The John Innes Centre receives strategic funding from BBSRC
The John Innes Centre receives strategic funding from BBSRC
JIC student presents work at the House of Commons17th March 2011 A PhD student from the John Innes Centre recently got the chance to showcase their work to an audience of MPs and leading scientists at the House of Commons. Alaa Aljabali from the Department of Biological Chemistry was selected for the SET for Britain poster exhibition, organised by The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. The aim of SET for Britain is to encourage, support and promote Britain's early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers and technologists who are the "engine-room" of continued progress in and development of UK research and R&D, and ultimately of UK plc. Alaa is working in the area of nanotechnology for drug delivery. He is looking to use empty virus-like particles (eVLPs) derived from the Cowpea Mosaic Virus as a way of targeting the delivery of drugs. The idea is that a therapeutic could be encapsulated within the eVLP, and the surface of the particle can be further modified with molecules that direct the particle to the diseased cell. “It has been an outstanding experience and a privilege to present my work at the House of Commons in SET for Britain 2011,” said Alaa. “The opportunity to speak to policy makers and with professional scientists and MPs will stay with me for the rest of my life. Gaining new knowledge, making new connections and taking the time to explain complicated science to the public as well as scientists is a very rewarding experience.” Alaa is a PhD student, under the joint supervision of Professor Dave Evans and Professor George Lomonossoff, developing the plant virus-based system for producing ‘nanocontainers’ for the targeted delivery of drugs to cells. Many therapeutic agents are non-specific, and highly toxic, which is what can lead to side-effects. If the drug can be delivered only to the diseased cells, healthy tissues are unaffected and lower dosages can be used. Current work is focussing on the way in which pores in the particle surface can be used to allow the drug molecules to enter the particle and also to control their release when they reach the targeted cells. The ultimate aim is to demonstrate that these eVLPs can be developed into general biocompatible drug-delivery systems. “I am thrilled to be a part of a team who is working on innovative technology in a world-leading institute such as the John Innes Centre. There are many in the Biological Chemistry department to thank for the achievements and the knowledge gained over my PhD, in particular my supervisors for their unlimited support,” said Alaa. Alaa was joined at SET for Britain by three other Norwich Research Park PhD students, Emma Meader, Anthony Ash and Faye Jeffers from the Institute of Food Research http://www.ifr.ac.uk/info/news-and-events/NewsReleases/110317SETBritain.html
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