The Use of Human Primary Cells for Anti-Infectives Drug Discovery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Use of Human Primary Cells for Anti-Infective Drug Discovery
IRAS ID
143490
Contact name
Neil Stokes
Contact email
Research summary
Redx Anti-Infectives Ltd is in the process of discovering novel compounds for development into targeted treatments for infectious disease. Compounds are routinely screened for target activity and potential toxicity using purified enzymes, isolated bacterial strains and mammalian cell lines. However, for some targets these methods do not represent the functional characteristics of the compound’s target cells. We are therefore proposing to isolate primary cells from anonymised human blood to use in activity and toxicity screening of putative drug candidates.
We are proposing to utilize red blood cells (RBCs) and leukocytes derived from healthy peripheral blood. RBCs and leukocytes will be isolated from whole blood, leukocyte filters, leukocyte cones or buffy coats derived from healthy volunteer blood donations. Blood components will be separated by centrifugation and blood cell subsets may be isolated using cell sorting technologies. RBCs, leukocytes or subsets there-of will be incubated in vitro with agents that stimulate or inhibit specific cell functions and/or Redx compounds. The effect of Redx compounds on cell function and/or cell toxicity will be evaluated.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/0014
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion