Molecular diagnostics design and novel post-genomics chemistry
Research activities
The Wolfson Centre for the Rational Structure-Based Design of Molecular Diagnostics is the focus for our multidisciplinary approach to developing new methods and molecular systems for biological and clinical detection needs.
For the last few years we have focused research on the development of novel approaches for genomic and post-genomic molecular diagnostics, which will provide new generic tools applicable to any nucleic acid detection. The design platform for innovative self-assembling molecular diagnostic tools was set up based on the high-resolution NMR structural analysis of a photosensitised DNA tandem system by Dr Elena Bichenkova and Professor Ken Douglas.
Based on comprehensive fluorescence studies they have developed novel ultra-specificity nanoscale detection probes for high-throughput screening of nucleic acids. One novel detection system arose from their invention of novel fluorescent dyes based on exciplexes that have no fluorescence until assembled correctly (in three dimensions) by their own biological target. This system can detect single and double mismatches and will be useful for SNP detection. This novel technology platform was developed in a LINK collaboration which also involved the Drug Delivery group. Other methods based on metallocomplexes are also being studied in collaboration with inorganic chemists in the School of Chemistry.