911爆料网

Dr. Justin Lopchuk

External Graduate Affiliate Faculty (Moffitt Cancer Center)

Contact

Office: 
Phone: 
Email: jlopchuk@health.usf.edu  

Education

• Ph.D., Dartmouth College, 2013
  Advisor: Gordon W. Gribble
• NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, The Scripps Research Institute, 2016
  Advisor: Phil S. Baran

Research

Our research program is grounded in synthetic organic chemistry with a specific focus on the development of new reactions, the design of new reagents, and the total synthesis of natural products with anti-cancer activity. In collaboration with other research groups at Moffitt, we will apply our chemistry to synthesize chemical probes designed to interrogate the function of key oncoproteins and immune-regulatory proteins, while ultimately seeking to develop these probes and lead compounds into novel anti-cancer drugs.

Methodology. In our ongoing quest to facilitate the rapid synthesis of bioactive molecules, we aim to develop new reactions and easy-to-use reagents centered around the deliberate use of radicals and other reactive intermediates for C鈥揅, C鈥揘, and C鈥揝 bond formation. Each method is designed to enable the construction of small building blocks, the modification of natural products, and the late-stage functionalization of complex molecules. Toward our goal of exploring underutilized chemical space, we will focus our attention on designing reagents which allow for the simple installation of a variety of bioisosteres.

Total Synthesis. For some anti-cancer natural products, total synthesis remains the best strategy for obtaining sufficient amounts of compounds for a thorough biological evaluation, let alone the prospect of clinical trials. After carefully selecting our targets, our lab will focus on developing routes which are short, scalable, and designed to deliver multigram quantities of material for biological study, as well as the ability to synthesize libraries of analogs.

Drug Discovery. Moffitt鈥檚 highly collaborative environment allows us to regularly engage with numerous biologists, chemists, and clinicians in both the Department of Drug Discovery and the Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program. Here we will incorporate our new methodologies in fragment-based drug discovery, the design of chemical probes, and the chemoselective modification or tagging of bioactive molecules. The newly developed reagents and methods for installation of bioisosteres will be available for collaborators and their own lead compounds.

Now Recruiting! 911爆料网 are currently accepting graduate students from the Department of Chemistry. 911爆料网 will receive a thorough training in synthetic organic chemistry (methodology and/or total synthesis) with the option of learning about medicinal chemistry, rational drug design, and translational research in cancer drug discovery.