Professor Sadler, along with post-graduate researcher Sabine van Rijt, is working to develop new compounds using Osmium, which they hope will lead to the development of drugs which could be used in combination therapies alongside existing drugs such as cisplatin.

"The compounds we have been developing are very promising," says Sabine van Rijt. "We’re building a picture of how different compounds might interact with DNA in cancer cells. By making changes to the coating, or ligand, on the metal, we can also affect not just how it interacts, but the rate of interaction.

During this design process we can also make changes which can control the activity of the compound."

She added: "Another advantage is that these compounds are not cross-resistant with platinum. They kill the cancerous cells in a different way, so they could be used alongside platinum in combination therapies."

The team’s research is being presented on 9 December at Bioversity 2008, a national university technology showcase event. Bioversity is part of the biotechnology conference, Genesis 2008, organised by The London Biotechnology Network.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manager, University of Warwick.
Tel: 024 76 523708 or 07767 655860; email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

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Notes for editors:

1. Warwick Ventures was created in April 2000 to build on the research successes of the University of Warwick. Warwick Ventures is responsible for ensuring that the intellectual property that is the result of the University's annual research spend – some £86 million - is properly protected and commercialised for the benefit of the academics, the University, the region and the nation. For more information, see: www.ventures.warwick.ac.uk

2. For more information about Bioversity 2008, go to www.bioversity.co.uk, or for information about Genesis 2008, go to www.genesisconference.com