Brief description: The objective of a research agenda conceived in this way is the development of new potential therapeutics of cancers,
viral diseases and metabolic disorders on the principle of specific inhibition of so-called "undruggable" interactions of biomacromolecules, on
which classical medicinal chemistry cannot reach. The research will be focused on three key types of biomolecular interactions: protein-protein;
protein-membrane and protein-DNA or protein-RNA. With the use of a multidisciplinary approach combining the structurally- and molecularly biological
characterization of the target biomacromolecules and their interactions, bioinformatics and molecular modelling, design and chemical synthesis of a
series of potential inhibitors (including libraries of sequences of modified peptides and oligonucleotides), detailed testing of the inhibition of
targeted biomolecular interactions, or in vitro selection methods of their identification from the libraries of sequences, and study of the
cytostatic and antiviral activities, or physiological effect of the tested substances, substances with the highest activity and lowest toxicity
will be selected for further preclinical studies.
Within the project, research teams will be particularly enriched with newly acquired local and foreign talented doctoral candidates, post-docs
and junior researchers. Project will ensure the development of the existing infrastructure mainly in the area of theoretical calculations and
modelling, experimental studies of protein interactions, automatic testing of substances, microscopy, sequencing RNA, DNA and in the area of
chromatographic separation. Project activities will support the international research cooperation with world recognized research institutions:
Catholic University in Leuven, Johns Hopkins University and the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, Inc.
