ProfessorAlan Fairlamb

My research career has been devoted to the discovery and development of improved therapies for ‘neglected’ tropical diseases. The overarching theme of my research has been the discovery and detailed molecular characterisation of potential drug targets; and their assessment for essentiality and “druggability” by genetic and chemical methods.

To bridge the translational gap from basic research to preclinical drug candidate, together with Professor Mike Ferguson, we founded the Drug Discovery Unit at the University of Dundee in 1995. In ten years of operation, it has grown from about 20 to over 80 scientific staff and has broadened its remit to include diseases of the developed world with unmet medical need. Currently, I am an advisor on several drug discovery projects for malaria, human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas’ disease and visceral leishmaniasis.

My studies on the modes of action of existing drugs, and the mechanisms by which parasites develop resistance to them, has allowed me to explore broad areas of parasite metabolism, drug and nutrient transport and cell biology that differ significantly from their human hosts.

My investigations into parasite antioxidant defences and the mode of action of arsenical drugs resulted in the discovery of trypanothione, a truly unique metabolite in trypanosomes and leishmania (kinetoplastids). My current basic research activities involve identification and molecular characterisation of novel drug targets and their validation using genetic and chemical approaches, with particular reference to trypanothione, polyamine, folic acid and biopterin metabolism. I am also working to identify the targets and mode of action of potent, novel cytocidal compounds identified from biological (phenotypic) screens.