News from SGC

SGC and Abbvie publish A-395, an open access first-in-class allosteric inhibitor of PRC2

Posted on Monday 30th of January 2017

SGC and Abbvie scientists have published a research article in Nature Chemical Biology reporting a chemical probe for embryonic ectoderm development (EED) protein. The open-access probe, A-395, binds to EED inhibiting protein-protein interaction and inactivating the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). PRC2 is dysregulated in many cancers and is a potential target for therapy.

Earlier this month, SGC and Abbvie reported on another collaboration resulting in A-196, a first-in-class open-access inhibitor against SUV4-20.

The IFOPA and FOP Friends® UK Fund New Research at University of Oxford

Posted on Friday 27th of January 2017

The IFOPA and FOP Friends® UK have joined together to co-fund a new study at the University of Oxford.

Alex Bullock, who established the University of Oxford FOP Research Team with Professor Jim Triffit, is optimistic that this new research technique “could lead to the development of a new class of inhibitor drug for FOP therapy.”

SGC-Abbvie collaboration results in A-196, chemical probe for SUV4-20

Posted on Monday 23rd of January 2017

In the most recent issue of Nature Chemical Biology, SGC-Toronto and Abbvie researchers share the results of their collaboration to create the first-in-class chemical probe for SUV4-20. A-196, an open access potent and selective inhibitor for SUV4-20, decreases H4K20 methylation and alters the DNA damage response, and is a useful tool to investigate the regulation of genomic integrity.

For the Nature Chemical Biology paper: http://www.nature.com/nchembio/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nchembio.2282....

An open approach to Huntington’s disease research

Posted on Monday 23rd of January 2017

Rachel Harding, a postdoctoral fellow at SGC-Toronto, writes in this online Nature blog about her open lab notebook experiences sharing her Huntington’s disease research data in real-time.

http://blogs.nature.com/scientificdata/2016/10/19/an-open-approach-to-hu...

Why biomedical philanthropy supports redundant science [TEDx Toronto Video]

Posted on Monday 23rd of January 2017

In this TEDxToronto talk, SGC Director, Aled Edwards, outlines the case for open science as a key to the development of cures and global advancement.

http://www.tedxtoronto.com/speakers/aled-edwards

The patent trap? Open science advocates want CRISPR technology to be free

Posted on Monday 23rd of January 2017

SGC Director, Aled Edwards, speaks in favour of open science in this CBC piece on privatizing CRISPR gene-editing technology.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/crispr-gene-editing-technology-patent-1.38...

SGC Scientists Report the First Chemical Probe for PCAF Bromodomain

Posted on Thursday 12th of January 2017

Scientists from the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) and Oxford University report the first potent and selective chemical probe for the bromodomain of PCAF in an article published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition

High-throughput protein production and crystallization EMBO course

Posted on Thursday 12th of January 2017

The study of proteins is a key aspect of the drug design process.

To spark medical innovation, Canada should embrace Open Science

Posted on Monday 9th of January 2017

SGC's director, Aled Edwards, pens an op-ed in The Globe and Mail on stimulating innovation in Canada with open science. Full article here.

UNC Catalyst initiative aims to create, share tools to fight rare diseases

Posted on Monday 9th of January 2017

In collaboration with the SGC and the Genetic Alliance, the UNC Catalyst at the University of North Carolina will give researchers the tools and knowledge to tackle rare and orphaned diseases. The initiative was launched with a $2 million grant from the Eshelman Institute for Innovation. For the full news release, please read here.