Ligand binding at a localized binding site on a protein can induce large-scale effects far from the binding region. These allosteric sites present potential drug targets, but the details of their effects are not well understood. This work aims to develop a general, computationally efficient method for characterizing ligand binding and its long-range effects on protein structure with the long term goal of opening new avenues for drug development.

Jeff works in synthetic biology, and specifically on protein engineering of cytochrome P450s for the production of intermediates to the antimalarial compound artemisinin.

Sarah studies how sulfated small molecules from Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be functioning as regulators of virulence by mediating innate and adaptive host immune responses. This work is related to the development of new vaccines, and new antibiotics, to treat this devastating illness.

Naomi studies the effects of both surface chemistry and nanoscale morphology on stem cell growth and differentiation. Her ultimate goal is to use block copolymers to pattern nanometer length scale features in order to study stem cell growth and differentiation, a project with applications in the development of scaleable culture systems for stem cell therapeutics.

Elizabeth is developing a novel amperometric biosensor of immobilized mammalian P450 enzymes to screen drugs and/or environmental toxins as substrates in CYP reactions. Such a device would be useful in the pharmaceutical industry as a tool for initial screens of drug candidates for P450 metabolism and potential drug-drug interactions.

Sam studies the function of the adipocyte in energy homeostasis and in the immune system and has identified AOC-3 as a likely target for drugs that can ameliorate the inflammation that accompanies disease states such as obesity and diabetes.

Nick is synthesizing catalytic molecules like porphyrin and ruthenium bipyridine complexes and bioconjugating them onto self-assembled viral scaffolds. This allows for a nanoscale arrangement of these molecules and integration with dyes for photovoltaic applications, or their use as singlet oxygen generating molecules for targeted cancer therapy.