"This is a very exciting time for Synpromics" states its founder Dr. Roberts. "It is the realisation of several years work and we believe we have the potential to change how researchers use gene expression tools. Our technology has more subtle applications in the Diagnostics Industry and we are currently developing a number of such tools. We would also like to partner with companies developing gene therapies so that we can ultimately see our technology used in the development of safer and more effective genetic medicines."
This technology centres on the exploitation of a cell's unique gene expression profile, which changes depending on the environmental setting in which the cell resides. Therefore, if a cell is in a diseased state, or if it is infected with a pathogen or treated with a chemical or biological agent then its gene expression profile will change. Likewise, cells derived from different tissues each contain a unique gene expression profile specific to the tissue of origin. Therefore, given that each unique gene expression profile is the result of the balance of the activities of a range of transcription factors and their corresponding cis-regulatory elements, it is possible to design synthetic promoters that can be active only under that specific profile.
Synpromics has acquired the means to create these synthetic promoters and thus control gene expression in a variety of pathological conditions; active in response to infection or treatment; or specific to any tissue in any organism. This has obvious applications in a variety of areas, such as life sciences R&D, diagnostics and in the development of novel gene therapies with higher specific activity.
Dr Roberts read Biochemistry at the University of Glasgow, where he achieved a first class honours degree. He subsequently studied for his doctorate at the University of Cambridge (Magdalene) where his interest in the elements controlling gene expression was stimulated. After post-doctoral work at Royal Holloway, University of London, in one of the leading gene therapy groups in Europe and a two-year Marie Curie fellowship in the National Hellenic Research Foundation in Greece, Dr Roberts was appointed head of Research and Development at Regulon Inc, where he was later appointed to the board of directors.
Synpromics is currently seeking to enter into discussions with interested distributors so that it can establish a network of collaborators with a view to commercially exploit its technology. For more information contact Dr Roberts at the following email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About Synpromics Ltd
A Biotech Company incorporated with a view to develop a series of synthetic promoters that can be used to control genes under a variety of settings. It is envisaged that the products produced by Synpromics will be applied in life science R&D, the conception of novel diagnostic approaches and in the development of gene therapeutics.
It is our mission to be a global leader in synthetic biology; specifically we hope to set the standard in the development of man-made gene regulators and to apply these novel tools in the generation of a new class of diagnostics and therapies.
Further information can be found at http://www.synpromics.com.