Medicinal Chemistry and Small Molecule Antagonists

Once key molecular mechanisms of pathological processes have been identified, a next step in finding a cure for a particular disease is the identification of small molecule effectors of the mechanism. "Medicinal chemistry" is what Stephen Bergmeier, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, calls the research done by his group; that is, the study of drug design, drug synthesis, and drug action. The Bergmeier group is working on the development of new synthetic organic methods involving aziridines, which are strained three-membered rings containing one nitrogen. Aziridines hold great promise for the synthesis of biologically active, nitrogen-containing compounds such as antibiotics and central nervous system effectors. The Bergmeier group is also examining the design and synthesis of selective antagonists of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. These antagonists could be developed as therapeutics for addiction (e.g., smoking). Recently, Bergmeier and other faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the College of Health and Human Services teamed up on an internal grant to support enhancement of biotechnology infrastructure and personnel. A portion of these funds was used for a combinatorial chemistry facility that was established by Bergmeier and is now headed by him.