Objective The incidence of allergic disease, from hay fever to asthma and anaphylactic shock, is increasing world-wide, nowhere more than in the UK where it has risen three-fold in 20 years and is now the highest in the world. Allergies including asthma afflict 40% of the UK population and bronchial asthma currently affects 5.2 million. The yearly cost to the UK National Health System in primary care alone exceeds €1,200M, and the loss of 18 million working days costs a further €1,400M. The quality of life for many sufferers is severely impaired. Historical medications (e.g. steroids) simply alleviate the side effects of allergy and are associated with debilitating side-effects. Recently, the humanised monoclonal antibody Zolair® has been approved for treatment of chronic asthma; this acts by inhibiting a specific protein-protein interaction (PPI) common to all allergic responses and is very effective but it is highly expensive and is administered via injection in a regime that is unsustainable for many body sizes. This research is aimed at the development of new a series of small, drug-like molecules based on a natural product lead as potential anti-asthma therapeutic leads with the same mode of action as Zolair®. The molecules will be prepared by synthesis and tested for activity in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) assays and promising candidates subjected to co-crystallisation studies with their protein partner. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepneumologyasthmanatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureindustrial cropsfoddermedical and health sciencesclinical medicineallergology Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE EU contribution € 180 103,20 Address SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD SW7 2AZ LONDON United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Westminster Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Brooke Alasya (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data