College of Pharmacy

The Indra laboratory is investigating the mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between skin-cells and role of microenvironment in atopic-dermatitis, vitiligo, tumor-heterogeneity and in metastatic melanoma. We discovered different factors that regulate UV-induced melanocyte/epidermal stem-cell survival, proliferation and migration. The anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing effects of bioactive natural compounds are further studied.

Dr. Ishmael’s research focuses on the use of new chemical entities from marine organisms and fungi as tool compounds to disrupt cell signaling and proteostasis in human cancer cells. With a special interest in glioblastoma, our goal is to identify and validate novel druggable targets for the treatment of human disease.

Taifo Mahmud’s research interests focus on natural product-based drug discovery and development. His group employs a multidisciplinary approach that utilizes cutting-edge technologies to produce novel pharmaceuticals. Some recent accomplishments of his group include discovering new families of enzymes and developing antimalarials, anti-cancers, and sunscreens through genetic engineering or synthetic biology.  

Our efforts are focused on the understanding how the interplay between host and microbiota contributes to pathogenesis and treatment of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, NASH, IBD, immunodeficiency, and cancer. This is a highly collaborative effort involving advanced causality inference and network analyses of multi-omics data coupled with gnotobiotic animal models, observational and interventional (i.e. clinical trials) studies in patient populations. 

My research focuses on the chemistry of natural products, including structure elucidation, biosynthesis and synthetic medicinal chemistry. My current projects include the discovery of new hassallidins, antifungal cyclic peptides produced by cyanobacteria, and the synthesis of a small fungal metabolite to revise a structure.  

We take multidisciplinary approaches to develop therapeutic interventions against sexually transmitted infection, gonorrhea. Gonorrhea affects millions of people globally and has serious consequences on reproductive and neonatal health. Gonorrhea outcomes are especially devastating in sexual, gender, racial, and ethnic minorities and resource-limited countries. To develop vaccine(s), we apply proteomics-driven antigen discovery and identified candidates are assessed in vitro and in mouse model. The second focus is drug discovery through high-throughput screening of small molecule inhibitors that target central players in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis. 

Our laboratory investigates the interface of material science and biology to develop novel drug delivery and molecular imaging platforms. This interdisciplinary research leverages advanced chemistry techniques, bioengineering, and strong clinical collaborations to develop experimental therapeutics and new imaging modalities. In particular, this work exploits the unique capabilities of nanomaterials to improve the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments.   

Our research utilizes an interdisciplinary approach toward the development of effective nanomaterials-based imaging and therapeutic agents, particularly for cancer, endometriosis, and placenta-related diseases. This includes the development of photo-theranostic agents for use in image-guided therapies. The main objective is to assist with accurate early diagnosis/visualization of tissue of interest using innovative nano-imaging probes, with subsequent immediate treatment.