Life Sciences at the University of Dundee - Top University in the UK for the quality of our Biological Sciences research
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Top University in the UK for the quality
of our Biological Sciences research
Research Excellence Framework 2021
Life Sciences at
the University
of Dundee
Welcome
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
The University of Dundee is one
of the leading universities for Life
Sciences research1 and one of the
world’s top 250 universities.2 We’re
located in Scotland’s fourth-largest
city, Dundee, on the picturesque
Law Hill, Dundee
banks of the River Tay.
Our international reputation
for excellence in both teaching
and research attracts top-class
students and academics from
all over the world – over 145
countries are represented in our
University community.
We’re a progressive, future-focused
institution, where we aim to
transform lives, locally and globally,
through the creation, sharing and
application of knowledge.
1
esearch Excellence Framework 2021
R
2
Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021
1
Welcome
Carnelley Building
Welcome
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
At the School of Life Sciences we are proud of
our international reputation as one of the leading
research institutes in Europe. This reputation
has been gained through our endeavours in
three core areas: research, learning and teaching,
and impact and translation.
There have been huge advances in Life Sciences over the last few decades.
To adapt to these changes, we believe that it is crucial for our staff and
students to be able to work fluidly across disciplinary boundaries. This
philosophy is reflected in our structure, with all the basic biological
disciplines housed together in our main research complex. To encourage
interactions between all our staff and students, we promote a collegiate
culture of working together. We value the diversity in our staff and students
and are home to about 700 academics and scientists from more than 50
countries - it is these people who are essential to our success.
1 6
No. No. in the UK
university in the UK for the value of our spinouts
for quality of research over the last two decades
in Biological Sciences → U
niversity Spinout Report 2021,
→ R
esearch Excellence Framework 2021 GovGrant
To support our staff and students so that →L earning and teaching: The University has
they can work to the best of their ability we: been given a 5 Star rating - the highest
→p rovide outstanding laboratory and possible - by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in
technology facilities 2022 across categories including teaching,
→a ctively encourage interdisciplinary and employability and academic development.
translational research → I mpact and translation: We are the 6th
→a re committed to instilling the highest in the UK and 1st in Scotland for the value
standards of professional integrity of our spinouts over the last two decades
→ s upport equality, diversity and (University Spinout Report 2021, GovGrant).
inclusivity initiatives
→o ffer excellent career development This brochure gives an overview of our School.
opportunities Further information can be found on our
website, lifesci.dundee.ac.uk, or by contacting
The success of our strategy can be us directly using the details on the back cover.
demonstrated in many ways, but examples
of how we have succeeded in our 3 key core Professor Julian Blow,
areas are: FRSE FMedSci,
→ Research: We are the top-rated University Dean of Life Sciences
in the UK for the quality of our research
Life Sciences Building
in Biological Sciences, according to
the most recent national research
assessment exercise (Research
Excellence Framework 2021)*
2 3
Research Excellence
Excellence
Research
Research Excellence
6 Research in the School of Life Sciences
→ Outstanding interdisciplinary research
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
→ Collaboration is key
→ High quality infrastructure
→ Investment in our people
8 History of Life Sciences
10 Overview of our Centres, Divisions and Units
→ Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery
→ Cell and Developmental Biology
→ Cell Signalling and Immunology
→ Computational Biology
→ D'Arcy Thompson Unit
→ Drug Discovery Unit
→ Gene Regulation and Expression
→ Geomicrobiology Group
→ Medical Research Council Protein
Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit
→ Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group
→ Molecular Microbiology
→ Plant Sciences
→ Targeted Protein Degradation
→ Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives
Research
4 5
Research Excellence
Research in the
Life Sciences Building
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
School of Life Sciences
Our research involves studying the molecular and cellular
mechanisms underlying human health and disease.
This has global impact and has been recognised in
metrics of scientific excellence that place the University
of Dundee high in its rankings. To continue as a world
leading institution, we focus on our research and teaching
excellence, environment and people.
Outstanding interdisciplinary research Collaboration is key
We support and promote outstanding life To achieve research success, scientists
science research. Our expertise spans working on similar topics are grouped together
from drug discovery to plant sciences and into our different centres, divisions and units.
gene regulation to computational biology. We actively encourage interactions between
Interdisciplinarity and translation play key research groups within and across divisions. In
roles in our work, which has led to major addition to working together within the School
clinical and environmental impact. Our and University, we also see our academic work
research is strengthened by mutually as an international enterprise. We collaborate
beneficial partnerships with key funding every day with colleagues at institutions
agencies, industry and academic institutes around the world. Our view is that these High quality infrastructure Investment in our people
in the UK and beyond. collaborations work best bottom-up, driven
by shared interests and then supported at Excellent research requires high-quality People are central to our success. The
institutional level. facilities, services and physical infrastructure. diversity in our staff and students enhances
We have invested substantially, and continue our environment and how we approach our
to do so, to maintain such an environment for work. To allow everyone in the School to work
our staff and students. This supports them to to the best of their ability, we are committed
Postgraduate students in the Discovery Centre ‘Street’ deliver significant progress in the translation to the highest standards of professional
of our research to address national and global integrity and strive to provide a supportive
health challenges. work environment. We uphold exemplary
standards in recruitment and development of
all categories of staff, underpinned by equality,
diversity and inclusivity initiatives that align
with the Athena SWAN charter. The School of
Life Sciences is a proud recipient of an Athena
SWAN Silver Award.
No.
1 in the UK
for influencing
innovation
→ Nature Index 2017
5 th
in Europe
for impact of
scientific research
→ CWTS Leiden Rankings 2021
6 7
Research Excellence
History of Life Sciences
1990
2006
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
The MRC Protein Phosphorylation and
2021
Ubiquitylation Unit was established by Sir
1990
Philip Cohen FRS as Director and continues
1917 Sir David Lane FRS moves to
today under the leadership of Dario Alessi FRS.
The Unit pioneered kinase profiling research
that transformed the development of new
therapeutic drugs. It continues to be at the
→ The Drug Discovery Unit is
formed by Sir Mike Ferguson CBE
FRS and Alan Fairlamb CBE to fill → Creation of Centre
for Targeted Protein
Sir D’Arcy Thompson FRS, the void in the discovery of drugs
Dundee to continue work on forefront of protein phosphorylation and for tropical diseases (human African Degradation led by
Dundee’s first Professor
p53. He is knighted for services ubiquitylation research. trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Alessio Ciulli
of Biology and pioneer
to cancer research in 2000. Chagas' disease and malaria).
1881
of mathematical biology,
→ Sir James Black Centre opens.
2014
published his seminal work
1970s 1998
‘On Growth and Form’.
Mary Ann Baxter created
University College, Dundee for → The Division of Signal Transduction Therapy The newest building of the Life Sciences
→P eter Garland CBE is appointed as
‘the education of persons of established by Sir Philip Cohen FRS and Sir Pete complex opens. The Discovery Centre for
the first Chair of Biochemistry.
both sexes and the study of Downes OBE. It is one of the longest standing Translational and Interdisciplinary
→ New purpose-built facilities,
Science, Literature and collaborations between the pharmaceutical Research brings together biology with
Medical and Biological Sciences
the Fine Arts.’ industry and an academic institute. chemistry, physics, and computer science.
Institutes open.
→ The Wellcome Trust Building opens.
1967 1990s 2000s
The expansion of scientific research in the
2018
1897
I rwin McLean FRS, Birgit School with multiple key appointments
University of Dundee
Lane and colleagues further strengthened research activity
becomes independent
show, for the first time, the in the University. These efforts were First human clinical
1987
of St. Andrews.
linkage of keratin gene reflected in Dundee being named top trials commence for
University College University in the UK for the quality of our the malaria compound
mutations with several
became part of the Biological Sciences research (Research that was discovered
severe skin disorders.
University of St Andrews. Excellence Framework 2014). by Ian Gilbert and
Grahame Hardie
FRS defines the key colleagues in the Drug
cellular energy sensor Discovery Unit. This
called AMP-activated new compound has
1980s 2000 2016
the potential to treat
1883
protein kinase
(AMPK), for the first malaria patients in a
time. Pharma will later single dose.
launch significant
The Carnelley Building, the first Pioneering research by David Lilley Jason Swedlow embarks on a research Wellcome awards £13.6m to Dundee
drug development
purpose-built building on campus FRS on the structure and folding of programme developing an image- to establish the Centre for Anti-
campaigns in diabetes
opens. It is named after the first nucleic acids, including specialised management system, Open Microscopy Infectives Research under the
and cancer in relation
Professor of Chemistry in Dundee, branched structures of DNA, begins Environment, geared to the needs of directorship of Paul Wyatt.
to regulation of AMPK.
Thomas Carnelley. in Dundee and continues to this day. quantitative microscopy. In 2011, he wins
the BBSRC Innovator of the Year.
8 9
Research Excellence
Plant Sciences at the James Hutton Institute
→ D
’Arcy Thompson Unit → D
rug Discovery Unit
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
The D’Arcy Thompson Unit encompasses all School of Life The Drug Discovery Unit is a fully operational, fully integrated
Sciences staff who are based at the Carnelley Building, drug discovery group working across multiple disease areas.
the home of undergraduate Biological and Biomedical We collaborate with partners in industry and academia to
Sciences teaching, on city campus. These staff focus on the translate world-class biology research into novel drug targets
learning and teaching activities involved in coordinating and and candidate drugs. We have two areas of activity, diseases
delivering our degree programmes. In doing so, they work of the developing world and innovative targets portfolio (ITP)
closely with academic staff in the School of Life Sciences covering diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and
research divisions and in the School of Medicine. psoriasis. Building on the success in these areas we have
developed an Antibacterial Drug Discovery Accelerator with
the aim to discover new antimicrobial drugs.
→ G
ene Regulation and Expression → G
eomicrobiology Group
Overview of our Centres,
Divisions and Units Our research focusses on the molecular machines that
regulate gene function which in many cases are inter-
related. Areas of interest include DNA repair, DNA replication,
Our prime focus is on geomycology, the scientific study of
the roles of fungi in processes of fundamental importance
to geology. In particular, how fungi impact on metal-mineral
chromosome segregation and chromatin biology. In transformations, bioweathering and bioremediation.
addition, we study how environmental and developmental Understanding these methods will allow us to harness the
→ B iological Chemistry and → C
ell and Developmental Biology factors such as immune signalling, reproduction and innate abilities of fungi. They may be used to clean up
Drug Discovery starvation impact on gene expression. The interplay between polluted waterways or extract rare metalloids required by the
these processes means that there is a lot of opportunity for electronics industry, for example.
synergy in our research. Looking forward, the aim is to apply
expertise in gene regulation to further the understanding
Our overarching theme is the discovery of chemical solutions Our researchers investigate the mechanisms of and treatment of diseases such as cancer.
to biological problems. Our purpose is to design new drugs differentiation in developing organisms, stem cells and
through understanding the basic biology of the causative adult tissues and how these are corrupted in disease states.
agents such as kinetoplastid parasites alongside determining Classical embryology and genetic approaches are combined
mechanisms of drug resistance. Our researchers work with multi-scale systems analyses to understand gene
Drug Discovery Unit
closely with the Drug Discovery Unit and Wellcome Centre regulation and function, including super-resolution/long
for Anti-Infectives Research, and share many of the same term cell and tissue imaging, genome-wide analyses and
staff and resources. mathematical modelling.
→ C
ell Signalling and Immunology → Computational Biology
Our research is relevant to the pathologies associated with Computational Biology brings together scientists with skills
cancer, diabetes, infectious disease, autoimmunity and in developing and applying computational, mathematical
allergy. A common theme that links activities is a shared and biophysical techniques to questions in biological
interest in the mechanisms that cells use to sense external and medical research. Division members either have
and internal signals. Remarkably, the biochemical ‘wiring’ their own “wet-lab” or collaborate closely with “wet-lab”
underlying these often diverse systems overlaps, providing experimentalists or clinicians. Our aim is to extract
unexpected opportunities for collaboration among the maximum value from experimental data that informs the
different groups. development of predictive algorithms and models that
may be tested experimentally.
10 11
Research Excellence
→ M
edical Research Council Protein → M
olecular Microbiology
Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
1 “I lead a growing multi-disciplinary group
The Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation Our division encompasses a spectrum of research that of over 40 people and of well over 10
and Ubiquitylation Unit is a major research centre that flows from fundamental science using model organisms
focusses on the understanding of the biological roles of to translational research on medically- and economically- nationalities, that is part of our new
phosphorylation and ubiquitylation and how disruption significant species. Research on a broad platform of topics Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation
of these processes causes human diseases such as includes: molecular determinants of bacterial virulence; (CeTPD). You can really see how people
neurodegeneration, cancer, hypertension and immune host responses to microbial pathogens; fundamental
disorders. The ultimate goal of our research programmes is physiological processes in microbial cells, including
benefit from mixing with such a diverse
to help develop new improved strategies to treat disease. transport and generation of the cell surface; inter-bacterial backgrounds, sharing knowledge and
The Unit operates as an intersection between life scientists, interactions; and identification of potential targets for also learning from each other on the
pharmaceutical companies and clinicians to ensure that we antimicrobial intervention or biotechnological applications.
make a critical contribution to medical research, together
day-to-day human level. This kind of
reaching a deeper understanding of disease. environment not only improves us as
scientists but also as individuals.”
→ N
ucleic Acid Structure → P lant Sciences Professor Alessio Ciulli
Research Group Professor of Chemical and Structural Biology
2
Our work centres on the structural, dynamic and chemical Plant Sciences is an internationally recognised centre for
properties of nucleic acids, and their recognition by and molecular plant science addressing the global challenges
interactions with proteins. Our approaches provide further of food security, renewable energy, conservation and
understanding of areas such as biophysics (especially climate change. We investigate the genes and processes
fluorescence, including single molecule spectroscopy), underpinning important plant traits such as yield, disease
mechanistic chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. resistance, stress tolerance, developmental characteristics,
and end-use quality. Our researchers are located at the
James Hutton Institute on the outskirts of Dundee with whom
we have a long-standing strategic partnership. This brings
our plant researchers together with scientists with knowledge
of applied research in crop species including front-line crop
and pathogen genomics, genetics and cultivar production.
→ T argeted Protein Degradation → W
ellcome Centre for
Anti-Infectives Research
3 4
The Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation is pioneering The vision of the Centre is to help tackle the urgent unmet
an entirely new approach that is revolutionising drug medical need and lack of drug discovery research for
discovery. By co-opting the cell’s natural disposal Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). This will be achieved
systems to remove disease-causing proteins, targeted by creating a world-leading hub for NTD drug discovery and
protein degradation is making the treatment of diseases being the collaborator of choice for academics, Pharma
previously thought to be undruggable a reality. This work is and Product Development Partnerships in the translation
applicable to diverse therapeutic areas including oncology, of discovery science into drug candidates. The Centre also
dermatology, immunology, neuroscience and respiratory includes programmes in training scientists from disease
diseases. We translate our fundamental science via two endemic countries and public engagement activities aimed
mechanisms: strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical at enhancing public awareness of NTDs, understanding of
companies, exemplified by ongoing PROTAC drug discovery the drug discovery process and why it is important.
collaborations with Almirall, Boehringer Ingelheim, and
Eisai; and creation of spin-out companies, exemplified by
the Dundee-born high-growth biotech company Amphista 1
Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory
Therapeutics. These partnerships are accelerating the 2
Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit
3
Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery
advances we are making in this field. 4
Plant Sciences at the James Hutton Institute
12 13
Environment
Environment
Our
Environment
16 Environment
→ Research environment
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
→ State-of-the-art facilities
→ Outstanding in-house support
→ Undergraduate teaching environment
18 Research techologies
→ Dundee Imaging Facility
→ Fingerprints Proteomics Facility
→ Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Facility
→ Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Facility
→ X-ray Crystallography
19 Other technologies
→ National Phenotypic Screening Centre
→ High Performance Computing facilities
14 15
Environment
Environment 1
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
We provide a fast-paced, collegiate and supportive
environment for our staff and students. With access
to state-of-the-art technologies and collaborative
opportunities, it is a setting that facilitates scientific
innovation and discovery.
The School of Life Sciences research complex the existing research complex. This space is a
consists for four physically interlinked buildings place for meeting, collaboration and networking.
with our undergraduate teaching, led by the It incorporates a café, informal break-out areas
D'Arcy Thompson Unit, based separately at and a venue for public engagement. Our café and
the Carnelley Building. Both locations are LifeSpace (Scotland’s first science-art research
based on city campus of the University. In gallery created in partnership with the University’s
addition, our Division of Plant Sciences is Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design) State-of-the-art facilities Central Technical Services (media services
located at the James Hutton Institute in provide the perfect place for a break from the lab. and wash up), health and safety, IT support,
Invergowrie 20 minutes away. All our laboratories in the research complex are stores team, laboratory management and
Sharing of latest research findings can take open-plan, which encourages collaboration and administrative support.
Research environment place in one of our lecture theatres, many interdisciplinary working. They are equipped with
meeting or seminar rooms. Our dynamic research state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. These Undergraduate teaching environment
Our research complex has evolved over the environment is supported by a raft of different include:
past five decades to continually provide our activities. These include our Annual Research → ‘wet’ laboratories for chemistry, biochemistry The Carnelley Building, our undergraduate
researchers with a well-equipped and Symposium that showcases the work taking and microbiology teaching hub, is home to the D’Arcy Thompson
stimulating environment. It has been designed place in the School and our prestigious named → t issue culture suites for categories 1, 2 Unit and associated staff who support the
to maximise collaborative working by promoting lecture series featuring world-leading scientists, and 3 level work and designated spaces undergraduate teaching programmes. Lecture
interactions across different disciplines and many of whom are Nobel Prize winners. Each for radioactivity theatres and laboratories for undergraduate
research groups. This allows the best and most research Division runs its own seminar series that → r ooms specially designed for working with teaching are based here. City campus amenities
innovative research to take place. bring to Dundee international leaders in their various model organisms such as yeast, such as the Dalhousie Building (a designated
respective fields. This provides opportunities for Drosophila, Xenopus laevis and C. elegans teaching facility that houses an array of lecture
An enclosed atrium ‘Street’ was created between PhD students and postdocs to meet and discuss → in-house research technologies and expertise theatres, IT suites and general teaching spaces)
our newest building, the Discovery Centre for their work with these world experts. (more details in technologies section) and the Library and Learning Centre, further
Translational and Interdisciplinary Research and →a high quality ‘dry’ laboratory for enhance our students learning experience.
computational biology research
→ c utting-edge plant science facilities located The D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum is also
within our Division of Plant Sciences based at located in the Carnelley Building. It houses many
the James Hutton Institute. fascinating specimens from around the world.
Discovery Centre 'Street'
Most of them were collected by the celebrated Sir
Outstanding in-house support D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson, the first Professor
of Biology at the University of Dundee.
A critical component of our research success is
the quality of infrastructure and in-house support
enjoyed by our scientists. These include our
1
rug Discovery Unit
D
2
Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory 2 3
3
Discovery Centre 'Street' Café
16 17Environment
Technologies → H
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
uman Pluripotent Stem Cell Facility
Our School is equipped with world-class research technologies
and expertise led through our Centre for Advanced Scientific We help researchers to integrate the use of human
pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into their work. We provide
Technologies (CAST), which are available to all our staff and students. our researchers with undifferentiated embryonic stem
cells (hESCs) and hiPSCs, training in working with human
pluripotent stem cells, and expertise in the development
The Centre for Advanced Scientific Technologies comprises of: of cell-based assays. Our facility is jointly supported by the
Schools of Life Sciences and Medicine.
→ D
undee Imaging Facility → X -ray Crystallography
We exist to support the research ambitions of scientists Crystallography is the most powerful method for determining
across the University. Our facilities include: light microscopy, the atomic three dimensional structures of large biological
3D structured illumination, tissue imaging, electron molecules. We provide specialist equipment and expertise to
microscopy, image analysis and the physics and life science link protein structure with function and rational drug design.
lab. We offer support across a broad range of imaging
modalities and can advise on experimental design from
sample preparation, through acquisition to analysis.
Other technologies
→ F ingerprints Proteomics Facility
→ N
ational Phenotypic Screening Centre
We provide a state of the art proteomics and mass
spectrometry capability to researchers at the University
and to external academic and industrial clients across Our centre applies advanced phenotypic approaches to
the globe. We have an excellent reputation for: expertise, identify new chemical biology tools, discover drugs or
reliability, efficiency, delivery of service, value for money, perform other high throughput biology experiments. We
and confidentiality. focus on the use of more predictive and patient-centric
bioassays to increase the effectiveness of the pre-clinical
drug discovery process, reducing the time and cost to
translate basic research into a clinical outcome.
→ F low Cytometry and Cell → H
igh Performance Computing facilities
Sorting Facility
We provide high-quality training and on-going technical We have facilities that allow for computational analysis,
support in the use of flow cytometer analysers to enable simulation and modelling of large quantities of data. We
researchers to perform independent sample analysis. Facility support a multi Petabyte scalable, hierarchical data store
staff are able to provide sample and data analysis for urgent based on IBM’s Spectrum Scale (aka GPFS) filesystem. This
or small-scale experiments. We also perform all cell sorting provides high speed SSD storage close to the user. For robust
applications and are on-hand to provide technical support for data protection we also have daily backups to two locations.
sample preparation and sort design.
18 19Teaching and Training
and Training
Our Teaching
Our Teaching and Training
23 Undergraduate
→ Research-led teaching
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
→ Degrees with a real-world focus
→ Employable graduates
→ Accreditation by the Royal Society of Biology
→ Real research experience opportunities
24 Internationalisation
25 Postgraduate
→ Research projects at the forefront of
international science
→ Research and professional skills
→ Supportive and collegiate environment
→ Career support
20 21Teaching and Training
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
“The best thing about my course is that the teaching
staff will go over and beyond to help their students in Our Teaching and Training
any way. I have been given so many opportunities since
I started the course, from funded summer internships in We consider training and nurturing of the next
the research labs of the University to an honours project generation as a top priority. We are committed
that was organised for me based on my own interests.”
to training and supporting students and scientists
Margarita Kalamara at every stage of their careers through our
Biological Sciences MSci student from Greece undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Undergraduate
Life Sciences Lecture In the School of Life Sciences, undergraduate Employable graduates
teaching is led by members of the D’Arcy
Thompson Unit. Their work over recent years has We understand the importance of preparing our
seen our degree programmes rise rapidly up the graduates to shape the world in which they live, not
rankings to consistently be listed in the top 15 simply fit into pre-defined roles using pre-defined
universities in the UK for Biological or Biomedical skills. That’s why we emphasise the importance
Sciences (Complete University Guide 2022, of collaboration and flexibility throughout our
Times Good University Guide 2022, Quacquarelli teaching, and why our graduates leave us prepared
Symonds (QS) Subject Rankings 2022). to take on the challenges of the modern world.
Research-led teaching Accreditation by the Royal Society
of Biology
Our undergraduate degrees in Life Sciences
provide innovative approaches to teaching Our undergraduate BSc Honours and integrated
and learning that are directly informed by the masters (MSci) degree programmes in Biological
excellence of our research. In the latter years of and Biomedical Sciences have full accreditation
our undergraduate courses, our internationally- and advanced accreditation respectively from
acclaimed research staff design and deliver the Royal Society of Biology. This means our
courses, ensuring our teaching is informed by our courses are recognised for their academic rigor
world-class research. and excellence. In addition, it acknowledges
that we equip our graduates with solid academic
Degrees with a real-world focus foundations and the skills employers are looking
for.
Our research collaborations with the world’s major
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies Real research experience opportunities
allow our students to explore real-world issues in
the context of their studies. We offer a number of summer research internships
for undergraduates, giving students invaluable
experience of working in real research laboratories
(outside term-time) during the summer months.
4
The schemes are open to both University of
Dundee students and those from elsewhere,
including international students.
No.
in the UK
for graduates entering a
professional occupation
→ G
raduate Outcomes Survey
June 2020
22 23Teaching and Training
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
Undergraduate laboratory practical
Postgraduate Taught Postgraduate
We have a number of opportunities We offer a suite of taught MSc courses in
open to postgraduate students which Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, which
aim to address their various interests include the option of studying business-
and requirements. All our offerings are related modules such as entrepreneurship
underpinned by the following: and marketing. These courses focus
on areas of major current interest in
Research projects at the forefront the biopharmaceutical sector, to arm
of international science students with the particular knowledge
and skills that biotech and pharmaceutical
We train students in research methods companies as well as research facilities in
1
and practice. We do this through academia are looking for.
outstanding, high-quality research
projects at the forefront of international
science in well-equipped laboratories. Postgraduate Research
During their training, students learn the
theory, practice, capabilities and We also offer opportunities to carry out a
limitations of modern techniques in life research project through our Masters by
science research. Research or our PhD programmes.
Research and professional skills Our PhD programmes offer studentships
and scholarships to UK, EU and overseas
We train students in the generic skills of applicants through a variety of funding
scientific research such as experimental mechanisms and from the University itself.
design, data analysis, literature survey and These include 4-year doctoral training
2 communication skills. There is provision for programmes from Wellcome and the
on-going personal, professional and career Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
development. This includes opportunities Research Council, through our EASTBIO
to participate in public engagement and and BARIToNE partnerships. A number of
training on topics such as enterprise and specific opportunities for international
research funding. students such as the China Scholarship
Council Programme are also available.
250
Supportive and collegiate
Internationalisation environment Further details can be found on our PhD
pages on our website or please contact
World A British degree is highly respected and The University has strong links with We aim to make our postgraduate studies sls-phdadmin@dundee.ac.uk for any
Top valued by employers across the globe. Singapore, Malaysia and China, in particular an exciting and rewarding experience. enquires.
As a university, we have a long tradition in the area of Life Sciences. We have a We do this by providing an intellectually
University of welcoming people from all over the
world which provides an enriching
joint undergraduate degree programme
with our prestigious partner institution, 3
exciting and supportive work environment.
The School and University have excellent
environment for all. the National University of Singapore, support services, looking after students
→ Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 one of the top 15 universities in the world from fresher’s week to graduation.
Not only do we welcome students from (QS World University Rankings 2022), and
other countries here, but our students welcome students articulating from Central Career support
have the opportunity to study abroad South University in China, from Taylor’s
during their degree. This can be for one University in Malaysia and from the in We endeavour to provide our postgraduates
semester or a full year. Study abroad Malaysia. We are about to launch a double with diverse skills sets so they are capable
is extremely beneficial to personal and undergraduate degree with the Indonesian of making leading contributions in careers
professional development, and research International Institute for Life Sciences in science, business and policy over the
has shown that employers worldwide i3L in Jakarta, Indonesia. We continue to next decades. We assist our students to
value graduates with intercultural build relationships with institutions in these obtain appropriate employment upon
awareness and global competences. countries and beyond so that we further completion of their studies.
enhance our teaching and research.
1
ellcome PhD students
W
2
Discovery Centre
3
MRC Doctoral Training Programme Retreat
24 25Impact and Translation
Translation
Impact and
Impact and Translation
28 Translation, collaboration with industry and commercialisation
29 Innovation through interdisciplinary research
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
30 Commercialisation and company generation
26 27Impact and Translation
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
Innovation through interdisciplinary research
To maximise our research impact, we place of new tools and capabilities is always tied
innovation and interdisciplinary research at the to real world, scientific use. In collaboration
centre of our work. Bringing together expertise with scientists in Bristol, Cambridge and the
across disciplines allows us to address complex European Bioinformatics Institute, the team in
biological questions using the latest technology Dundee built the first general biological image
and knowledge in an effective manner. repository that stores and integrates data from
Impact and Translation Jalview, an open source software programme
created and maintained by the team of
multiple modalities and laboratories. Image
Data Resource (IDR) is a public database that
collects and integrates imaging data related
Professor Geoff Barton, integrates large to experiments published in leading scientific
Translation, collaboration with industry and commercialisation collection of biological sequences, such as journals. This allows wider accessibility to
DNA, RNA and protein with information about this data plus new research connections from
Whilst discovery science is at the heart of what we do, we also We also house the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy their function and role in disease. It is the separate projects have been discovered.
strive to translate our work, as appropriate, to solve “real world” (DSTT), founded in 1998, which is the world’s longest running de-facto standard software for multiple IDR resources will continue to be run by OME
problems. Our School has some sophisticated mechanisms to collaboration between academic research laboratories and the sequence alignment and analysis. This helps as part of the wider EMBL-EBI BioImage
facilitate translation, collaboration and innovation: pharmaceutical industry. Based within the Medical Research scientists working on genetic disease make Archive project.
Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC- sense of their data and improve the prediction
Our Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) bridges the gap between PPU) the consortium with the pharmaceutical industry, including of the effect of mutations in the human The School also houses the Laboratory for
academic scientific research and charitable and commercial Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck, has attracted genome on disease. Quantitative Proteomics, one of the world’s
drug discovery and development. Since opening in 2006, £65 million in funding since its inception. The DSTT is widely large research facilities for quantitative
the DDU has grown to over 130 FTEs covering target screening regarded as a model for how academia and industry can interact The Open Microscopy Environment (OME) proteomics and data analytics. This facility has
and validation, computational and medicinal chemistry, productively. The funding enables our scientists to continue their software team headed by Professor Jason allowed the laboratory, led by Professor Angus
pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism and mode-of-action. fundamental research in multiple therapeutic areas, including Swedlow produce open tools to manage, Lamond, to create solutions for performing
It is one of the largest academic drug discovery facilities in cancer, arthritis, lupus, hypertension and Parkinson’s disease. analyse and understand large sets of image large-scale, high-throughput proteomics
the world. data. OME seeks to build specifications and projects. The research team has developed
In the latter research area, Professor Dario Alessi and colleagues software that allow scientists open, flexible, integrated innovative proteomics, molecular
Their work is supported by funding from several sources within the MRC-PPU uncovered the first physiological targets of scalable access to their imaging data. biology and computational approaches to study
including Wellcome, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UKRI, LRRK2, an important target enzyme in Parkinson’s disease. Their OME’s work and projects are undertaken as gene expression and disease mechanisms in
Medicines for Malaria Venture, and through partnerships with research, assays and reagents for measuring LRRK2 activity are collaborations with academic, industrial or humans and model organisms.
pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Takeda being used by several pharmaceutical companies to allow the commercial partners, so that the development
Pharmaceuticals. Exciting advances currently in clinical trials preclinical development of selective LRRK2 inhibitors and for
include the development of a single exposure treatment for the adoption of LRRK2 clinical biomarkers in the first clinical
malaria, the creation of two new therapeutics for the treatment trials to test the effectiveness of new drugs to treat people with
of people with visceral leishmaniasis and a cancer therapeutic. Parkinson’s. Moreover, the MRC-PPU is heavily involved in patient
stratification for participation in Parkinson’s disease clinical trials
Our new Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) and has benefitted significantly from bilateral engagement with 1
chool of Life Sciences Building
S
is leading in this entirely new drug discovery approach. people with Parkinson’s disease through the Dundee Parkinson’s 2
Laboratory for Quantitative Proteomics
By co-opting the cell’s natural disposal system to remove Research Interest Group. 3
Drug Discovery Unit robot
disease-causing proteins, diseases that were previously
thought to be undruggable are becoming tractable. Led by The MRC-PPU also hosts one of the largest academic reagents
Director Professor Alessio Ciulli, a pioneer and leader in this and technologies sharing platforms. MRC Reagents and
area of chemical biology, the CeTPD is innovating in one of Services allows access to all the physical outputs from the
the most exciting areas of drug discovery. The Centre has research carried out by the Unit and School such as antibodies,
significant drug discovery partnerships with pharmaceutical proteins, DNA clones and screening technologies. The operation
companies suchas Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) and Almirall. also provides access to its reagents and technologies for the
biotech and pharmaceutical industries, as well as a full custom
production service for core reagents and bespoke kinase and
ubiquitylation enzyme screening as well as DNA sequencing. In
recent years, this has expanded to provide access to other MRC
funded translation from across the UK. 1 2 3
28 29Impact and Translation
Commercialisation and company generation
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
The University of Dundee has an international reputation → Glencoe Software: Design and production of
in Life Sciences innovation and translation. It has a software and data storage solutions for biological
unique infrastructure for professional drug discovery imaging. Glencoe Software is the commercial arm
and enjoys exemplary partnerships between industry of the Open Microscopy Environment, a community-
and academia. The University has a track record of led, open-source data specification and software
sustainable spin-outs from its intellectual property. development consortium.
In 2021, the University of Dundee was ranked 5th in
the UK by Octopus Ventures for its record of turning → In4Derm: Specialises in the discovery of drugs,
research into world-changing companies, and 4th in the which are safe and effective, for the treatment of 1
ingerprints Proteomics
F
Laboratory
UK by Parkwalk-Beauhurst for the volume of skin diseases including eczema, non-melanoma 2
Exscientia team
equity secured by its spin-outs (£251M). skin cancers and orphan skin diseases. 3
Jalview laboratory,
2 3
Computational Biology
Examples of School of Life Sciences spin-outs and → Platinum Informatics: Developing powerful
spin-ins include: new software solutions for managing complex 1
informatics and multidimensional proteomics
→ Amphista Therapeutics: Developing drugs using scientific datasets in a wide range of laboratory
ground-breaking targeted protein degradation and industrial environments.
technology from the laboratory of Professor
Alessio Ciulli. Amphista received £38M of series-B → Ten Bio Ltd: An exciting new biotech spin out
investment in 2021 and was Scrip Awards Financing company offering innovative human skin explant
Deal of the Year. technology that allows superior retention of in
vivo physiological characteristics for testing of
→ Exscientia: Based on the work of Professor Andrew pharmaceuticals and cosmetics products, reducing
Hopkins, Exscientia develops and applies pioneering the need for testing in animal models.
articial intelligence (AI) drug design methodologies
that enhance the efficacy and the efficiency of drug → Ubiquigent: Enables and supports ubiquitin system
discovery for the pharmaceutical industry. Exscientia focussed drug discovery by developing novel
collaborates with leading pharmaceutical companies compounds targeted towards ubiquitin system
and underwent Europe’s largest IPO on the NASDAQ proteins as well providing access to a suite of
in 2021. With a market capitalisation of over $2Bn, comprehensive research services and reagents.
it is now one of the UK’s largest Biotech companies.
“Exscientia has demonstrated that AI in molecular design is here today.
With the global pharmaceutical industry acknowledging the importance
of incorporating AI-driven R&D approaches into their drug discovery
processes, we see a huge growth opportunity ahead. We believe Exscientia
is set to become a global leader in AI-driven drug discovery.”
Dr Rupert Vessey
President of Research and Early Development at Celgene
30 31Public Engagement
Engagement
Public
Public Engagement with Research
35 Engagement and sharing of knowledge
35 Schools Outreach
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
35 Partnerships
32 33Public Engagement
Public Engagement
with Research
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
To us, public engagement is by definition a two-way process,
involving interaction and listening, with the aim of sharing for
mutual benefit. It is an integral part of our role as scientists.
By engaging with each other we hope to learn as much from
you as you do about us – we believe that this is the best way
forward for true social and scientific progress.
2
1 Engagement and sharing of knowledge Partnerships
Our projects aspire to create a culture of knowledge Our vision is to build collaborative and creative partnerships
sharing and communication with the widest possible to deliver high quality, innovative engagement programmes
audience. Using a variety of technological and artistic that inspire participation in science and makes science
media we aim to deliver our research novel and stimulating relevant for everyone. We work with the wider expertise
ways. of staff from across the University, external partners and
culture organisations in Dundee and beyond to achieve this
Our staff and students contribute to a wide range of public goal. Examples include:
engagement activities including local festivals, events held
within the University and at venues across the city. → Animating Science is a partnership project with Dundee
Contemporary Arts that aims to develop stop motion
Schools Outreach animation skills with school pupils and teachers and
support them in creating animated films about Life
We have a strong outreach programme that aims to Science concepts and processes
support Scotland's schools with their delivery of outcomes → Working with Dundee Science Centre to create resources
and aims around science, topical and ethical issues, and content that reflect the research taking place in
careers, and interdisciplinary learning. Activities include Dundee. Material has appeared as part of the Centre’s
festivals, curriculum-linked activities, and our Summer Home Learning Programme, Science @ Home kits, STEM
Work Experience Week for S5-6 pupils. Clubs and their Microbe Zone exhibit
→ Collaborating with patient groups to create better and
more meaningful dialogues between people living with
3
the diseases we study and the scientists researching them
→ Art Science collaborations. These range from artist
residencies, working with teachers to create curriculum
1
linked workshops for secondary pupils and exhibitions at
“The work we do in the School of Life Sciences has LifeSpace Science Art Research Gallery with Duncan of
st a significant impact on people’s health, our shared Jordanstone College of Art and Design
→ The Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research has
faculty in the UK to be economy and environment. Today, making our science
had busy partnerships with both Girlguiding Dundee
awarded a Gold Engage accessible through public engagement is part of the and the Stobswell Forum, leading to outputs such as
Watermark responsibility and remit of being a scientist.” a nationwide ‘Virtual Sleepover’ and a 7-storey outdoor
mural respectively
Professor Nicola Stanley-Wall
Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Academic Lead Public Engagement leaders
→ G
old Faculty Watermark 2017
for Public Engagement
→ G
old Institution Watermark 2020
Our public engagement team push forward the boundaries
→ N
ational Co-ordinating Centre
for Public Engagement
in the field of public engagement. They work at the
1
itizen Science project at Tayport Community Garden
C institutional and national level to share their learning and
2
Microbe Zone at Dundee Science Centre
3
Of evolution and wonder, Emily Fong, WCAIR Artist-in-residence
best practice.
34 35Our people
Our people
Overview of our people in the
School of Life Sciences
38 Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation
Drug Discovery Unit
Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research
41 Cell and Developmental Biology
42 Cell Signalling and Immunology
43 Computational Biology
44 D'Arcy Thompson Unit
47 Gene Regulation and Expression
48 Geomicrobiology
49 Medical Research Council Protein
Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit
51 Molecular Microbiology
51 Nucleic Acid Structure Research Group
52 Plant Sciences
36 37Our people
→ iological Chemistry and Drug Discovery
B
→ Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
→ Drug Discovery Unit
→ Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research
Professor Alessio Ciulli FRSC Dr William Farnaby Professor Ian Gilbert FMedSci FRSE’ Professor David Gray BEM
is the Director of the Centre for Targeted Protein is in the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation. is Head of Chemistry in the Drug Discovery Unit is Head of Biology in the Drug Discovery Unit.
Degradation and is part of Biological Chemistry Utilising his expertise in medicinal chemistry focussing on tackling unmet medical need He has responsibility for the quality of output
and Drug Discovery. The Ciulli laboratory focus and chemical biology, his research investigates through small molecule drug discovery. He of the compound screening campaigns and
on dissecting and targeting protein-protein the use of small molecules to induce gain-of- is also Head of Biological Chemistry and Drug underpinning biological characterisation of the
interactions within the ubiquitin and chromatin function on target proteins to cause changes to Discovery, which is a multi-disciplinary and highly hit molecules including the integrated
systems. His expertise spans the fields of cellular signalling. His work has a particular focus collaborative research division, encompassing compound and data management functions.
Chemical Biology and Structural Biology and on Central Nervous System diseases where there both fundamental and translational research. He He is also part of Biological Chemistry and Drug
he is specifically concerned with studies of is high unmet medical need. is also a member of the Wellcome Centre for Anti- Discovery and the Wellcome Centre for Anti-
druggability of protein- protein interactions to dundee.ac.uk/people/william-farnaby Infectives Research. Infectives Research.
small molecule modulators. dundee.ac.uk/people/ian-gilbert dundee.ac.uk/people/david-gray
dundee.ac.uk/people/alessio-ciulli
Professor David Horn FRSE Professor Bill Hunter FRSE FMedSci FRSC
Professor Sir Mike Ferguson Professor Mark Field CBiol FRSB is a Wellcome Trust Investigator. He acts as is in Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery. His
CBE FRS FRSE FMedSci FRSB is a Wellcome Trust Investigator and is part of Deputy Head of Biological Chemistry and Drug research involves elucidation of the relationships
is Regius Professor of Life Sciences and Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery and the Discovery and the Wellcome Centre for Anti- that link protein structure to biological function
Academic Lead for Research Strategy. He Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research. Infectives Research. His research focusses on or chemical catalysis. The broad objectives
is part of Biological Chemistry and Drug His laboratory studies fundamental aspects of antigenic variation, drug action and resistance are to determine the mechanisms whereby
Discovery and the Wellcome Centre for Anti- parasite biology to identify new therapeutic and the application of genetic screens to the enzymes catalyze specific, sometimes unusual
Infectives Research. He is also Co-Director of targets for clinical intervention, focussing on the African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei. biosynthetic reactions or where protein
the Drug Discovery Unit. His research takes a African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei (the dundee.ac.uk/people/david-horn architecture regulates the transport of materials
multidisciplinary approach to understanding the causal agent of sleeping sickness in humans and or signals across a membrane.
biochemistry of protozoan parasites that cause livestock in sub-Saharan Africa). dundee.ac.uk/people/bill-hunter
tropical disease. He focusses on understanding dundee.ac.uk/people/mark-field
trypanosome protein glycosylation and
exploiting parasite-specific variations for
drug discovery. Dr Mattie Pawlowic Professor Kevin Read
dundee.ac.uk/people/michael-ferguson is a Sir Henry Dale Fellow. She is in Biological is Head of Drug Metabolism and
Chemistry and Drug Discovery and Wellcome Pharmacokinetics in the Drug Discovery Unit. His
Centre for Anti-Infectives Research. The passion is to successfully drive lead optimisation
Pawlowic lab studies Cryptosporidium forward, working closely with the medicinal
Category 3 Tissue Culture, Drug Discovery Unit
parasites. Research concentrates in two main chemists to deliver high quality candidate
areas: understanding the basic biology and molecules for entry into formal preclinical
biochemistry of Cryptosporidium, and drug development. He is also part of Biological
discovery. Developing new genetic tools to work Chemistry and Drug Discovery and the Wellcome
with the parasite will help both aims. Centre for Anti-Infectives Research.
dundee.ac.uk/people/mattie-pawlowic dundee.ac.uk/people/kevin-read
Dr Susan Wyllie Associates
is part of Biological Chemistry and Drug
Discovery, a key member of the Wellcome Centre
→ Dr Arthur Crossman
for Anti-Infectives Research and is the Head of
the Mode of Action Group. Her group is focused → Professor Jason Swedlow OBE FRSE
primarily on determining the molecular targets of → Dr Melissa D’Ascenzio FRSE
compounds capable of killing the parasites that
cause Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The → Dr Stephen Kelley FHEA FBPhS
insights that these studies provide play a vital
role in drug discovery for NTDs and Susan’s group
works closely with Drug Discovery Unit.
dundee.ac.uk/people/susan-wyllie
38 39Our people
→ Cell and Developmental Biology
lifesci.dundee.ac.uk
Professor Kim Dale FRSB Dr Jens Januschke Professor Inke Näthke FRSE FRSB Dr David H. Murray
is Associate Dean, International and Assistant is a Sir Henry Dale Fellow and Deputy Head of is Associate Dean for Professional Culture. is a Sir Henry Dale Fellow. His group aims to
Vice-Principal (International). The broad interest Cell and Developmental Biology. He leads a The aim of research in her laboratory is to understand the basic molecular mechanics in
of her laboratory is to further understanding of research group to examine the mechanisms identify the earliest changes in cancer of the the formation of subcellular structures, such as
how several genetic interactions come into play controlling stem cell polarity in consecutive intestinal tract by determining the molecular those of polarity and migration. These structures
at the earliest stages of development to build divisions in the developing Drosophila central mechanisms that govern the functions of the and their proper regulation are critical to human
the developing embryo. More specifically her nervous system. In particular, he is using life-cell APC protein, the major tumour suppressor in health. The group takes an interdisciplinary
research analyses primitive streak stem cells and imaging approaches to study the dynamics of this tissue. For her work she combines approach bridging membrane biophysical
the role of Notch in regulating cell fate choice cell polarisation in asymmetric division. biochemical and cell biological approaches methods to state-of-the-art protein biochemistry,
within these multipotent progenitor pools. dundee.ac.uk/people/jens-januschke with multi-dimensional imaging to understand imaging, and cell biology.
dundee.ac.uk/people/kim-dale how stem cell behavior shapes the dynamics dundee.ac.uk/people/david-murray
of healthy and diseased tissue.
dundee.ac.uk/people/inke-nathke
Professor Carol MacKintosh FRSB Dr Leeanne McGurk
is Head of Postgraduate studies in Life Sciences. Her research is focussed on understanding
Her laboratory is discovering how 14-3-3 how the posttranslational modification called Professor Pauline Schaap FRSE FRSB Professor Kate Storey
proteins regulate a constellation of intracellular PARylation impacts aging of the brain. Her work Her research interests lie in using a Dictyostelid FRS FMedSci FRSE FRSA FRSB
targets by docking onto specific pairs of aims toward a broad understanding of how model to investigate the signalling pathways is Head of Cell and Developmental Biology.
phosphorylated serine/threonine residues, PARylation is involved in brain function and to of encystation and explore whether crucial She investigates the cellular and molecular
masking functional domains and inducing determine whether pharmacological strategies regulatory proteins in these pathways might be mechanisms that direct neurogenesis; and has
conformational changes. This data is then that target this pathway could have therapeutic suitable targets for the design of drugs to recently discovered a new form of cell sub-
used to construct regulatory networks that potential in neurological disease. Her group takes inhibit encystation. division, apical abscission, which regulates
explain phenotypes relevant to cancer, an interdisciplinary approach that combines dundee.ac.uk/people/pauline-schaap neuronal differentiation.
neurodevelopmental and metabolic disorders. Drosophila genetics together with cultured undee.ac.uk/people/kate-storey
dundee.ac.uk/people/carol-mackintosh mammalian cells and neurons with in vitro
biochemical techniques.
dundee.ac.uk/people/leeanne-mcgurk
Professor Kees Weijer FRSE Associates
His research is focussed on cell-cell signalling
and chemotactic cell movement during
→ Dr Philip Murray
development. In particular he uses a
is a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics in the School of Science and
combination of advanced in-vivo imaging
Engineering and an associate of Cell and Developmental Biology.
methods and computational data analysis and
He works on biologically-motivated modelling problems. Areas of
modelling techniques to study cell movement
interest include developmental patterning, hair follicle growth
during gastrulation in the chick embryo.
patterns, DNA repair mechanisms, HIV virus transcriptional dynamics
dundee.ac.uk/people/kees-weijer and single cell motion.
dundee.ac.uk/people/philip-murray
→ Dr Greg Findlay
Fly Lab in Cell and Developmental Biology
→ Dr Marios Stravidis AFHEA FRSB
→ Dr Christina Schilde FHEA
→ Dr Gabriele Schweikert
40 41You can also read
