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Faculty
Core Faculty
| Name / Title / Lab | Contact Info | Research Interests | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mustapha Beleh, PhD Director of Education and 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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Heather Carlson, PhD |
Phone: 734/615-6841 |
The Carlson lab studies protein-ligand interactions through theoretical chemistry and computer simulations. Projects range from studying the basic biophysics of molecular recognition to applying drug discovery techniques to mining databases for cheminformatics insights. Research interests include protein structure and dynamics, allosteric control, binding hotspots, lead discovery, polypharmacology, and large chemical databases. |
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Timothy Cernak
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Phone: 734/647-6793
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The Cernak Lab is developing an interface between chemical synthesis and data science. They explore reaction discovery and total synthesis using a Big Data approach. Synthetic reactions are run in the lab both in traditional format, and using modern robotic and high-throughput methods. The molecules generated are used in cell imaging, microscopy, and chemical biology studies. Applied areas of interest include therapeutics for cancer, infection, and neurological disease as well as perfumes. |
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Martin Clasby |
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 Chair of Medicinal Chemistry and Director, Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry Lab |
Phone: 734/764-2202 |
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Amanda Garner, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry 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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Roland Kersten Assistant Professor Lab 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. |
| Scott Larsen, PhD Joseph Burckhalter Collegiate Research Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Co-director of the Vahlteich Medicinal Chemistry Core VMCC |
Phone: 734/615-0454 |
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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Henry Mosberg, PhD Tom D. Rowe Collegiate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry Lab |
Phone: 734/764-8117 |
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 synthesis, combinatorial synthesis, protein structure modeling, and biochemical characterization. |
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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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Emily Scott 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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Jonathan Sexton 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 approaches with core competencies in diabetes, fatty liver disease, and metabolic coupled with in vivo models of diabetes and obesity. Our main technology focus is high content screening and cell painting. |
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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; and Research Professor, Life Sciences Institute 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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Peter L. Toogood
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Phone: 734/763-5747 |
The goal of our medicinal research is to discover new biologically active molecules for the potential treatment of challenging diseases such as pancreatic cancer and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Our approach employs computational chemistry methods, as well as batch and continuous flow organic synthesis. |
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John Traynor
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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 Assistant Research Scientist, Life Sciences Institute, and Research Assistant Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy 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. |
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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. |
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Andrew White, PhD Research Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Director of the Vahlteich Medicinal Chemistry Core VMCC ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/647-7374 |
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. |
Affiliated Faculty in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry
| Name / Title / Lab | Contact Info | Research Interests | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Charles Brooks III, PhD Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Chemistry 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: 734/647-6682 Room: 2006 Chem |
protein simulations, structure-based drug discovery |
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Y. Eugene Chen Frederick Huetwell Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Physiology, and Pharmacology Vice-Chair for Basic and Translational Research, Department of Cardiac Surgery Director, Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics University of Michigan Medical Center Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/647-5742 |
cardiovascular drug discovery and development, molecular mechanisms for diabetes-induced cardiovascular diseases |
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Jolanta Grembecka, PhD Assistant 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 |
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John Montgomery, PhD Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and 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 Assistant 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 |
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Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska, PhD Associate Professor of Pathology, Medical School, and Director Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program 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 Research Associate Professor, Life Sciences Institute: Associate Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical School; and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/763-6493 |
cryo-electron microscopy studies of macromolecular machines |
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Anna Schwendeman, PhD Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
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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Peter Scott, PhD
Research Associate Professor of Radiology, Medical School, and Faculty Associate in the Interdepartmental Program in Medicinal Chemistry LabACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-1756 |
non-invasive in vivo imaging of biochemical processes in neurological and oncological disease states using positron emission tomography 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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Janet Smith, PhD Margaret J. Hunter Collegiate Professor in the Life Sciences and Professor of Biological Chemistry, Medical School; Research Professor, Life Sciences Institute; 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 J. G. Searle Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Lab ACCEPTING STUDENTS |
Phone: 734/615-8740 |
protein-protein interactions, cancer stem cells, biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism, nanotheranostics for drug delivery |
