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.

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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:
 

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.

Read about our 2021 impact case studies

Head of Division

Portrait photo of David Horn
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Professor David Horn

Professor of Parasite Molecular Biology

Professor Horn’s research focusses on Neglected Tropical Diseases, caused by trypanosomes. Areas of expertise include drug resistance, drug development, gene expression control, immune evasion, molecular genetics, and high-throughput genetic screens.

d.horn@dundee.ac.uk

+44 (0)1382 386286

Deputy Head of Division

Academic staff

Beatriz Baragaña
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Dr Beatriz Baragana

Principal Investigator, Apicomplexan Portfolio Manager

The Baragaña lab (DDU apicomplexan portfolio) is focused on delivering effective and safe treatments for malaria, cryptosporidiosis and schistosomiasis exploiting novel biological pathways.

B.Baragana@dundee.ac.uk

+44 (0)1382 386059

Portrait photo of Mark Field
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Professor Mark Field

Professor of Cell Biology and Parasitology

Professor Field’s work principally exploits the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei and efforts to leverage genomics and proteomics resources to provide insight into virulence mechanisms and basic cell biology, with specific interests in protein transport systems and nuclear organisation. He has interests in bioinformatics, graphic design, functional genomics and eukaryotic evolutionary biology.

m.c.field@dundee.ac.uk

+44 (0)1382 384860

Associates

Emeritus

Key contacts

Name Role Email
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

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News

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