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Rick Cosstick

Prof Rick Cosstick
BSc, PhD

Contact

Rcosstic@liverpool.ac.uk

+44 (0)151 794 3503

Research

Research Interests

Research Highlights
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the permanent repository of genetic information and the acquired understanding of the structure and function of DNA and the related RNA (ribonucleic acid), represent one of the greatest ever triumphs for chemistry and biology. It is not surprising that most of the licensed antiviral drugs (e.g. Zovirax and AZT) and many anticancer drugs are nucleoside analogues which are able to interfere with nucleic acid biosynthesis in a selective manner. Additionally, much of the recent information on the structure/function relationship of nucleic acids has come from using DNA/RNA probes that contain a subtle chemical modification. Present work within the group is concerned with studies on the synthesis of novel nucleic acids analogues as both potential therapeutic agents and as probes for understanding the precise mechanism by which nucleic acids fulfill their biological functions.

Research grants

Next generation DNA synthesis

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

January 2015 - April 2016

Oligonucleotides Containing Phosphorothiolate Linkages: Synthesis and Applications.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

May 2003 - August 2006

Acquisition of single crystal diffractometer with CCD detector.

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2000 - October 2003

2'-C-Functionalised olignucleotides: ribozymes antisense and directed evolution.

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL

January 1998 - September 2002

Increasing the Potency of RNA Interference Using RNA Mimics

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

October 2007 - April 2010

Investigating nitration-damaged DNA using a mimic of 8-nitro-2'-deoxyguanosine

ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL

January 2010 - August 2013

    Research collaborations

    Prof Aiden Doherty

    The University of Sussex

    Search for DNA repair proteins that correct the 8-nitroguanine lesion in DNA

    Prof Steven Bell

    Queens University Belfast

    Detection of DNA lesions by SERRS