Polysialic acid plays an essential role in neuronal development, but by adulthood is absent from the human body. Its biosynthesis is regulated by two polysialyltransferases. Polysialic acid is aberrantly re - expressed on the surface of many tumours, where i t plays a key role in diseases progression and metastasis. It is therefore an attractive anti - cancer target.

The The Polysialyltransferases as a Target in Metastatic Cancer project from University of Bradford will focus on the biological evaluation of potential polysialyltransferase inhibitors, utilising in vitro assays to assess compound i nhibition, and techniques to assess effects of compounds on cell adhesion, migration, and invasion.