Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery (BCDD)
Improving our understanding of pathogen biology and transforming drug discovery for both infectious and non-infectious diseases; making the previously undruggable, druggable.
We target lethal and debilitating pathogens, address urgent unmet patient needs, and deliver new medicines; working in a multi-disciplinary, highly collaborative and well-resourced research environment. Delivery is enabled through technological innovation, research excellence, and partnerships with research and development organisations and pharmaceutical companies.
World-leading centres and teams
BCDD incorporates the following world-leading centres and teams:
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research
A hub for innovation in neglected tropical disease drug discovery.
- Drug Discovery Unit
Translates basic science into pre-clinical drug candidates.
- Mode-of-Action group
Undertakes drug target deconvolution studies with anti-infective compounds.
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation
Revolutionising drug discovery by making the previously undruggable, druggable.
Core strengths
Cross-cutting core strengths and innovation areas include:
- drug-resistance
- chemical biology
- glycobiology
- medicinal chemistry
- gene expression control mechanisms
- genetic manipulation
- high-throughput screening
- proteomics
- molecular interactions
- imaging
- informatics
Infectious diseases
Infectious diseases we target include:
- African trypanosomiasis
- leishmaniasis
- Chagas disease
- malaria
- cryptosporidiosis
- cryptococcosis
- schistosomiasis
- tuberculosis
Training and mentoring are embedded at all levels. Several highly successful spinouts and start-ups have attracted major investment.
- Tropical diseases [African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, malaria]
- New approaches to drug discovery [Targeted protein degradation, Exscientia]
Head of Division

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Academic staff

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Associates

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Key contacts
Name | Role | |
---|---|---|
Shona McInroy | Lab Manager | bcdd-chemlabmgt@dundee.ac.uk |
Jamie Curran | Lab Manager | bcdd-biollabmgt@dundee.ac.uk |
Susan Ross | Senior Technical Support | bcdd-chemlabmgt@dundee.ac.uk |
Kirstie Hughes | PA to Prof Ian Gilbert | k.y.hughes@dundee.ac.uk |
Diane Purves | PA to Prof Alessio Ciulli | d.purves@dundee.ac.uk |
Debbie Tarver | PA to Prof Sir Mike Ferguson & Prof David Horn | d.tarver@dundee.ac.uk |
Deborah Moorjani | Secretary | BCDD-Admin@dundee.ac.uk |
Professor David Gray | Public Engagement Champion | d.w.gray@dundee.ac.uk |
Scott Hendry | Senior Technical Support | bcdd-biollabmgt@dundee.ac.uk |
Cavan Short | Lab Management Support Technician | bcdd-bioltech@dundee.ac.uk |
Euan Waugh | Lab Management Support Technician | bcdd-bioltech@dundee.ac.uk |
Margo Petrie | Senior Division Secretary | BCDD-Admin@dundee.ac.uk |
Pamela Johnstone | Division Secretary | BCDD-Admin@dundee.ac.uk |
Publications
News

News
A collaboration between the research laboratories of Dr Mattie Pawlowic and Dr Susan Wyllie in the Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research at School of Life Sciences has generated a new tool that can be used for studying Cryptosporidium.

News
New collaborative research led by the recently appointed University of Dundee Professor Marcus Lee.

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Dr Susan Wyllie has been awarded the prestigious C.A. Wright Memorial Medal from the British Society for Parasitology in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the discipline.

Press release
A University of Dundee academic has been identified as one of the future stars of science.
News
Review of the Year 20212 took place last week with the Dean, Julian Blow sharing the highlights of activity within the School from 2022.

News
We have a bumper crop of promotions this year as part of the 2022 Annual Review process for academic staff.

News
Dr Michele Tinti recently participated in a biomedicine crowdsourced challenge instigated by DREAM Challenges. Michele was placed 10th out of almost 300 registered participants and 26 finalist teams.