Drug Discovery Unit
We translate basic science into lead compounds to validate putative drug targets, to use as tools to investigate disease pathways and, when appropriate, advance to pre-clinical drug candidates.
We work to biotech style philosophy and standards incorporating, dynamic, goal driven project management based on target product profiles and compound selection criteria. Our major research themes are:
- neglected tropical diseases
- innovative targets and pathways
The DDU has all of the capabilities required for:
- early phase drug discovery
- assay development
- high throughput screening
- cell biology
- medicinal chemistry
- structural biology
- computational chemistry
- DMPK
All of these capabilities operate under one management structure to ensure an integrated approach and rapid progress.
Currently the team is about 120 people and includes substantial experience from the pharmaceutical/ biotech sector. This website contains details of current programmes and supporting infrastructure.
Head of Unit
![Portrait photo of Ian Gilbert](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2021-10/Ian-Gilbert.jpg?itok=KBtkRuz8&h=8e991751)
person
Executive
![Mahmood Ahmed](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2024-04/Mahmood-Ahmed.jpg?itok=nboDoK3J&h=949ea557)
person
![Beatriz Baragaña](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2023-04/beatriz_baragana-2.jpg?itok=5TYeSj27&h=448b7633)
person
![Mike Bodkin](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2023-07/mike-bodkin.jpg?itok=cg-esNT_&h=a8f81697)
person
![Portrait photo of Manu de Rycker](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2020-05/manu_de_rycker.jpg?itok=hXSPUiye&h=b5ed17df)
person
![Catharine Goddard](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2023-08/Catharine-Goddard.jpg?itok=gW20NYe4&h=7257d60f)
person
![Portrait photo of David Gray](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2021-10/David-Gray.jpg?itok=pHVlzCKB&h=e5ed79fd)
person
![Portrait photo of Charlotte Green](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2019-09/charlotte-green.jpg?itok=ESllu_mL&h=e139969c)
person
![Portrait photo of Kevin Reid](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card_portrait/public/2019-09/kevin-reid.jpg?itok=XBOlvcQK&h=56afca49)
person
person
Leadership
Name | Role | |
---|---|---|
Dr Laura Cleghorn | TB Portfolio Manager | L.A.T.Cleghorn@dundee.ac.uk |
Dr Vincent Postis | Molecular Interaction Team Leader | vpostis001@dundee.ac.uk |
Dr Gary Tarver | Synthetic Methodologies Team Leader | g.j.tarver@dundee.ac.uk |
Dr Duncan Scott | Team Leader | dscott004@dundee.ac.uk |
Publications
Stories
![Professor Satpal Virdee](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2024-04/Satpal%20Virdee%202024%20-%20reduced.jpg?itok=E9lmW7iT)
News
A University of Dundee spinout has announced a multi-million pound deal to develop first-in-class therapeutics that restore the body's natural disease suppression processes.
![group shot of staff in ddu](/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2024-04/Image%201_DDU.png?h=1a1d35e1&itok=G2T0u1-k)
Press release
Outstanding scientific research at the University of Dundee has been honoured by Scotland’s national academy
![Group of scientists wearing lab coats and protective eyewear, three woman in front and two men in row behind, standing in a lab with science equipment around them.](http://cdn-acquia.dundee.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2024-02/DDU%20team.jpg?itok=z5XCwxX6)
Press release
Scientists have discovered a way to stop active cancer cells in their tracks – meaning they can then be eliminated by new drug treatments.