The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences invites you to attend an H.G. Hewitt Drug Discovery Seminar on Monday, May 6, 2019, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm , Engineering and Science Building (ESB), room 121
Seminar Speaker: Tomasz Cierpicki, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology, University of Michigan
Seminar Title: "Targeting Protein-Protein Interactions in Cancer"
Research Overview
The research in Dr Cierpicki’s laboratory is focused on structural and chemical biology of proteins in cancer. We are interested in understanding the molecular basis leading to acute leukemia and in development of small molecules which could reverse the effect of leukemia oncoproteins. One of the current projects in my laboratory is development of small molecule inhibitors targeting BMI-1 oncoprotein. We are using broad range of biochemical, biophysical and structural biology methods (NMR and X-ray crystallography) in combination with medicinal chemistry to support development of potent inhibitors. In collaboration with Dr. Jolanta Grembecka we are developing small molecules targeting menin-MLL interaction to reverse the oncogenic potential of MLL fusion oncoproteins.
We are applying NMR fragment-based screening approach to identify small molecules targeting challenging proteins. Laboratory of Dr. Cierpicki is equipped in state-of-the art NMR spectrometer with automatic sample changer allowing for programmed running of NMR experiments as well as in robotic system for automatic sample preparation. Our goal is to develop small molecule inhibitors and chemical probes targeting proteins with validated activity in cancer.
For more information, contact: Dr. M. Kyle Hadden at 860.486-8446