Every cell in our body exists as part of a hugely sophisticated machinery that strives to prolong life. Our cells must work optimally under stressful conditions and be able to overcome challenges. These stresses arise with every little change of our environment (like eating lunch or exercising) and cells adapt to these stresses through quality control mechanisms. In the first part of this talk we will see how these same mechanisms govern the manifestation of disease using cancer and neurodegeneration as examples. In the second part we will have a look at the diverse landscape of disciplines needed to design a new drug, the challenges behind targeting these quality control mechanisms to combat disease and how a clinical trial for such a medicine is designed.

Further details can be found on the ATOM Society website: atomsociety.org.uk/01-2021-proteins-d-doultsinos