Program Director: Mike Moran, PhD

   Email Dr. Moran or read about his research interests.

Learn more about the Drug Discovery Scientists and their research.

MCMM’s Drug Discovery program was created in the fall of 2005. Our focus is oncology, and we are a team comprised of investigators with complementary interests and expertise, ranging from analytical and medicinal chemistry and molecular biology, through to cancer treatment and drug development. Our shared vision includes improved outcomes for cancer patients through the integration and translation of biomolecular information for (i) biomarker and innovative drug discovery and development, and (ii) biomarker-guided patient stratification and combination therapies.

 

Our 5-year plan includes objectives that are aligned with external funding initiatives and will foster industrial relationships as a source of revenues, complementary expertise, and compounds and reagents. A major success criterion for the program will be the demonstration of clinical impact stemming from its activities.

 

Current activities within the program include small molecule drug discovery and clinical proteomics. The Sinai-McLaughlin Assay and Robotics Technologies (SMART) facility at Mt. Sinai Hospital supports several cell-based, highthroughput screening strategies aimed to leverage MCMM strengths in stem cell and molecular oncology research. The Clinical Proteomics Laboratory at the newly-opened Toronto Medical Discovery Tower at MaRS is engaged in the profiling of blood and epithelial cancers for pharmacodynamic biomarkers and targets related to innovative new cancer drug candidates.

 

A longer term goal shared by our team and our affiliated institutions is the establishment of at least one oncology-based pharma/biotech R&D operation in Toronto. We believe the successful execution of our 5-year plan will see Toronto recognized as a premier site for oncology drug development, and foster this kind of relationship. Additional long-term goals of the group include:

• Access to novel scaffolds, libraries, and molecules through participation in emerging, local efforts and investments in chemistry.
• The application of clinical proteomics to help identify novel drug targets and biomarkers and to establish an innovative drug pipeline.
• Increased interactions with other MCMM groups working in drug discovery outside the oncology disease area, and involving technologies outside proteomics and high-throughput screening.

The technologies being developed and applied within the Drug Discovery group are generally applicable, and the group is actively collaborating with MCMM groups focused on diseases other than oncology.