Affiliation: The University of Dundee

Luke Simpson is a Cell Biology Scientist in the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) at the University of Dundee, UK, as part of the PROTAC Drug Discovery collaboration between Professor Alessio Ciulli and Boehringer Ingelheim (AC-BI). Luke’s work involves the development, optimisation, and implementation of cell-based assays to robustly profile and characterise novel protein degraders. To investigate each stage of the degradation cascade and aid in rational degrader design, Luke and his team employ various cell-based technologies to analyse PROTAC target engagement, ternary complex formation, ubiquitylation, degradation kinetics, and mechanism of action.

Previously, Luke completed his MSc in Biomedical Science at the University of Aberdeen, UK, and his PhD in the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation & Ubiquitylation (MRC PPU) Unit at the University of Dundee under the supervision of Professor Gopal Sapkota and Dr. Ian Ganley. Here, Luke’s doctoral research centred around exploring technologies for targeted protein modification and involved combining nanobody- and PROTAC-based technologies for targeted protein degradation.