Serafini Lab
Imaging and Targeting Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a key feature of solid tumours, contributing to resistance to therapy and aggressiveness. The lab is developing imaging tools to detect low levels of oxygen in complex systems (spheroids and patient-derived organoids). Additionally, we are investigating chemical reactions that can only occur in hypoxia to promote the in situ self-assembling of active drugs or the release of chemotherapeutic agents.
Degrading Transcription Factors in Cancer
Transcription Factors are often dysregulated in cancer and their direct pharmacological modulation would provide an important therapeutic benefit in multiple cancers. However, they are historically be seen as undruggable targets.
We have now developed a click chemistry-based off-the-shelf platform that can be used to modulate the activity of the majority of transcription factors. This technique is based on the oligo-PROTAC concept.
Medchem campaigns
The group has a number of active collaborations to (i) discover new hit compounds for orphan targets; and (ii) optimize already known lead compounds. To rapidly explore the chemical space, we use fast and versatile synthesis (multicomponent reactions, in situ and standard click chemistry) or innovative tools to improve the drug-likeness.
