Welcome to the MRC Toxicology Unit

The mission of the MRC Toxicology Unit is to deliver field-changing mechanistic insights into toxicology and disease. The Unit pursues an integrated scientific programme, using an unbiased systems approach to examine the effects that occur following cellular exposure to chemicals, radiation and external biological agents. This detailed analysis allows the development of new models that are better able to predict adverse drug reactions and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of diseases that are associated with toxic exposure. The research in the Unit  impacts directly on human health, with implications for reducing adverse drug reactions, drug attrition and bring new insights leading to novel treatments for disease. The Unit  interacts closely with Industry and related stakeholders.

Specific targets

i) Obtaining a more complete understanding of system-wide responses to toxic insult.

ii) Determining how dysregulation of the cellular response to toxic injury is associated with drug resistance.

iii) Dissecting molecular pathways of toxicity that are associated with neurodegenerative disease.

iv) Identifying the mechanisms by which the toxic response can be manipulated to enhance cytotoxicity in aberrant cells.

v) Generating predictive models for Industry that will aid the design of safer drugs.