Apoptosis & Cell Death Research

Drug design in 3D

Drug design in 3D

Scientists in Dr. Nicholas Cosford’s laboratory are using computer programs to break down 3D images of known protein structures to find chemical fragments that might bind the protein in real life -- precursors of new medicines.

FLIP-ing the cell death switch

FLIP-ing the cell death switch

Dr. Guy Salvesen and collaborators at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital determine what makes caspase-8 – the double agent of apoptosis enzymes – promote cell death or cell survival.

The life and times of Bcl-2

The life and times of Bcl-2

Sanford-Burnham scientists have developed four drugs now undergoing clinical trials to treat cancer, that target Bcl-2, the first known protein that prevents cell death.

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Studying apoptosis and cell death

Researchers in the Apoptosis and Cell Death Research Program investigate the fundamental molecular mechanisms that control cell death and survival. Research in this program brings together the talents of molecular and cellular biologists, protein biochemists, peptide chemists, structural biologists, computational biologists and more—in a highly interactive way. Discoveries by scientists in this program have led to the development of DNA-based and small molecule-based therapeutics that target anti-death genes and proteins in cancer cells, making them easier to kill with conventional chemotherapy.

Research in the Apoptosis and Cell Death Program helps increase our understanding of human health and identifies new drugs targets for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Your Health

The human body contains cells with different life expectancies. Some, like white blood cells and skin cells, are programmed to rapidly die and be replaced by new cells. Others, such as nerve cells in the brain, are programmed to survive the lifetime of the individual and are seldom replaced. The naturally occurring turnover of cells in the body is called programmed cell death, or apoptosis.

All cells are endowed with this genetic program for self-destruction in order to balance cell production with cell loss.

How our research helps improve health

Defects in apoptosis occur commonly in disease—it is estimated that defects in the program controlling cell lifespan are implicated in over half of the major medical illnesses for which there or no cures or prevention strategies. Too much cell death can result in untimely brain cell death (as in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease), while too little cell death contributes to the cell accumulation seen in tumors.

Research - Cancer - Apoptosis: How Our Research Helps

Recent Developments

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Oncothyreon helps bring potential cancer drug from lab ...

Sanford-Burnham has just entered a new agreement with Oncothyreon Inc that will allow the biotechnology company to develop sabutoclax, a chemical discovered as a result of research in the laboratories of Dr. Maurizio Pellecchia and Dr. John Reed, into a potential new anti-cancer drug.  Read More...

Recent Publications

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Research - Cancer - Apoptosis: Recent Publications
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