About the project
This project aims to expand the arsenal of nucleic acid therapeutics and provide powerful alternatives for gene silencing. You will work on the design, chemical synthesis, and evaluation of a new class of nucleic acid therapeutics.
Nucleic acid therapeutics that silence gene expression have recently emerged as powerful precision medicines. Unlike conventional small molecule drugs, which act on proteins, nucleic acid therapeutics bind to RNA, altering or silencing the production of disease-associated proteins. We can design these for individual patients based on their genome and develop them in a much shorter time frame than other drug classes.
Nucleic acid therapeutics are short analogues of DNA that are chemically modified to provide stability and target affinity in the body. Unfortunately, the current chemistries used for nucleic acid therapeutics result in poor cell uptake, poor biodistribution, and potential toxicity.
You will develop new tools and chemical modifications to develop a class of potent gene silencing agents, with the aim of overcoming the above challenges. You will use organic chemistry to synthesise novel chemical modifications, incorporate these into synthetic nucleic acids, and then evaluate the constructs using a range of in vitro assays.
This project provides an excellent opportunity to receive training in organic synthesis, nucleic acid chemistry, and a range of chemical biology techniques. You will also have the option to attend relevant international conferences and training events.
