ESR Project. 1, AstraZeneca (SE)

ESR1 Quentin Vicentini — Quentin Vicentini

EDUCATION

Pharmacy Degree
Lille University, France 2013-2019

Master's Degree
Medicinal Chemistry, Lille University France 2016 & 2019


Host institution	AstraZeneca AB, Discovery Sciences, Gothenburg, Sweden

Supervisor	Dr. Shalini Andersson

Co-Supervisors	Prof. Roger Strömberg, Karolinska Institutet (Academic)
	Dr. Anders Dahlèn, AstraZeneca (Industrial)
	Prof. Edvard Smith, SLL (Clinician)

Project description

The aim of this ESR PhD project is the evaluation of different alternatives for enhancement of mRNA transcription:

RNA activation that affects the transcription of mRNA as well as targeting of miRNAs that suppress mRNA transcription, the latter in collaboration with KI.
ON constructs for enhancement of mRNA transcription, processing and translation. This involves ONs that affect splice switching and activation of transcription by ONs targeting microRNAs that suppress transcription in collaboration with KI and SLL.
ONs conjugated to multiple entities for increased efficacy of ON therapy, including entities for increased tissue specificity and cell uptake, will be evaluated in vitro in relevant cell types especially for protein replacement therapy for cardiometabolic disease.

During secondments in partner organizations the students will extend his/her knowledge on the effect of ONs derivatization and modification on RNA transcription or translation.

Secondments

This project is carried out in strong collaboration with the following groups:

Prof. Roger Strömberg, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Prof. Edvard Smith, SLL, Sweden
Dr. Sean Lim, Prof. Alex Mirnezami, Southampton Cancer Centre (UHSFT), Southampton, UK

Host laboratory

We have state-of-the-art purpose-built laboratories with facilities to develop small molecules and nucleotide therapeutics by means of molecular and chemical biology approaches. This includes a wide range of facilities from target identification, compound design and selection; compound synthesis, purification and analysis; compound library generation; high-throughput assays for identifying active compounds; cell and animal model-based preclinical studies; bioinformatics and biomarker discovery; drug delivery as well as clinical trials of drug compounds ( small molecules and oligonucleotides). Expertise in commercialisation (invention-to-market process) and IP protection.

Enhancing ASO action and mRNA regulation in cardiometabolic disease

EDUCATION