Principal Investigator positions in Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation

The MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit (PPU) (www.ppu.mrc.ac.uk), a world-renowned centre for the study of signal transduction, was established in 1990 under the leadership of Sir Philip Cohen. This Unit is closely annexed with the recently formed Protein Ubiquitylation Unit within the Scottish Institute for ceLL Signaling (SCILLS) at Dundee (www.scills.ac.uk). SCILLS and the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit will merge in the near future to form a new MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit that will still be known as the MRC-PPU. In April 2012, Dario Alessi will take up position as the new Director. The main aims of the Unit are to achieve major advances in understanding the roles that protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation play in cell regulation and human disease, to facilitate the development of drugs to treat diseases caused by abnormalities in phosphorylation and ubiquitylation, to generate reagents that will facilitate these aims, to devise new technologies and to improve existing ones. Another key remit of the MRC PPU is to train to the highest standards, the next generation of scientists who will advance our understanding in this crucial area of biomedical research.

The MRC-PPU has an exceptional track record of collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry through its close relationship with the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT), a unique collaboration with five of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, namely AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Merck-Serono and Pfizer. The DSTT collaboration is currently dedicated to the study of protein kinases and phosphatases. However, due to increasing interest from the pharmaceutical industry, the remit of the DSTT will be broadened from July 2012 to encompass the ubiquitylation system as well as kinases. The aim of the collaboration will be to accelerate the development compounds that modulate the function of components of the ubiquitylation system, as well as phosphorylation, for the treatment of disease and the study of cell signalling.

The MRC-PPU has vacancies for both junior and senior Principal Investigators. The collaborative and highly interactive research environment with the Unit and our state-of-the-art facilities will provide exciting opportunities for ambitious PIs with front-line projects that fit well with the overall remit Unit. The following areas of research which would complement the Units strength and expertise will be given priority:

Chemical biology

We are keen to recruit a PI with expertise in cutting edge medicinal chemistry, who is interested in developing novel tool compounds to analyse the roles that protein phosphorylation and/or ubiquitylation networks play in controlling biological systems. A strong interest in collaborating with the pharmaceutical companies that supporting the DSTT, MRC Technology and/or clinicians would be a great advantage. There is already a very strong research base in medicinal chemistry within the Drug Discovery Unit of the University of Dundee’s College of Life Sciences. Establishing a base within the MRC-PPU own unit would further strengthen this area of research and open up new opportunities for synergy and collaboration. The College of Life Sciences is currently building a new four-story research centre- the “Centre for Translational and Interdisciplinary Research” (http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/other/ctir/) - which will house state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry labs and that will linked with the MRC-PPU. This new centre is due for completion by the end of 2013.

Structural biology expertise

We are keen to recruit an outstanding PI with a strong background in structural biology with ambitious front-line projects that fit well with the remit of the MRC-PPU. We are ideally searching for a PI with the capability of adding insightful structural perspectives to aid our understanding of the regulation and function of proteins that play critical roles in controlling phosphorylation and/or ubiquitylation pathways. We would also hope that the PI appointed to this position would be eager to initiate collaborations with other PIs within the MRC-PPU.

Cancer biology

We are keen to recruit an outstanding PI with an exciting research programme that aims to uncover new roles that phosphorylation and/or ubiquitylation networks play in cancer. An interest in exploiting research findings to develop new strategies to initiate drug discovery efforts in collaboration with the pharmaceutical companies supporting the DSTT, MRC technology or academic drug discovery Units would be particularly welcome. Other areas Researchers working in other important areas of protein phosphorylation and ubiquitylation that fit well with the MRC-PPUs remit, particularly areas relevant to human disease are also strongly encouraged to apply.