involved in the largest GWAS for late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease (which has identified at least three new genes) and for the UK Genetics of Pre-eclampsia (GOPEC) consortium. The Human Genetics Group has also been involved in the collection of a large resource of COPD samples, which will be used in similar studies. Over the coming decade these will provide the impetus for the study of novel genetic pathways in disease and provide targets for therapeutic intervention. Following gene identification, the functional effects of polymorphisms on mRNA expression, splicing and translation are investigated.

The Human Genetics Group also has an interest in the identification of biomarkers for disease, and we are currently working in collaboration with Nottingham Trent and Loughborough Universities who have an international reputation in this field, with the aim of developing biomarkers for COPD and AD.

Key Link

School of Molecular Medical Sciences Human Genetics website