Target Discovery

Target discovery and functional validation using human in vitro models 

Led by Dr Erica Bello, the Target Discovery Group focuses on enabling functional genomic screenings in complex human in vitro models of disease to identify clinically relevant, high-confidence targets for disease therapy.

This team collaborates with academic researchers and clinicians in Cambridge and beyond who have expertise in specific disease areas (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease) and have developed physiologically relevant in vitro models. Their aim is to develop, adapt, and optimise gene editing protocols, high-throughput culture methods and endpoint assays in these complex models, to enable functional genomics screening workflows. These workflows are used to elucidate disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic targets.

The Target Discovery Group works with arrayed and pooled CRISPR screening methods and various target validation approaches. They provide important input into the Functional Genomics Screening Laboratory through their expertise in the development and scaling of complex models. The Target Discovery Group also collaborates with the AI and Computational Research Group in the generation and biological interpretation of CRISPR screening and multi-omics datasets. More recently, the Target Discovery Group has contributed to training future scientists through the School of Biological Sciences MPhil programme.