Experimental Medicine and Toxicology
Research groups
Our mission
To develop and advance new therapies for disease by drawing upon the skills of basic scientists and clinicians.
Areas of expertise
- molecular biology
- genetics
- histopathology
- toxicology
- clinical investigation
- risk assessment
Embedded within the department is the Department of Health Toxicology Unit. The department also has a major responsibility for the Sir John McMichael Centre for Clinical Investigation and Research located in the Hammersmith Hospital.
Protein biochemistry laboratory
Headed by Dr Rob Edwards, the function of the laboratory is to provide a facility for those wishing to undertake such work whilst helping develop novel biomarkers of effect in collaboration with the two main research groups in the Department. Biomarkers are biological characteristics that inform the detection and diagnosis of disease. There is an unmet clinical need for validated biomarkers that can be employed for assessing drug safety and efficacy.
The Department is applying high throughput proteomics to the detection of proteins that might act as a signature of a specific disease or a particular mechanism of cell toxicity. The expectation is the use of multiple (or clusters of) biomarkers that represent various components of complex disease pathways is likely to reflect more accurately the underlying disease process. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of these novel markers will then be investigated in suitable patient groups.
