William Roush, PhD

Over many years the major focus of our research effort has focused on the synthesis of stereochemically complex, biologically active natural products and the development of new synthetic methodology. Significant emphasis is placed on the discovery, development, and/or illustration of new reactions and synthetic methods in this research. Some of these synthesis projects have involved intramolecular cycloaddition reactions. Others make use of acyclic diastereoselective or enantioselective stereochemical techniques. We are increasingly pursuing research programs in bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, including the design and synthesis of inhibitors of cysteine proteases isolated from tropical parasites. Additional projects focus on the develop potent, selective inhibitors of several kinases and proteases, inhibitors of certain epigenetic targets, inhibitors (inverse agonists) or activators of nuclear receptors, the design and synthesis of selective CYP51 inhibitors, and small molecule inhibotors of carboxylic acid transporters as potential therapeutic agents, among others. Studies focusing on the development of new technology for synthesis of antibody-crug conjugates are also in progress.