Dr Stephen Griffin

Qualifications:
University of Cambridge (Girton College), 1997: BA(HONS) CANTAB in Biological Sciences, 1st Class.
University of Cambridge (Girton College), 2001: MA(HONS) CANTAB in Biological Sciences
University of Cambridge (Girton College), 2001: PhD CANTAB in Virology
Research History:
(2001-2004) Post-doctoral researcher with Prof. David Rowlands and Prof. Mark Harris in the School of Biochemistry and microbiology. (2004-2007) Post-doctoral Researcher with Prof. Mark Harris (2004-2007) in the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology. (2007-present) MRC New Investigator Research Fellow.

Research Areas: Hepatitis C virus, p7, ion channel, virus assembly

Research Interests

Viroporins and enveloped virus assembly as therapeutic targets
The work in my laboratory focuses on the role of the p7 viroporin (viral ion channel protein) during assembly of hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles. Since discovering its ion channel function in 2003, we have been investigating p7 as a target for new antiviral drugs based on our ability to block its activity with amantadine. Blocking p7 function prevents the assembly of HCV particles and this has led to our examining the relationship between p7 and other viral proteins at sites of particle assembly. In parallel, we are exploring the cellular pathways that HCV hijacks during assembly, as well as the role of the viral non-structural proteins in this process; specifically the NS2 protein. We aim to combine these studies with our pharmaceutical collaborations (GSK, Pfizer) to develop much needed new drugs for HCV.

Specific topics:

1. Function of HCV p7 and NS2 during particle assembly and cell entry
2. Development of p7 inhibitors as HCV therapeutics
3. Structure of the p7 ion channel complex
4. Cellular aspects of HCV particle assembly

Funding
The work in my laboratory is funded by the MRC and the Wellcome Trust.