Alba Montoya
Email address: alba.montoya@pharm.utah.edu
Lab: Franzini
Background:
My scientific education and research experience have provided me with a strong foundation in organic and medicinal chemistry. During my postdoctoral training, I am becoming a specialist in DNA-encoded libraries (DELs), a cutting-edge drug discovery technology. My master’s studies endowed me with a solid medicinal chemistry background, synthetizing libraries of prospective anticancer and antifungal compounds, several of which have shown promising activity in cellular models. Through my doctoral research, I gained expertise in glycobiology, working on the chemical synthesis of cell surface glycans, their conjugation to proteins, and immunological evaluation of the resulting neoglycoproteins as biomarkers and tools for vaccine development. In addition, I was trained in modern organic synthesis during my industrial internship, working on photoredox catalysis and metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, for hit-to-lead development, lead optimization, route scouting, and compound scale-up. Over the course of these studies, I have attained a variety of high-level technical skills in multiple spectroscopy and spectrometry techniques, biological assays, mentoring and scientific communication.
Research Interests:
DNA-Encoded Chemical Libraries, Multi-step Organic Synthesis, Biomolecules Conjugation, Biochemical Assays Development, Drug Discovery.
Publications:
A. L. Montoya, M. Glavatskikh, B. J. Halverson, L. H. Yuen, H. Schüler, D. Kireev, R. M. Franzini “Combining pharmacophore models derived from DNA-encoded chemical libraries with structure-based exploration to predict Tankyrase 1 inhibitors” Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2023, 246, 114980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114980
William Weigel
Email address: u6037720@utah.edu
Lab: Franzini
Background:
William completed his PhD in 2020 under supervision of Dave Martin at University of California, Riverside where his research focused on natural product synthesis and photoredox catalysis. In 2021, he joined the lab of Raphael Franzini where his work now focuses on bioorthogonal drug delivery and DNA encoded library design and synthesis.
Research Interests:
Organic Synthesis, Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery, Cheminformatics
Awards:
NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein T32 Institutional Training Grant in Cardiovascular Research
Riddhidev Banerjee
Email address: riddhidev.banerjee@pharm.utah.edu
Lab: Diehl
Background:
Riddhidev Banerjee obtained first an integrated Masters in Chemistry from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, followed by a second Masters in Biomedical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He went on to finish a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Toledo. He is currently working under Dr. Katherine Diehl
Research Interests:
Organo-peptide hybrids, boronate chemosensors, SIRT6 Inhibitors/ activators
Publications:
"Potential SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors, Drug Discovery Today, 2021
Rational Design of metabolically stable HDAC Inhibitors: An overhaul of trifluoromethyl ketones, European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2022
De novo design and In silico studies of coumarins as Cyclin dependent Kinase - 2 Inhibitors, Journal of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Konrad Chojnacki
Email address: u6042189@utah.edu
Lab: Franzini
Background:
Konrad obtained his Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering (2013) and Master’s degree in chemistry (2014) from the Warsaw University of Technology. He obtained his doctoral degree in chemical sciences (2019) with a dissertation on the Developing synthesis method and determining properties of new CK2 kinase inhibitors. Within his PhD, he spent 3 month at the University of Cologne, working on protein-ligand complex crystallization. Currently, he works as a postdoctoral research associate, focusing on application of bioorthogonal chemistry for drug – release and DNA – encoded chemical libraries in medicinal chemistry.
Research interests:
Medicinal chemistry, Organic synthesis, Drug – release chemistry, DNA – encoded chemical libraries
Publications:
“Synthesis of Novel Acyl Derivatives of 3-(4,5,6,7-Tetrabromo-1H-benzimidazol-1- yl)propan-1-ols - Intracellular TBBi-Based CK2 Inhibitors with Proapoptotic Properties”; K.Chojnacki, P.Wińska, O.Karatsai, M.Koronkiewicz, M.MilnerKrawczyk, M.Wielechowska, M.J.Rędowicz, M.Bretner, P.Borowiecki; Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2021, 22: 6261. • “Synthesis, biological properties and structural study of new halogenated azolo[4,5- b]pyridines as inhibitors of CK2 kinase”; K.Chojnacki*, D.Lindenblatt, P.Wińska, M.Wielechowska, C.Toelzer, K.Niefind, M.Bretner; Bioorganic Chemistry, 2021, 106: 104502. • “Biological properties and structural study of new aminoalkyl derivatives of benzimidazole and benzotriazole, dual inhibitors of CK2 and PIM1 kinases.”; K.Chojnacki, P.Wińska, M.Wielechowska, E.Łukowska-Chojnacka, C.Tölzer, K.Niefind, M.Bretner*; Bioorganic Chemistry, 2018, 80: 266-275. • “Synthesis, in vitro antiproliferative activity and kinase profile of new benzimidazole and benzotriazole derivatives.”; K.Chojnacki, P.Wińska*, K.Skierka, M.Wielechowska, M.Bretner; Bioorganic Chemistry, 2017, 72: 1-10. • “N-Phenacyldibromobenzimidazoles - Synthesis Optimization and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic Activity”; A.Kowalkowska*, K.Chojnacki, M.Multan, J.K.Maurin, E.ŁukowskaChojnacka, P.Wińska; Molecules, 2022, 27: 4349. • “Synergistic Interactions of 5-Fluorouracil with Inhibitors of Protein Kinase CK2 Correlate with p38 MAPK Activation and FAK Inhibition in the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line”; P.Wińska*, O.Karatsai, M.Staniszewska , M.Koronkiewicz, K.Chojnacki, M.J.Rędowicz; Int. J. Mol. Sci., 2020, 21: 6234. • “Improved protein-crystal identification by using 2,2,2-trichloroethanol as a fluorescence enhancer”; C.Pichlo*, C.Toelzer, K.Chojnacki, S.Öcal, M.Uthoff, S.Ruegenberg, T.Hermanns, M.Schacherl, M.S.Denzel, K.Hofmann, K.Niefind, U.Baumann*; Acta Cryst., 2018, F74: 307-314.
Suprakash Biswas
Email address: u6043512@utah.edu
Lab: Franzini
Background:
Suprakash is a postdoctoral researcher in the Franzini Lab at University of Utah. He is involved in developing highly stable and reactive bio-orthogonally removable drug conjugate. He completed his Bachelor of Science (BSc) & Master of Science (MSc) in Chemistry from University of Calcutta & Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal.
Research interests:
With a background training in multiple disciplines including synthetic organic chemistry, molecular spectroscopy & fluorescence imaging he aspires to develop new molecular tools to identify efficient drug carrier as well as their release in human body. Specifically, he wants to modulate bio-orthogonal release by promoting the cycloaddition reaction between tetrazine and isonitriles.
Awards:
CSIR-NETJRF (India), GATE, Raman-Charpak Fellowship, Young Scientist (MPCST-India)
Publications:
Chemical Science , 12 (28), 9630-9644, 2021
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2022