University of Dundee

Dr. Antonio Ariza, a University Teaching Associate at the University of Sheffield, began his career in biotechnology, later specializing in structural biology. He has worked in various academic and industrial settings, focusing on protein structures and nucleic acid-binding proteins, and now also studies plastic-degrading enzymes.

Coauthors from UC San Diego, Columbia University, GSK, Scripps Research, Harvard, and other institutions collaborated on a study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, NIH, and National Institute for General Medical Sciences. The authors declare no competing interests.

Jan Clarkson, Professor of Clinical Effectiveness at the University of Dundee, UK, is the corresponding author. Correspondence should be addressed to Jan Clarkson via email.

University of Dundee scientists developed a molecular 'cut and sew' process to create a new protein variant, CRBN-midi, which accelerates drug design for diseases like cancer. This protein is more soluble and crystallizable, aiding targeted protein degradation research, and is freely available via Addgene.

Clinical trial reporting rates have improved, with 83.4% of EU trials and 77.4% of US trials meeting deadlines, though compliance varies by country. Efforts to enhance transparency include fines and public pressure, aiming to ensure all trial results are published, regardless of outcome.

Researchers at the University of Dundee detail protein degraders' workings using cryo-EM, revealing how they target and destroy disease-causing proteins, potentially revolutionizing drug discovery for 'undruggable' diseases.

A Cochrane review suggests water fluoridation benefits may be lower now due to widespread use of fluoride toothpaste, with a reduction from 2.1 to 0.24 fewer decayed teeth per child. Despite this, major health groups still support fluoridated water, though some research raises health concerns.

2008 saw the iLimb, the first multi-articulating prosthetic hand. In 2013, Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University pioneered 3D printing of stem cell clusters for organ creation. 2014 featured rapid meningitis diagnosis via SERS and stem cell-derived human liver tissue. Scottish scientists contributed to COVID-19 vaccine development and Parkinson's research, with 2024 revealing a molecular switch's role in protecting against Parkinson's. Scotland's medical innovations span centuries, from the Monro dynasty to modern AI and stem cell research.

Researchers from the University of Dundee and Boehringer Ingelheim developed ACBI3, a small-molecule drug that degrades KRAS mutants, showing efficacy against 13 of 17 common KRAS mutant-driven cancers. ACBI3, based on PROTACs, differs from traditional inhibitors by targeting multiple mutations and inducing tumor regression in preclinical models. Boehringer Ingelheim made ACBI3 available to the research community via its opnMe® portal to accelerate cancer research.

Researchers from the University of Dundee and Boehringer Ingelheim developed ACBI3, a small-molecule drug that can degrade 13 out of 17 common KRAS mutants, offering a novel therapeutic approach for KRAS-driven cancers. ACBI3, based on PROTACs, induces tumor regression in mouse models and will be made available to the scientific community via Boehringer Ingelheim's opnMe portal.