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Dr.
Frank Sicheri
SENIOR
INVESTIGATOR
Structural
Biologist Dr. Frank Sicheri is widely regarded as one of Canada’s
pre-eminent scientists in his field. He has made outstanding
contributions to our understanding of the structure and function of a
number of molecules, many of which are implicated in disease. His
research is focused on cancer, but he has a number of projects
involving molecules involved in viral infection and diabetes. His
discoveries are critical to the development of new drugs that target
these diseases.
In particular, Dr. Sicheri studies a
family of enzymes called protein kinases. The human genome encodes
approximately 500 protein kinases. These molecules act as switches
within cells that regulate numerous biological processes. Malfunction
of protein kinases – which can happen as a result of genetic mutation
or damage from a virus – gives rise to cellular dysfunctions that
underlie numerous diseases. One common example is cancer, in which
malfunctioning kinases cause cells to grow and multiply
uncontrollably.
Scientists have found that the activity
of protein kinases can be inhibited with specific molecules. As a
result kinases have become an important focus by pharmaceutical
companies in the development of new drugs. Drugs which inhibit specific
kinases are already being used successfully to treat chronic myeloid
leukemia (Gleevac), and some forms of lung cancer
(Iressa).
To date however, only a fraction of the
protein kinases encoded in the human genome have been explored. Dr.
Sicheri’s research is directed at improving our understanding of how
protein kinases work, and at defining the structure and function of new
kinases in order to unlock their potential as drug targets for disease.
He has made a number of important discoveries in this area, including
solving the structure of a kinase known to be active in colon cancer,
and another that suppresses tumour formation.
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