Dr Wen-Wu Li
Wen-Wu’s group focus on the discovery of natural products and targeted delivery via conjugation with a therapeutic antibody for the treatment of cancer.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprise a monoclonal antibody (mAb), a linker and a cytotoxic agent (“warhead”). ADCs allow for focussed discrimination between healthy and diseased tissue by combining the targeting capabilities of mAbs with potent cytotoxicity. Natural molecules with extreme toxicity are modified with a tailored linker in order to covalently attach to the antibody in a site-specific manner, resulting in a homogenous ADC with a wider therapeutic window. Medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, bioengineering, and cancer cell biology techniques are extensively utilized.