Chemical Tools for Early Drug Discovery
As a nationally renowned team of chemists and chemical biologists, the Peterson Lab research experts not only work to create cutting-edge tools for early drug discovery but also to study cancer biology and create small molecules and protein conjugates that selectively kill cancer cells by targeting receptors on and within cancer cells.
By synthesizing chemical tools to study biological systems, these research scientists investigate diverse biological targets by employing fluorescence-based and imaging-based methods. They extensively use these state-of-the-art methods to evaluate the effects of small molecules on isolated proteins and living cells.
Because the Peterson Lab team works in the fields of organic/medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, they maintain a unique study approach to discover new types of anticancer agents, identify their biomolecular targets and synthesize probes of molecular mechanisms of action.
Mission
At the OSUCCC – James, the nationally and internationally recognized Peterson Lab research experts design, synthesize and evaluate small molecules for early-stage drug discovery, medicinal chemistry and chemical biology projects. This critical research paves the way for new approaches to treat cancer and other diseases.
The lab’s groundbreaking research is at the scientific interface between organic chemistry and cellular biology, and is focused on the discovery of biologically active small molecules. The team additionally synthesizes fluorescent probes of biological systems, and they extensively use imaging, luminescence and flow cytometry-based assays for drug discovery.
Through rational molecular design, high-content screening and high-throughput screening approaches, the Peterson Lab research scientists are working to identify small molecules that engage and control the proteins that play critical roles in specific biological pathways.
Information gained from this research continues to play an important role in developing drug therapies to treat cancer and with the goal of moving these drugs into clinical trials.