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A team of world leaders in the growing scientific field of biomolecular interaction has received an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant to help them develop world-leading technology, which will in turn help discover novel treatments for cancer and other disorders.

The project - involving basic biomedical research and the discovery of new pharmaceuticals - combines the knowledge and expertise of the laboratories of Associate Professor Kevin Pfleger, of The University of Western Australia/Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Professor Stephen Hill, of The University of Nottingham.

Both are leaders in bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)/fluorescence technology development and will work with bioluminescent industry leader Promega Corporation and leading laboratory instrumentation company BMG Labtech Pty Ltd (Australia) to further develop these technologies.

Professor Pfleger said the integrated international approach was critical for the development of the best technology, enabling academics, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to discover novel treatments with fewer side effects for a range of disorders, including cancer.

"Working together to develop the methodology, reagents and instrumentation will enable us to establish world-leading high throughput and real-time resonance energy transfer technologies, specifically to monitor pharmacology in live cells," he said.

"It's expected that the proposed systems will be major advances for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, significantly improving pharmaceutical development, both in terms of identifying novel compounds of interest and better understanding the biochemical basis of pharmacological activity."

Media references

Associate Professor Kevin Pfleger (Head, Molecular Endocrinology and Pharmacology, UWA/Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research) (+61 4) 61 510 734

David Stacey (UWA Public Affairs)(+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716