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Faculty
Core Faculty
| Name / Title / Lab | Contact Info | Research Interests | |
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Marcy Balunas, PhD
ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-1168 |
The Balunas Research Group focuses on interaction-driven molecule discovery from host-microbe symbioses, seeking a fundamental understanding of how the metabolome mediates host-microbiota interactions. We aim to discover novel bioactive metabolites involved in chemical communication between eukaryotic hosts, their bacterial associates, and pathogenic organisms. Given that these host-microbe symbioses have naturally evolved to select for biologically active bacteria, they provide a source of specialized metabolites likely to have potent medicinal activity and thus be poised for future preclinical drug development. |
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| Mustapha Beleh, PhD Director of Education and Collegiate Lecturer in Medicinal Chemistry |
Phone: 734/647-9459 |
The focus of my research group is on pharmaceutical education and curricular development. Our research explores the use of novel pedagogical approaches, web-based tools, remedial programs, integration of courses and best models for student assessment. We examine the effect of these components on the learning of our diverse student body, their performance as they progress through our curriculum and how they best fit in curricular design. |
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Timothy Cernak, PhD
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Phone: 734/647-6793
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The Cernak Lab applies chemical synthesis and data science tactics towards important societal problems. We apply our resources towards the creation of medicines – for cancer, infection, and pain – agrochemicals, natural products, music, perfumes, and robotic protocols. Students in the group navigate challenges in organic chemical synthesis, data science, machine learning, automation, computation, drug discovery, and environmental preservation. |
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Martin Clasby, PhD |
Phone: 734/647-1949 |
In the VMCC we design and synthesize drug-like molecules and diagnostic probes for use in biomedical research. Our graduate students and staff collaborate with other biomedical researchers in translating novel therapeutic hypotheses into proof-of-concept in animal models of disease regardless of therapeutic area. We have established many productive collaborations with labs within the University and at external institutions. |
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George Garcia, PhD Professor and Interim Chair of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Lab |
Phone: 734/764-2202 |
Antibiotic discovery: Structure-based approach to discover improved RNA polymerase inhibitors for Tuberculosis, targeting Shigella virulence pathways, and targeting the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. |
| Amanda Garner, PhD Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Director, Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/763-2654 |
The Garner Laboratory uses chemical biology, medicinal chemistry and molecular and cellular biology approaches to investigate the high-risk/high-reward areas of targeting microRNAs, RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions for probe and drug discovery. These efforts are part of our larger interest in studying mechanisms of translational control, which are dysregulated in many human diseases, yet remain underexplored for therapeutic development. |
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Michelle Hastings, PhD Professor of Pharmacology, Medical School; Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor of Pharmacology; Director, mRNA Therapeutics, Center for RNA Biomedicine and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/936-3050 |
Dr. Hastings' research focuses on understanding genetic basis of disease and discovering new therapeutics that modulate the process of pre-mRNA splicing to alter gene expression. |
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Roland Kersten, PhD
ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/647-1840 |
The Kersten lab aims to discover new plant-based chemicals to cure human diseases by combination of ancient wisdom about medicinal plants and modern knowledge of plant biochemistry. We use plant genomics, mass spectrometry and synthetic biology to unlock new medicinal chemistry from plants. |
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Nouri Neamati, PhD
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Phone: 734/647-2732 |
Areas of primary interest to the Neamati laboratory include 1) synthetic medicinal chemistry, machine learning, structure- and ligand-based drug design, 2) cellular and molecular pharmacology, and 3) preclinical drug development. Specifically, we are interested in performing in-depth lead-optimization and pre-clinical pharmacology of a series of promising small-molecule compounds that we have recently discovered for the treatment of various cancers. |
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Matthew O'Meara PhD Assistant Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, Medical School and Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/764-5247 |
Dr. O'Meara's recent interests are in developing statistical and machine learning methods to model complex experimental design problems for pharmacology and biochemistry. |
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Jason Rech, PhD
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Phone: 734/763-1894 |
In the VMCC we design and synthesize drug-like molecules and diagnostic probes for use in biomedicinal research. Our graduate students and staff collaborate with other biomedical researchers in translating novel therapeutic hypotheses into proof-of-concept in animal models of disease regardless of therapeutic area. We have established many productive collaborations with labs within the University and at external institutions. |
| Emily Scott, PhD F. F. Blicke Collegiate Professor of Pharmacy; Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy; Professor of Pharmacology, Medical School; Professor of Biological Chemistry, Medical School; and Professor of Biophysics, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/764-3530 |
The Scott lab studies structure/function of human cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in 1) drug metabolism and procarcinogen activation and 2) generation of important endogenous steroids, fatty acids, and eicosanoids. Understanding the former P450 enzymes is important in predicting drug dosing and adverse effects, while the latter are drug targets in many diseases. Biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology approaches are employed. |
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| Peter Scott, PhD Professor of Radiology and Professor of Pharmacology, Medical School; and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-1756 |
Non-invasive in vivo imaging of biochemical processes in neurological and oncological disease states using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, design and synthesis of novel small molecules that can be radiolabeled with fluorine-18 or carbon-11 to generate radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography imaging; Solid-phase organic synthesis. |
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Jonathan Sexton, PhD Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School, and Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/764-1550 |
The Sexton lab performs drug discovery and development for the interrelated set of disorders involving diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome and associated complications. We use a combination of phenotypic and molecular target driven drug discovery approaches coupled with in vivo models of diabetes and obesity. Our main technology focus is high content screening, cell painting and drug repurposing to enable rapid benchside-to-bedside translation for unmet medical needs. |
| David Sherman, PhD Hans W. Vahlteich Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy; Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School; Professor of Chemistry, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; Research Professor, Life Sciences Institute; Co-Director, Pharmacological Sciences Training Program (PSTP) Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-9907 |
Sherman pursues research on natural product drug discovery. His laboratory has developed a unique library of compounds and extracts that are being screened against numerous disease targets relating to cancer, microbial pathogens, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and human parasites. Sherman’s research includes genomic analysis of diverse microorganisms that generate natural products in an effort to understand their assembly, structural diversification and modes of self-resistance. |
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Terra Sztain-Pedone, PhD
ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/764-7312 |
Dr. Sztain’s research focus involves using artificial intelligence to predict the effects of mutations on protein structure and function, exemplified by recent work on SARS-Cov2. |
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Peter L. Toogood, PhD Research Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of Michigan Drug Discovery (MDD) |
Phone: 734/763-5747 |
We use organic synthesis and computational chemistry to identify novel ligands for challenging protein and RNA targets. A primary focus of our work is a class of metabolic enzymes implicated in cancer and autoimmune disease. |
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John Traynor, PhD Edward F. Domino Research Professor; Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy; Professor and Associate Chair for Research, Department of Pharmacology, Medical School
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Phone: 734/647-7479 |
Research in the Traynor laboratory is centered on drugs that act at opioid receptors to give analgesia, but have on-target side-effects including life-threatening respiratory depression and addiction. We use biochemical, pharmacological and computational methods to understand how opioid receptors work and to design novel ligands that target these receptors, and associated proteins, to develop medications for pain and substance abuse. |
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Ashootosh Tripathi, PhD Director, UM-Natural Products Discovery Core; Assistant Professor/Research of Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/647-8988 |
Tripathi's core laboratory works towards unraveling the microbial chemical diversity identified through HTS and connecting the producing biosynthetic gene clusters to the novel/unknown chemical entities by utilizing state-of-the-art technologies in Natural Products Discovery Core. Furthermore, the rapid genomic and metabolomics profiling allows users to identify high-value molecules, as well as, novel enzymes as probes, drug leads, and tools. |
| Shaomeng Wang, PhD Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School, and Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-3969 |
Dr. Wang’s areas of interest include on structure-based design and synthesis of molecular target-specific novel small molecule drugs for treatment of cancer and neurological diseases. Development and application of new computational and informatics methods, and tools for drug design and discovery. |
Affiliated Faculty in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry
| Name / Title / Lab | Contact Info | Research Interests | |
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Charles Brooks III, PhD Cyrus Levinthal Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and Biophysics; Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Chemistry; Director of Biophysics and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/647-6682 Room: 2006 Chem |
Protein simulations, and structure-based drug discovery |
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Tomek Cierpicki, PhD
ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-9324 Room: 1301 Catherine |
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Jolanta Grembecka, PhD
Richard and Susan Rogel Professor of Cancer Therapeutics and Professor of Pathology, Medical School and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-3860 |
Inhibition of protein-protein interactions, Cancer biology, New epigenetic drug targets, Design and synthesis of new inhibitors targeting proteins involved in cancer development |
| John Montgomery, PhD Arthur F. Thurnau Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor in Medicinal Chemistry and Synthetic Chemistry, and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Chemistry, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/764 4424 |
Organic chemistry, Organometallic chemistry, Complex molecule synthesis |
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Pavel Nagorny, PhD Professor of Chemistry, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry
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Phone: 734/615-2833 |
Total synthesis, Cardiotonic steroids, Carbohydrate chemistry, Organocatalysis |
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Alison Narayan, PhD |
Phone: 734/615-6873 |
We harness the powerful reactivity and selectivity of chemistry that exists in nature — and develop new tools and approaches for creating biologically interesting and beneficial molecules. |
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Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska, MS, PhD Professor of Pathology, Program Associate, Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program, and Associate Director Academic Programs, Medical School; and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-9202 |
Discovery, design and development of small molecules as new molecularly targeted therapies for cancer. |
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Melanie Ohi, PhD Rowena G. Matthews Collegiate Professor in the Life Sciences; Research Associate Professor, Life Sciences Institute: Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical School; and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/763-6493 |
Cryo-electron microscopy studies of macromolecular machines. |
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Anna Schwendeman, PhD
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Phone: 734/763-4056 |
High density lipoproteins (HDL), atherosclerosis, HDL interactions with cellular proteins, Nanomedicine, Peptide-phospholipid interactions, Lipid nano-rafts for membrane protein structure elucidation, Design of lipoprotein mimetic peptides. |
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Janet Smith, PhD Rita Willis Professor of the Life Sciences, Martha L Ludwig Distinguished University Professor of Biological Chemistry, Professor of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, Research Professor, Life Sciences Institute, Associate Director, Department of Life Sciences Institute and Professor of Biophysics, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-9564 |
Molecular mechanisms of proteins, X-ray crystallography. |
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Duxin Sun, PhD Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy,and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-8740 |
Protein-protein interactions, Cancer stem cells, Biopharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics, and drug metabolism, Nanotheranostics for drug delivery. |
Emeritus Faculty
| Name / Title | Contact Info | Research Interests | |
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| Henry Mosberg, PhD Tom D. Rowe Collegiate Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy, and Professor Emeritus of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy |
Email: him@umich.edu | Research in the Mosberg lab focuses primarily on molecular recognition between small to medium size ligands (usually peptides) and their macromolecular targets (usually membrane-associated, G protein-coupled receptors, GPCRs) and spans structure-based drug design and syntheis, combinatorial synthesis, protein structure modeling, and biochemical characterization. | |
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Hollis Showalter, PhD
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Email: showalh@umich.edu |
Natural products modification and heterocyclic chemistry synthesis, Designing in physicochemical properties to high-throughput screen hits that confer “druggability” (e.g., conformity to Lipinski rules, absence of toxicophores), Development of structure-activity relationships (SAR) to derive compounds with optimal pharmacokinetic and metabolic profiles toward the initiation of in vivo studies, Principal therapeutic focus in bacterial diseases and oncology with extensive knowledge of associated targets, e.g., RNA polymerase and protein kinases. |
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| Ronald Woodard, PhD F. F. Blicke Collegiate Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy, Professor Emeritus of Medicinal Chemistry, and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry |
Email: rww@umich.edu |
Biosynthesis and degradation of simple and complex carbohydrates both at the construction level, cellular control and physiological function. Biosynthesis and physiological roles of the lipopolysaccharide portion of pathogenic Gram-negative microorganisms, in particular the 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (kdo) biosynthetic/attachment branch. |
