{"id":3335,"date":"2024-07-15T10:00:18","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T09:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/?page_id=3335"},"modified":"2026-05-01T15:33:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:33:26","slug":"koodac-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/group\/koodac-team\/","title":{"rendered":"KOODAC Team &#8211; Knocking Out Oncogenic Drivers And Curing Childhood Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>KOODAC \u2013 Knocking Out Oncogenic Drivers And Curing Childhood Cancer<\/h2>\n<p>The KOODAC team was established in 2024 as part of Cancer Grand Challenges. We are a multidisciplinary, international team focussed on the development of degrader drugs for childhood cancers, bringing together scientists, clinicians and patient advocates with a wealth of expertise in childhood cancers and drug discovery. We investigate five oncoproteins known to drive high-risk paediatric cancers that currently have no safe, effective treatments. Degrader drugs offer a new opportunity to target these oncoproteins with improved potency and selectivity. In Dundee, developing new PROTAC degraders for these targets requires solving X-ray crystal structures for rational design, establishing plate-based synthetic chemistry methods, developing biophysical and biochemical methods to assess PROTAC binding and working closely with our collaborators with the aim of delivering first-in-child phase 1 clinical studies for the treatment of cancer.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-12-at-11.15.41.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns brgr promo-panel light-bg border is-reverse-tablet is-reverse-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a5331a9e wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column promo-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/group\/roberta-ibba\/\">Roberta Ibba<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientist Medicinal Chemistry \/ Chemical Biology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:RIbba001@dundee.ac.uk\">RIbba001@dundee.ac.uk<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2024\/02\/Roberta-Ibba.jpg&apos;);background-position:50% 0;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:230px;\" class=\"wp-block-group split-promo-image is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained has-background\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns brgr promo-panel light-bg border is-reverse-tablet is-reverse-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a5331a9e wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column promo-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/group\/alena-kroupova\/\">Alena Kroupova<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientist Structural Biology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:AKroupova001@dundee.ac.uk\">AKroupova001@dundee.ac.uk<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2023\/11\/Alena_photo.jpeg&apos;);background-position:50% 0;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:auto;\" class=\"wp-block-group split-promo-image is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained has-background\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns brgr promo-panel light-bg border is-reverse-tablet is-reverse-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a5331a9e wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column promo-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/group\/michael-krummhaar\/\">Michael Krummhaar<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientist Structural Biology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:MKrummhaar001@dundee.ac.uk\">MKrummhaar001@dundee.ac.uk<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2025\/01\/Michael_Krummhaar-e1736446198827.png&apos;);background-position:50% 0;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:auto;\" class=\"wp-block-group split-promo-image is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained has-background\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns brgr promo-panel light-bg border is-reverse-tablet is-reverse-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a5331a9e wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column promo-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/group\/liam-martin\/\">Liam Martin<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientist Medicinal \/ Organic Chemistry<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:LMartin005@dundee.ac.uk\">LMartin005@dundee.ac.uk<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2023\/11\/Liam-Martin-Ciulli-Website-Picture.jpeg&apos;);background-position:50% 0;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:auto;\" class=\"wp-block-group split-promo-image is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained has-background\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns brgr promo-panel light-bg border is-reverse-tablet is-reverse-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a5331a9e wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column promo-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/group\/suzanne-oconnor\/\">Suzanne O&#8217;Connor<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Team Leader, Medicinal \/ Organic Chemistry<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:SOconnor001@dundee.ac.uk\">SOconnor001@dundee.ac.uk<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2023\/11\/suzanne-oconnor.jpg&apos;);background-position:50% 0;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:auto;\" class=\"wp-block-group split-promo-image is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained has-background\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns brgr promo-panel light-bg border is-reverse-tablet is-reverse-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-a5331a9e wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column promo-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/group\/alexandra-teslenko\/\">Alexandra Teslenko<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientist Biophysics and Structural Biology<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:ATeslenko001@dundee.ac.uk\">ATeslenko001@dundee.ac.uk<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div style=\"background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2025\/11\/Alexandra_Teslenko_2-e1763565835459.png&apos;);background-position:50% 0;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:auto;\" class=\"wp-block-group split-promo-image is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained has-background\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>KOODAC \u2013 Knocking Out Oncogenic Drivers And Curing Childhood Cancer The KOODAC team was established in 2024 as part of Cancer Grand Challenges. We are a multidisciplinary, international team focussed on the development of degrader drugs for childhood cancers, bringing together scientists, clinicians and patient advocates with a wealth of expertise in childhood cancers and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":789,"featured_media":3807,"parent":5058,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3335","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/789"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3335"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3335\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5147,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3335\/revisions\/5147"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5058"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/alessio-ciulli\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}