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A new vision: restoring eyesight using a novel gene therapy technique
Scientists created a technique to give photoreceptors infrared-light sensitivity, allowing the animal models to see infrared heat signatures.
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Genomics
Genomics is the branch of molecular biology concerned with the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes.
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Application of organoid technology for retinal disease modelling and drug discovery
The loss of retinal light-sensing photoreceptor cells is a leading cause of blindness and the number of individuals affected by retinal degenerative diseases is increasing with an ageing population. Currently, there are no treatments for these diseases and progress in finding new treatments is slow. This article explores the potential…
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Using genetics to identify drug targets for fibrotic lung diseases
Researchers recently conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify factors that increase susceptibility to the incurable lung condition idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Here, Dr Richard Allen shares some of the study’s key findings.
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The Crick HTS facility – facilitating research through large-scale screening
The high-throughput screening (HTS) facility at the Francis Crick Institute in the UK provides a core service for Crick research groups. It enables scientists to use large-scale, unbiased screening technologies and approaches as part of their research. Nikki Withers spoke to the Science Technology Platform Head, Michael Howell, to hear…
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SARS-CoV-2 mouse model recapitulates human infection
Researchers develop a knock-in mouse expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) to model SARS-CoV-2 infection for research and therapeutic or vaccine testing.
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First studies of human genetic variation released by the gnomAD Consortium
The Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) Consortium has released seven papers leveraging its database to study genetic variants and their potential for guiding discovery of safer drugs.
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Gangliosides enable hepatitis A to infect hepatocytes
Researchers use CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing to establish gangliosides are invoved in hepatitis A entering liver cells, revealing a potential drug target.
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Imaging In-Depth Focus 2020
The articles in this in-depth focus discuss the difficulties in deciding what information to capture when imaging three-dimensional (3D) cell models and the use of non-invasive imaging techniques to discover small molecule drugs to control protein translation.
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Immuno-oncology In-Depth Focus 2020
This in-depth focus features articles on using combinations of immuno-oncology drugs to target solid tumours and haematological cancers and how neoantigens of cancer cells could be used as the basis of novel immuno-oncology vaccines.
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Drug Target Review – Issue 2 2020
In this issue authors discuss the development of COVID-19 antibody therapies, how high-throughput screening enhances research at the Crick Institute and why combinations of immuno-oncology drugs could revolutionise treatment of advanced cancers. Also included in the issue are articles on stem cells and imaging.
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Study reveals potential targets for upper motor neuron disease therapies
The researchers revealed the mechanism by which signalling becomes dysfunctional in upper motor neuron (UMN) diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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Human enzymes could be driving COVID-19 evolution, suggest researchers
Post-infection genome editing could be the cause of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, driving its evolution.
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Results from first epigenetic study in 3D human cancer cells published
A new paper describes the first full study of the epigenetics of human tumour organoids, suggesting this could be used to develop novel oncology treatments.
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Procedure developed to create murine models of COVID-19 for testing of therapeutics and vaccines
Russian researchers have created a process for the development of mouse models for use in pre-clinical studies of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.
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Researchers analyse SARS-CoV-2 genome, identifying 198 mutations
After analysing the genomic diversity in SARS-CoV-2 by screening over 7,500 viruses from infected patients, researchers have offered clues for COVID-19 drug development.
