Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) embryo. Society of Biology award-winning photograph by CDBG member Samantha Warrington. More about this photo.
The MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics (CDBG) brings together developmental geneticists with clinician scientists, creating a focus of expertise in the development of animal models of human disease with the aim of stimulating the translation of findings from model systems to the development of novel therapies and clinical practice.
Gene discovery programmes using both forward mutation screening and gene expression profiling are being combined with chemical genetic approaches to identify novel components of developmental pathways and networks and unravel their mechanisms of action. Discoveries made in flies, fish and chick are validated in mammalian models and cell culture systems.
Our research staff use non-mammalian animal models, such as zebrafish – a tropical fish from the minnow family – the fruit fly Drosophila and chicks to study normal and aberrant cellular mechanisms.
These help to identify genes that underlie human disease – neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease, as well as cancer – and can be used in drug discovery.
The Centre's Screening Unit (CDBG SU) undertakes screening in Zebrafish, a vertebrate model organism that is small in size and easy to maintain and breed.
Zebrafish provides a cost-effective means to screen compounds for potential toxic effects in advance of rodent studies or for a desired activity e.g. as potential therapeutics
A number of assays have either been developed or are in use in-house; these include, for example, visualising sites of skin inflammation via recruitment of immune cells, wound healing, or bone thickness. Customised assays can also be developed.
Latest News
- UK Parkinson's Disease Consortium (UKPDC)
Brain disease research - keeping you you (YouTube video 2m 43 sec) - Pioneering Zebrafish Research
MRC CDBG provide breakthrough in the development of new treatments for epilepsy. Read more. - New PhD opportunities for 2013. Read more.
- Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, visited the CDBG recently, co-hosted by the MRC and the University. Read more.
- News archive
Community and Outreach
We feel passionately that the science base within the centre has far-reaching potential benefits. Our staff participate in a wide range of workshops both locally and nationally. More about our community and outreach activities
