The RaPID system is a cutting-edge technology for drug discovery not widely implemented in Europe. Through her two-year secondment to the University of Tokyo the fellow received extensive training in the use of this technology from its pioneer. She also received training in other complementary scientific techniques, such as advanced peptide synthesis and biophysical methods. She is now establishing the RaPID system in the UK, enhancing the research capabilities of the EU. Moreover, this advanced training will prove invaluable for her future career, allowing her to develop an independent research programme based around use of the RaPID system. The secondment to Japan gave her experience of how research is conducted in another country and has the opportunity to learn a new language and about another culture.
Overall the fellowship has thus trained the fellow to become a female European research leader with a global outlook on research. From this position, she can act as a role model for younger female scientists and school children, helping to address the imbalance of women in the scientific workforce. Through a range of outreach activities, such as giving lab tours, she has already begun to address this. Additionally, whilst in Japan the fellow spoke at events promoting fellowships and PhDs in Europe, allowing her to encourage the movement of skilled researchers to the EU.
The RaPID system has been further extended to allow incorporation of amino acids that cannot be stereoselectively incorporated using other reprogramming technologies. Incorporation of post-translationally modified amino acids into selections helped to achieve high potency for peptides selected against bromodomains, and can be used more widely by other researchers interested in post-translational modifications. Experiments with histone H1 peptides have also progressed our understanding of the substrate specificity of KDMs, which will be important for our analysis of cell-based studies. Further, we have identified highly potent inhibitors of PADI4, which, have the potential to lead to a novel treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, from which a large number of patients in the EU and worldwide could benefit. Downstream development of the bromodomain binders has the potential to provide new drugs for the treatment of cancer. Together our results will be of interest to a very wide range of scientists including other academic researchers in the field of epigenetics and beyond, and major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies studying JmjC KDMs, arginine deiminases and bromodomains as drug targets.
