| 2003 |
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YEAR BOOK |
University of Ulster
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Centre of Excellence in Functional Genomics and Proteomics
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Functional Genomics is a name for the next great advance in molecular biology. In academic research, we have been living in the golden age of genomics: that is, the comprehensive study of inheritable factors. The era of structural genomics is near to achieving its most heroic accomplishment, with the completion of the complete sequence of the human genome. Many genomes of micro-organisms are already completely sequenced. The focus of research is now changing to an alternative approach, practised for some time but likely to be made enormously easier by the great mass of structural information: functional genomics, which aims to discover what the various gene products actually do. Very closely allied to this is proteomics, the direct study of the gene products, their structure and regulation. The two activities are so closely linked in experimental practice as to be effectively inseparable. Both are much assisted - indeed, made possible - by bioinformatics, the application of electronic data processing to the interpretation of biological information: invaluable in studying such complex and multiform interactions.
To this end, the Centre is being equipped with advanced molecular equipment. The EU funding will also provide six postdoctoral researchers. Research in the Centre will encompass, inter alia, projects for the creation of probiotic or prebiotic enhancers of functional foods; optimisation of next-generation antibiotics; exploitation of the genomic diversity of extremophilic micro-organisms; cloning and exploitation of amphibian and other toxins; use of gene transfer to enhance tumour therapy; and the creation of transgenic mice for analytical purposes.
The objective of the Centre is to assist Northern Ireland in moving into the commercial golden age that will result from the application of molecular genomics and proteomics to medicine and industry, and the transformation of both. The purpose of this is, obviously, to ensure that as much as possible of this gold reaches Northern Ireland, where it could contribute significantly to economic renewal, and help us to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the eventual onset of peace.
Contact: Professor Stephen Downes, Co-Director of the Centre for Molecular Biosciences,
School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry,
BT52 1SA; Tel: +44(0) 28-7032-4121; Fax: +44(0) 28-7032-4965;
E-mail: [email protected] ; Web: http://www.science.ulster.ac.uk/cmb/