Our research

The Centre for Drug Safety Science undertakes fundamental clinical and basic research into the causes, characteristics and consequences of adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

Through a better understanding of the mechanisms and genetic predispositions to ADRs, we aim to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and clinical handling of such reactions and improve the benefit-risk ratio of medicines. This means that those who administer medicines will be better equipped to tailor treatments to their patients.

The work we conduct in order to harness crucial insights which ultimately leads to the reduction in ADR cases, includes:

  • Development of novel preclinical test systems to identify toxicological potential of new drug candidates
  • Development of novel clinical genotyping screens to identify susceptible individuals and inform their therapeutic management
  • Informing the drug design process at an early stage to avoid incorporation of potentially toxic chemical motifs.

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Diagram illustrating the MRC CDSS approach to research

 Research themes

3D Illustration of Human Body illustrating the liver

Drug-induced liver injury

Investigating the mechanisms of intracellular and intercellular events to better manage drug-induced liver injury.

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Drug-induced hypersensitivity

Our research into hypersensitivity looks to define the impact of immune regulation in maintaining tolerance to drug antigens.

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Drug-induced gastrointestinal toxicity

Our research in this programme assesses the ways in which drugs are toxic to the GI tract.

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