Kinomics research centre to develop next generation drugs

In 2009 Professor Phil Robinson, Professor Roger Reddel and Professor Adam McClusky received a funding double whammy. Within a week they received a $1 million grant from the Ramaciotti Foundation and a $3.1 million grant from the Australian Cancer Research Foundation to create the world’s first Centre for Kinomics.

Three years later, and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation Centre for Kinomics (ACRFCK) is now open for business.

Kinomics is the study of one particular class of protein, the kinases. These act as the ‘master switch’ for all normal cell functions in the body.

There are 518 protein kinases in the human body and errors in these kinases contribute to around 400 different diseases including cancer, neurological conditions, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory conditions and asthma.

Protein kinases are the target of many current therapeutic drugs that treat these conditions, and the research undertaken at the new centre will analyse these existing drugs and develop new, more effective treatments.

“The money has enabled us to create a tool we call KinoClicks to allow researchers to study protein kinases in cells for drug discovery,” Robinson told ALS.

KinoClicks are tiny latex beads to which protein kinase inhibitors can be bound, and they will be produced by McClusky’s team at the University of Newcastle using flow chemistry technology. These beads are then used to capture kinases in diseased tissue, indicating new potential targets for drug discovery.

The kinases are then examined using purpose-built mass spectrometers based at the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI) – home of Robinson and Reddel.

The centre won’t only be used by the CMRI and Newcastle teams, but will be open for other researcher to come and make use of the kinomics equipment and expertise.

“We have made it a place where visitors can come and work, providing the tools to scientists around Australia and the world,” said Robinson.

Most of the research will focus on cancer, but other diseases will also be under the mass spec spotlight, including epilepsy and infectious diseases.

“It’s very exciting,” said Robinson. “We have long term and lofty goals for the centre.”

The ACRFCK was officially opened in a ceremony at the CMRI in Westmead yesterday.