Dr Simon Scott

Biography

Following completion of his PhD, Simon conducted postdoctoral studies in virology in Cambridge and Amsterdam, before entering his current research field of cancer gene therapy, working at institutes in Manchester and London. He then took up a faculty position at Wayne State University in Michigan, USA, for three years, where he continued his research and taught on various postgraduate courses. He returned to the UK in 2004, working briefly at Sheffield University and joining the Medway School of Pharmacy in June 2006. Specialist areas Simon teaches molecular biology, genetics, virology, vaccines/antiviral drugs, cancer biology and gene therapy on the MPharm degree course at the School, both in the classroom and laboratory. He will also teach on the new MSc Applied Drug Discovery course, covering subjects such as molecular pharmacology, laboratory skills, study design, translational virology and supervision of lab-based research projects . He was directly involved in the design and setup of the custom-refurbished biological sciences laboratories at MSoP, and annually supervises a number of 4th year research project students in the labs. He has supervised a successful MSc student on a gene therapy/molecular biology 3 year research project, and is now a supervisor for two PhD students studying different RNA viruses.Following completion of his PhD, Simon conducted postdoctoral studies in virology in Cambridge and Amsterdam, before entering his current research field of cancer gene therapy, working at institutes in Manchester and London. He then took up a faculty position at Wayne State University in Michigan, USA, for three years, where he continued his research and taught on various postgraduate courses. He returned to the UK in 2004, working briefly at Sheffield University and joining the Medway School of Pharmacy in June 2006. Specialist areas Simon teaches molecular biology, genetics, virology, vaccines/antiviral drugs, cancer biology and gene therapy on the MPharm degree course at the School, both in the classroom and laboratory. He will also teach on the new MSc Applied Drug Discovery course, covering subjects such as molecular pharmacology, laboratory skills, study design, translational virology and supervision of lab-based research projects . He was directly involved in the design and setup of the custom-refurbished biological sciences laboratories at MSoP, and annually supervises a number of 4th year research project students in the labs. He has supervised a successful MSc student on a gene therapy/molecular biology 3 year research project, and is now a supervisor for two PhD students studying different RNA viruses.

Research Interest

Simon’s research is focussed on developing viral and non-viral gene therapy vector systems both for the treatment of solid tumours and, more recently, cardiovascular disease. He has also initiated an internal collaboration with Dr Nigel Temperton to investigate the use of non-pathogenic virus ‘pseudotypes’ to study pathogenic RNA in a new purpose-built laboratory (the Viral Pseudotype Unit or VPU). The anti-cancer vectors have been designed to be activated by conventional cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, as hypoxia (low oxygen) is a characteristic feature of the physiology of solid tumours, the vectors have additionally been made hypoxia-responsive. The therapeutic modality uses ‘suicide genes’, which, once expressed in target tumour cells, lead to either direct cell death or kill neighbouring tumour cells via ‘the bystander effect’. Frequently the therapeutic mechanism relies on the expressed gene producing an enzyme that can convert a non-toxic prodrug to a cytotoxin. Current Projects Simon’s work is involved in investigated potent new genes/prodrugs, particularly those which engender substantial bystander effects, and especially those which enhance tumour cell radiosensitivity. Another major focus, has been studying the effects of different radiation sources (e.g. X-rays, neutrons, radioisotopes) on the activation process, with a view to incorporation of the gene therapy into existing radiation treatment regimens. Much effort has also been put into developing gene expression amplification and maintenance systems (e.g. using Cre recombinase/lox mechanisms) to maximise therapeutic output and effective treatment ‘window’. Lastly, Simon is also investigating the potential for delivery of the therapeutic vectors using a variety of schemes. These include plasmids, recombinant viruses (e.g. adenovirus, lentivirus), specific human cell types (e.g. macrophages, osteoclasts) and biomimetic polymer vesicles. Much of this current work is involves both national and international collaborations with other leading scientists in the field.