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Research Focus

Work in our laboratory is aimed at evaluating small molecule kinase inhibitors of biologic and therapeutic interest. We are currently involved in refining a novel class of kinase inhibitors aimed at the therapeutic treatment of human diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Cancer. Protein kinases are important components of signal transduction pathways and deregulation of kinase activity can lead to human disease. Kinases have therefore become one of the most important target classes for drug development. Working closely with other disciplines such as chemistry, pharmacology, and drug metabolism, we aim to optimize lead compounds for potency and selectivity while minimizing toxicity to generate candidate molecules with appropriate drug like properties suitable for IND enabling and first time in human studies.

Awards & Professional Activities

Member, American Association for Cancer Research

Selected References

Lansing TJ., et al. (2007). In vitro biological activity of a novel small molecule inhibitor of Polo-like Kinase 1. Mol Cancer Ther 6 (2) 450-459.

Rech.J.C., et al. (2007) Synthesis of potent bicyclic bisarylimidazole c-jun-N-terminal kinase inhibitors by cyclic H-bond activation. J. Am. Chem. Soc 129 490-491.

Rong Jiang, et al. (2007) Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 17, 6378-6382.

Nelson Rhodes, et al. (2008). Characterization of an Akt kinase inhibitor with potent pharmacodynamic and antitumor activity. Cancer Research. In press.