Paul Roch

Background: MSc. in Molecular and Biological Chemistry, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland (2022); BSc. in Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Switzerland (2020).

Research project title: Gene Editing with Nucleic Acid Click Chemistry (ENACT)

Project details: This project seeks to develop a new class of artificial gene editing technology based on therapeutic oligonucleotides (TherON). Our new design will incorporate an active metal unit, able to trigger DNA damage, conjugated to a triplex forming oligonucleotide (TFO) vector via click chemistry. We hope to use the targeting capability of the TFO to deliver DNA damage at specific locations of interest in the genome.

In parallel, we are also developing new DNA damaging drugs based on the ruthenium(II) polypyridyl motif. Variations of this complex generally contain one subunit able to bind DNA by intercalation.

Funding: Irish Research Council (IRC)