David Fernig

School of Biological Sciences

University of Liverpool

PO BOX 147

Liverpool L69 3BX, UK

Tel. +44 (0)151 7954471

Fax. +44 (0)151 7954406

David Fernig is a North West Cancer Research Fund Professor of Biological Chemistry whose research focuses on understanding the regulation of cell fate by growth factors. The regulation of cell fate lies at the heart of the development of animals from a single cell, the fertilised egg, to the mature organism. Many human diseases, ranging from developmental defects affecting neonates to cancers result from incorrect cell fate decisions. At the molecular level, cell fate is regulated by the assembly of complexes of proteins, polysaccharides, lipids and nucleic acids that are dynamic in time, location and composition. The molecular focus of research are the fibroblast growth factors (FGF) and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), their cognate receptor tyrosine kinases and heparan sulfate co-receptors since molecules are central players in normal development and in diseases whose basis is incorrect cell fate decisions.

The complexity of the biological problem at the molecular level necessitates a highly interdisciplinary approach, in which analytical techniques from the physical sciences are applied to solve biological problems. The foundation for this approach is the major central facilities of the School of Biological Sciences and the collegiate character of the University, and indispensable ingredient for interdisciplinary research. ÊResearch projects flow freely within the Facilities of the School of Biological Sciences and within the orbit of the virtual LINSET. Particularly strong links exist with the Departments of Chemistry, Physics, and within the Faculty of Medicine with the Schools of Clinical Sciences, and of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine. Further afield, Proteoglycans NorthWest (PgsNoW) groups seventeen major research groups in the North West of England and provides a major forum for collaboration between the major research Universities in the region.

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