Research Focus

My research group works on the development of methodology in organic synthesis and applications of natural products synthesis. The targeted natural products are characterized by structural novelty and pharmacological activity that is relevant to cancer (e.g. cryptophycins, madindolines, rocaglamide, terpestacin). My group collaborates with the groups of Dr. James Turkson (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, L.A., STAT3 inhibitors), Dr. Joe Ramos (UH Cancer Center, rocaglamide), and Dr. Peiwen Fei (UH Cancer Center, P53 inhibitors). My research group also has interests in the synthesis and medicinal chemistry of cannabinoids, primarily classical-nonclassical hybrid structures. I have collaborated with Dr. Alex Makriyannis (Director, Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University) on a number of projects. My research group has developed very efficient methods for stereo- and enantioselective synthesis of cannabinoids and we have developed the means to modify all the known pharmacophoric regions of these molecules. This work was initiated before the connection between activation of the endocannabinoid system and cancer had been established, so now all my research has some cancer relevance.

The process team at Eli Lilly Company modified the cryptophycin total synthesis that was developed in my group, and used the method to prepare material for clinical trial.  I am a co-inventor on the cryptophycin patent.  Although Lilly dropped the compound during Phase II, the IP has been licensed to Sanofi-Aventis that is pursuing its development as a targeted therapy against solid tumors.

My participation in Dr. Turkson's the STAT3 project goes back approximately four years when a collaborator with organic synthesis expertise was needed in order to provide materials.  We have prepared the first sub-nanomolar specific STAT3 inhibitor.