Drs. Chris Xing & Stephen Hecht - Cancer Preventative Research

New research from the labs of Chris Xing and Stephen Hecht has found that consumption of the kava root (Piper methysticum) may prevent development of tobacco smoke-induced lung cancer. In addition, they have identified natural components of the kava plant that appear to have cancer-preventative benefits and developed a patent-pending supplement that avoids liver damage, a rare side effect of currently available kava dietary supplements. The findings are published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research, and both KSTP-TV and HealthTalk covered this story.

Dr. Phil Portoghese - GAP funding

Professor Phil Portoghese received $15,000 through the Building New Collaborations in Grants award program (GAP) for his project "Design of Ligands to Inhibit Progression of Neurodegenerative Diseases"

Dr. Tom Shier - Digital Journal story

Professor Thomas Shier is featured in the Digital Journal story "Vets Plus, Inc. and the University of Minnesota Renew Consulting Contract for Veterinary Supplements."

Teachers of the Semester, Fall 2013

PharmD students have chosen two Medicinal Chemistry faculty as Professors of the Semester for Fall 2013. David Ferguson was selected by the Twin Cities class of 2016, and Dan Harki was honored by the Duluth class of 2017.

Dr. Chris Xing - MC2 Award

Associate professor Chris Xing received a $50,000 MC2 award from the Masonic Cancer Center for his project "A Highly Potent Chemopreventive Agent Blocking Tobacco Carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced Lung Tumorigenesis and Mechanisms."

Faculty receive 2014 Seed Grants

Three Medicinal Chemistry professors were awarded $30,000 Seed Grants for 2014. Barry Finzel received the award for "The Cellular Effects of Small Molecule Antagonists of Hyaluronan Binding to CD44," Dan Harki received the award for "Nuclear Export of Androgen Receptor with Light-Controllable DNA Decoys," and Elizabeth Amin received the award for "Identification of Novel Small-Molecule Ricin Toxin A (RTA) Inhibitors as Bioterror Countermeasures."