Latin America’s first kinase laboratory

Center located at Unicamp involves an investment of R$ 18 million from Fapesp

On March 10, Unicamp will launch the first research center of biology in Latin America (LA) in the area of protein kinases, molecules that are highly required in the pharmaceutical industry due to their signaling characteristics and the regulation of important biological processes. The laboratory, called Biology Center in Protein Kinase, relies on the partnership with São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp) and the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC).

The research center, open to researchers from across the country, will be associated with the Central Laboratory of High Performance Technologies in Life Sciences (LaCTAD), a complex of the Pro-Rectory of Research (PRP) funded by Fapesp. Investments total approximately R$ 18 million and the official launch is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m., at Fapesp’s office in São Paulo (R. Pio XI, 1500 - Alto da Lapa).

“Currently, there is a limited expertise in the synthesis of new drugs. Understanding these protein kinases, which are very specific molecules of cell functioning, will be essential for the progress in this area,” said Unicamp’s Research Pro-Rector, Gláucia Maria Pastore.

Researchers from the Biology Center in Protein Kinases will work closely together with colleagues from the University of Oxford and the University of Toronto, institutions associated with the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC). “This global consortium is a public-private partnership that supports the discovery of new medicines through open access research. The center we are launching at Unicamp will be the third that makes up the SGC network. The other two are located in the Universities of Oxford and Toronto,” she added.

The laboratory will be coordinated by the professor Paulo Arruda, from the Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents of the Institute of Biology (IB) of the University. “Through this initiative, Unicamp joins a network that encompasses more than 200 research groups spread over 40 countries. The Center will focus on kinases involved in the regulation of RNA processing, a process that when altered by mutations can cause many diseases, including some types of cancers. The chemical and molecular tools generated at the Center will have open access to all research groups interested in studying the functional role of these kinases in different biological models. Our goal is to establish a large network of collaborative research aiming to reinforce the research area dedicated to the development of drugs in the country. We believe that our initiative will help Unicamp collaborate in this area, still very incipient in the country,” said the professor from IB.

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