Projects per year
Personal profile
Research
The Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) within the College of Life Sciences at Dundee has been created to respond to our perceived lack of capacity in the UK for early stage drug discovery in the academic sector. The DDU’s aim is to translate basic science into lead compounds to validate putative drug targets, to use as tools to investigate disease pathways and, when appropriate, advance to pre-clinical drug candidates. The DDU works to Biotech style philosophy and standards incorporating; dynamic, goal driven project management based on Target Product Profiles and Compound Selection Criteria. The DDU is the only fully operational and integrated drug discovery team within UK universities with the full range of disciplines including compound management, screening, molecular pharmacology/enzymology, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, DMPK and disease model capabilities, required to produce novel hit and lead candidates.
Since its inception the Unit has developed an international reputation as a leader in the growing academic drug discovery sector.
As Head of Biology within the Drug Discovery Unit (DDU),my role is to develop strategies for people, facilities, equipment and IT to allow the effective support of hit discovery, hits to leads and lead optimisation programs.
We currently support two broad areas, these being neglected diseases (malaria, leishmania, sleeping sickness, TB and Chagas’ disease) and innovative targets; a portfolio to translate new biological findings from Dundee and beyond. We conduct assay development, small molecule screening and an extensive array of mechanism of action and other supporting biology to define and characterise small molecule tools suitable for use in primary biological research and drug discovery.
Teaching
Course coordinator BS32003 – Drug Discovery & Development
BS42004 – Advanced Modern Drug Discovery
M.Res Cancer Biology
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of London
Award Date: 1 Jan 1992
Bachelor of Science, University of Glasgow
Award Date: 1 Jan 1988
Keywords
- RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
- drug discovery
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Development of a Preclinical Candidate for Chagas Disease That Acts Through Inhibition of Trypanosoma Cruzi Squalene Synthase
Bodkin, M. (Investigator), De Rycker, M. (Investigator), Gilbert, I. (Investigator), Gray, D. (Investigator) & Read, K. (Investigator)
1/04/25 → 30/09/27
Project: Research
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Harnessing the splicing code for targeted control of gene expression (UNLEASH)
Gray, D. (Investigator) & Lamond, A. (Investigator)
1/06/23 → 31/05/29
Project: Research
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MRC IAA 2021 University of Dundee
Ferguson, M. (Investigator), Gilbert, I. (Investigator), Gray, D. (Investigator) & Read, K. (Investigator)
1/04/22 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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Drug Discovery Collaboration - Tau Seeding
Gray, D. (Investigator)
1/03/19 → 11/09/26
Project: Research
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A Pipeline of Drugs for Visceral Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease Through Expertise and Innovation (Preliminary Strategic Award) (Joint with Glaxosmithkline)
Fairlamb, A. (Investigator), Ferguson, M. (Investigator), Field, M. (Investigator), Gilbert, I. (Investigator), Gray, D. (Investigator), Horn, D. (Investigator), Read, K. (Investigator) & Wyatt, P. (Investigator)
Project: Research
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Erratum: Correction: Characterisation of RNA guanine-7 methyltransferase (RNMT) using a small molecule approach (The Biochemical journal (2025) 482 4 DOI: 10.1042/BCJ20240608.)
Gray, D. W., Pearson, L. A., Petit, A. P., Mendoza-Martinez, C., Bellany, F., Lin, D., Niven, S., Swift, R., Eadsforth, T., Fyfe, P. K., Paul, M., Postis, V., Hu, X. & Cowling, V. H., 6 May 2026, In: The Biochemical journal. 483, 5, p. 831 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Experience from an HTS campaign: Investigation of susceptibility and rescue of SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 protease assay from metal contamination
Georgiou, I., O'Neill, S., Robinson, C., Cunningham, F., O'Byrne, S. N., Gray, D., Gilbert, I. H. (Lead / Corresponding author) & Scott, D. E. (Lead / Corresponding author), May 2026, In: SLAS Technology. 38, 7 p., 100409.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
Characterisation of RNA guanine-7 methyltransferase (RNMT) using a small molecule approach
Pearson, L.-A., Petit, A.-P., Mendoza Martinez, C., Bellany, F., Lin, D., Niven, S., Swift, R., Eadsforth, T., Fyfe, P., Paul, M., Postis, V., Hu, X., Cowling, V. & Gray, D. (Lead / Corresponding author), 17 Feb 2025, In: Biochemical Journal. 482, 4, p. 209-224 16 p., BCJ20240608.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)77 Downloads (Pure) -
Drug Discovery Unit Annual Report 2024
Goddard, C., Gilbert, I., Baragana, B., Cleghorn, L., De Rycker, M., Floyd, A., Green, C., Farrell, S., Scott, D., Gray, D., Ahmed, M., Bodkin, M. & Richardson, A., 2025, University of Dundee. 48 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open AccessFile89 Downloads (Pure) -
Pharmacological and structural understanding of the Trypanosoma cruzi proteasome provides key insights for developing site-specific inhibitors
Eadsforth, T. C., Torrie, L. S., Rowland, P., Edgar, E. V., MacLean, L. M., Paterson, C., Robinson, D. A., Shepherd, S. M., Thomas, J., Thomas, M., Gray, D., Postis, V. & De Rycker, M. (Lead / Corresponding author), Jan 2025, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 301, 1, 17 p., 108049.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)128 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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BindingDB Entry 50010210: Trisubstituted Pyrimidines as Efficacious and Fast-Acting Antimalarials.
BindingDB, Norcross, N. (Creator), Baragana, B. (Creator), Wilson, C. (Creator), Hallyburton, I. (Creator), Osuna-Cabello, M. (Creator), Norval, S. (Creator), Riley, J. (Creator), Stojanovski, L. (Creator), Simeons, F. (Creator), Porzelle, A. (Creator), Grimaldi, R. (Creator), Wittlin, S. (Creator), Duffy, S. (Creator), Avery, V. M. (Creator), Meister, S. (Creator), Sanz, L. M. (Creator), Jimenez-Diaz, B. (Creator), Angulo-Barturen, I. (Creator), Ferrer-Bazaga, S. (Creator), Santos Martinez, M. (Creator), Gamo, F.-J. (Creator), Frearson, J. (Creator), Gray, D. (Creator), Fairlamb, A. (Creator), Winzeler, E. A. (Creator), Waterson, D. (Creator), Campbell, S. F. (Creator), Willis, P. (Creator), Read, K. (Creator) & Gilbert, I. (Creator), BindingDB, 28 Feb 2021
DOI: 10.7270/q2h41vzx
Dataset
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BindingDB Entry 50008275: Identification of GSK3186899/DDD853651 as a Preclinical Development Candidate for the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis.
BindingDB, Thomas, M. (Creator), De Rycker, M. (Creator), Ajakane, M. (Creator), Albrecht, S. (Creator), Álvarez-Pedraglio, A. I. (Creator), Boesche, M. (Creator), Brand, S. (Creator), Campbell, L. (Creator), Cantizani-Perez, J. (Creator), Cleghorn, L. (Creator), Copley, R. C. B. (Creator), Crouch, S. D. (Creator), Daugan, A. (Creator), Drewes, G. (Creator), Ferrer-Bazaga, S. (Creator), Ghidelli-Disse, S. (Creator), Gonzalez, S. (Creator), Gresham, S. L. (Creator), Hill, A. P. (Creator), Hindley, S. J. (Creator), Lowe, R. M. (Creator), Mackenzie, C. (Creator), MacLean, L. (Creator), Manthri, S. (Creator), Martin, F. (Creator), Miguel-Siles, J. (Creator), Norval, S. (Creator), Osuna-Cabello, M. (Creator), Woodland, A. (Creator), Patterson, S. (Creator), Pena, I. (Creator), Quesada-Campos, M. T. (Creator), Reid, I. H. (Creator), Revill, C. (Creator), Riley, J. (Creator), Ruiz-Gomez, J. R. (Creator), Shishikura, Y. (Creator), Simeons, F. (Creator), Smith, V. C. (Creator), Spinks, D. (Creator), Stojanovski, L. (Creator), Thomas, J. (Creator), Thompson, S. (Creator), Underwood, T. Z. (Creator), Gray, D. (Creator), Fiandor, J. M. (Creator), Gilbert, I. (Creator), Wyatt, P. (Creator), Read, K. (Creator) & Miles, T. J. (Creator), BindingDB, 22 Feb 2021
DOI: 10.7270/q2zc867r
Dataset
Prizes
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Industry and Academic Collaboration Award
De Rycker, M. (Recipient), Gilbert, I. (Recipient), Read, K. (Recipient), Wyllie, S. (Recipient), Wyatt, P. (Recipient), Gray, D. (Recipient), Thomas, M. (Recipient), Brand, S. (Recipient), McGonagle, K. (Recipient), Dodd, P. (Recipient), Dunne, J. (Recipient), MacLean, L. (Recipient), Thomas, J. (Recipient), Manthri, S. (Recipient), Paterson, C. (Recipient), Stojanovski, L. (Recipient), Pinto, E. (Recipient), Ferguson, L. (Recipient), Simeons, F. (Recipient), Torrie, L. (Recipient), Robinson, D. (Recipient), Riley, J. (Recipient), Frame, L. (Recipient), Garcia Sanchez, M. (Recipient), Da Silva Pacheco, J. (Recipient), Miles, T. (Recipient), Fiandor, J. M. (Recipient), Martin, J. J. (Recipient), Marco, M. (Recipient), Gonzalez, S. (Recipient), Cantizani, J. (Recipient), Cotillo, I. (Recipient) & Manzano, M. P. (Recipient), 12 Apr 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Premio Nacional de la Academia de Ciencias de Cuba (National Prize of the Cuban Academy of Sciences)
De Rycker, M. (Recipient), Paterson, C. (Recipient), Lin, D. (Recipient), Thomas, J. (Recipient), Joji, H. (Recipient), MacLean, L. (Recipient), O'Neill, S. (Recipient), Webster, L. (Recipient) & Gray, D. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: National/international honour
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Society for Medicines Research
Gray, D. (Speaker)
26 Mar 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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BHF translational awards committee
Gray, D. (Member)
2024 → 2027Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Accessibility Video Project - Opening our Doors to the Public
Cameron, A. (Organiser), Soave, S. (Contributor), Stanley-Wall, N. (Contributor), Rosazza, T. (Contributor), Ganley, I. (Contributor), Singh, F. (Contributor), Sammler, E. (Contributor), Filipe Soares, R. (Contributor), Spinelli, L. (Contributor), Findlay, G. (Contributor), Hogg, E. (Contributor), Espejo Serrano, C. (Contributor), Prescott, A. (Contributor), Januschke, J. (Contributor), Pelisch, F. (Contributor), Bel Borja, L. (Contributor), Horn, D. (Contributor), Ridgway, M. (Contributor), Owen-Hughes, T. (Contributor), Sundaramoorthy, R. (Contributor), Barton, G. (Contributor), Sknepnek, R. (Contributor), Zachariae, U. (Contributor), Duce, S. (Contributor), McKim, S. (Contributor), Pugh, L. (Contributor), Griffin, J. (Contributor), Hein, I. (Contributor), Gilroy, E. M. (Contributor), McKenzie, G. (Contributor), Ly, T. (Contributor), Kar, A. (Contributor), Hastie, J. (Contributor), Postis, V. (Contributor), Dawson, A. (Contributor), Fyfe, P. (Contributor), Semenova, O. (Contributor), Robinson, D. (Contributor), Gray, D. (Contributor), Cabrita Gulyurtlu, S. (Contributor), Zollman, D. (Contributor), Spiteri, V. (Contributor) & Webb, T. (Contributor)
2022 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Bang goes the Border 2021
Duce, S. (Contributor), Gray, D. (Contributor), Keir, H. (Contributor), Rogers, A. (Contributor) & Gilbert, I. (Chair)
18 Sept 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Festival/Exhibition
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Open Targets Symposium
Gray, D. (Speaker)
25 May 2021Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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GSK and the University of Dundee announce new collaboration to develop treatment for Huntington's disease
Schweiger, S., Langston, R., Lambert, J. J. & Gray, D.
14/12/11
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research