11 Apr 2012
The peptide pituitary hormone adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulates production of glucocorticoid from the adrenal cortex. The overproduction of ACTH, in conditions such as Cushing's disease, ectopic ACTH syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, can result in excessive morbidity and mortality. At present there is no effective medical treatment that would directly block the action of ACTH. Such a therapy would be of great clinical value in such conditions but could also be useful in disorders such as depression and metabolic syndrome where excessive ACTH may play important role.
A joint project by the supervisors to identify an ACTH antagonist has screened ~ 190,000 small molecules and identified ~700 with MC2R antagonist properties. This project will take promising compounds forward to cellular mechanism of action studies, and investigation of effects in vivo. The student will learn contemporary cell culture and receptor biology techniques, experience state-of-the-art compound profiling and cellular pharmacology at MRCT Centre for Therapeutic Discovery (CTD), and after training, investigate specific in vivo models to characterise the most effective antagonist.
Click on the link below for more information. The closing date for applications is 30 April 2012.