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If you are interested in pursuing a project in such areas, do please get in touch! In any given year, nearly ten percent of the global population will suffer from malaria–500 million cases–and more than 1 million people will die as a result–a death from malaria every 30 seconds. Malaria is caused by the protozoan parasite Plasmodium. Resistance of this parasite to our current medicines makes malaria is a formidable enemy to civilians living in malarial infected regions, and combat personnel who must operate in such areas. In collaboration with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, my research interest is in the exploration of a number of classes of organic molecules with the aim of producing easily-synthesized and novel compounds with potential as antimalarial therapeutics to benefit our combat personnel. One such class are the chalcones, depicted below:
This research involves selection of compounds to target (picking which substituents to decorate our chalcone template with), planning of the synthetic route and then synthesis of the targeted structure, which may require the exploration of novel synthetic strategies–Midshipman can be involved in any or all of these steps. All compounds prepared will be assessed for their potential as antimalarial therapeutics. Promising molecules will be further developed at WRAIR, and could proceed all the way to becoming a drug used by the warfighter.
We are also exploring the possibility of developing a chalcone-based antibacterial, and have developed an assay for compounds which can be carried out at the USNA. Again projects in the area can include design and synthesis of target compounds, then determination of their biological activity. Also, Midshipman interested in developing new experiments for the teaching laboratory could carry out a Capstone project in this area. This could involve using the modern method–combinatorial chemistry–which allows many organic molecules to be made at the same time.
Background: I have worked in both academic and industrial labs in the areas of synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry. |
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