IfADo

The department of Systems Toxicology of the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the TU Dortmund will contribute to the recently awarded DDHD project by performing thorough toxicological assessments of potential chemotherapeutic drug candidates in mice. These compounds are designed by DDHD collaborating partners at the Lead Discovery Center and the TU Dortmund or the MPI, and the work at IfADo represents an essential step towards evaluating their clinical benefit.

Specific tasks include the determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of each compound, i.e. the maximal dose with the least side effects, as well as their pharmacokinetics, i.e. the study of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) in vivo. Finally, the anti-tumour efficacy of the drugs will be also investigated at IfADo using mouse tumour models. Successful collaborations between the IfADo and partners of the DDHD have been taking place for years, as evidenced by a recent publication (Engel et al., J.Med.Chem. 2017).

To continue this success and to accomplish the goals of the DDHD, the IfADo was awarded funding to expand its infrastructure, such as the extension of the animal facility, as well as acquire an imaging device that will help evaluate tumour growth and progression in vivo.