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Klaus Pors

Professor of Chemical Biology

Area
Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
Faculty of Health and Social Care
E-mail
K.Pors1@bradford.ac.uk
Phone
+441274236482
Klaus Pors
55 publications

Biography

Klaus Pors graduated with a BEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern Denmark (Odense, Denmark) in 1998 and completed his studies in biophysics and medicinal chemistry at the UCL School of Pharmacy in 2002. Both his PhD and postdoctoral (UCL School of Pharmacy 2002-05) was focused on the discovery of anticancer agents effective against drug-resistant cancers and prodrugs to treat hypoxic tumours. In 2005 he relocated to Bradford to take up a Yorkshire Cancer Research-funded lecturer and team leader position at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics (ICT) with focus on the discovery of tumour-selective therapies. Whilst working at ICT, he has gained experience in cancer pharmacology and chemical biology to enable opportunities for the development of innovative therapies for cancer treatment. Prof Pors has experience of working with start-up and biotech companies, out-licencing technologies, and holds numerous patents. He has invented a suite of chemical dyes with fluorescent properties to paint cells. Since 2021 he has worked as Professor of Chemical Biology. 

Research

Research in the Pors group is focussed on the discovery of chemical and biological tools for life science research, driven by a curiosity and desire to translate research hypotheses into generation of commercial and/or clinical products. A recent example include the development of a molecular fluorescent dye such as DRAQ9TM that can be used to stain fixed or live cells with wide applications in routine and research laboratories utilising flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging methods and aligned with new approaches in AI and machine learning.

In the context of cancer, novel therapeutics are designed to (i) exploit enzymatic and/or physiological conditions found unique to the tumour microenvironment and (ii) circumvent or exploit resistance mechanisms present in malignant cancer cells including drug-resistant cancer cells, hypoxic cancer cells and cancer stem-like cells. Specific projects include:

1) Development of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

2) Development of tumour-selective prodrugs using bio-oxidative or bioreductive mode of activation.

3) Development of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) inhibitors and prodrug derivatives.

4) Development of aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3)-targeting agents.


Prof Pors' recent research with focus on immunoconjugates including innovative ADCs has provided the platform for establishing UNIK Biotherapeutics Ltd, a university spin-out company which he has co-founded with Prof Robert Falconer. 


Current group members: Enric Picher, Zahra Shojaei, Oluwatosin Stella Olayinka, Ellie Capless, Tilly Halladey, Amarachi Stephanie Agaranwa and Thomas Danger.

Our research us supported by Worldwide Cancer Research, Masonic Charitable Foundation, ICT Doctoral Training Centre and University of Bradford.

Teaching

Cancer Research
Chemical Biology
Drug Discovery
Drug Metabolism
Enzymology
Fluorophores for imaging and tracking
Hypoxia
Medicinal Chemistry
Stem Cells

Professional activities

  • UCL - PhD
  • University of Southern Denmark - BEng

  • Guest Lecturer: Visiting Professor Fellowship: “Drug Development: from research to market” (2022 - 24), The Department of Science and Drug Technologies, University of Turin (Italy).
  • Elected Member: Elected member of the EPSRC peer review college (2016-present)
  • Elected Member: Elected member of the British Council, Newton Schemes (2016-2021)
  • Reviewer (Grants): Ad-hoc grant reviewer for research councils and charities (MRC, EPSRC, ERC, Worldwide Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Now, Prostate Cancer UK, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Health Research Council of New Zealand, Swiss National Science Foundation).
  • External Examiner: External Examiner, MSc in Drug Design and Discovery, University of Salford (2015-19)
  • External Examiner: External Examiner, BSc Biopharmaceutical Science, University of Sunderland (2015-2020)
  • Editor: Editor, CICR Editorial Board (AACR, 2012-2016); Past Chair
  • Guest Lecturer: Visiting Professor (ERASMUS mobility; 2013-2023), "Chemistry in Drug Discovery", Ecole Superieure de Chimie Organique et Minerale (ESCOM, Compiegne, France)
  • Past Executive Member: British Association for Cancer Research (BACR), past executive committee member (2008-11)

Publications