Reference Library
The Reference Library includes manuals and guides for various aspects of the drug discovery process. There are also lecture notes from seminars presented by members of the SLU-IDBI consortium under confidentiality agreements.
Visit the SLU-IDBI Reference Library
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John Tavis |
Molecular Microbiology & Immunology |
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The Tavis lab’s primary focus ins antiviral drug discovery targeting the Hepatitis B Virus ribonuclease H (RNaseH). The lab has developed a suite of biochemical and cell-based assays to evaluate how inhibitors of the RNaseH affect the enzyme and viral replication. Its key resource is a small but chemically diverse set of nuclease inhibitors and their analogs. The lab routinely conducts cytotoxicity assays using MTS (mitochondrial function), neutral red retention (lysosome function), crystal violet retention (DNA accumulation, usually interpreted as cell growth), and LDH release (plasma membrane integrity) to gain a more comprehensive view of how its compound affect the cell. The lab collaborates with medicinal chemists in the United States, France, Greece and China and are actively pushing forward two anti-HBV RNaseH hit-to-lead optimization projects. They work closely with other members of the SLU-DDG, including Feng Cao, Ph.D.; Maureen Donlin, Ph.D.; Lynda Morrison, Ph.D.; and Getahun Abate, Ph.D. Through these collaborations, the lab has demonstrated that the inhibitors in its library can have high selectivity for one virus or cellular organism over the others, opening a pathway to antimicrobial development targeting nucleases. |
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Jack Kennell |
Biology |
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Jack Kennell, Ph.D., is interested in mitochondrial genomics, intracellular communication pathways, mobile genetic elements and evolution in fungi. He primarily study filamentous fungi (Neurospora and Fusarium spp.), but has worked with a variety of both ascomycete and basidiomycete yeasts and are part of Malassezia consortium. He has conducted two projects that involved the assessment of anti-microbial agents: 1) anti-bacterial effectiveness of silver and zinc compounds in polyurethane rubber compounds (such as flooring products), and; 2) mode of action of zinc pyrithione (the active ingredient in many anti-dandruff shampoos). He has developed some relatively simple and reliable assays that can be conducted in micro-titer plates and carried out by undergraduate students, and also has a collection of Neurospora mutants that can provide insight into whether the anti-fungal properties relate to inhibiting mitochondrial function. |
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Silviya Zustiak |
Biomedical Engineering |
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Zustiak’s laboratory focuses on hydrogel biomaterials and soft tissue engineering, with emphasis on developing novel biomaterials as cell scaffolds, drug screening platforms and protein delivery devices. A major challenge of tissue engineering is to build three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models for studying tissue physiology and pathology. 3D in vitro models are the bridge between conventional two-dimensional (2D) tissue culture, which does not capture the complexity of human tissue, and animal models, which are costly, time-consuming and raise ethical concerns. One area in which 3D models are underrepresented but where they can have an immediate impact is the development of platforms for toxicology screening. Such in vitro models have the potential to address the growing concerns of drug failures in clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or unexpected side effects. Further, they can play a role in preventive medicine by answering the urgent need for efficient platforms enabling the screening of the plethora of environmental hazards linked to incidences of diseases such as cancer. Zustiak applies her expertise in the design and characterization of synthetic biomaterials, to provide a complete toolbox for building 3D in vitro models as platforms for toxicology screening and for the study of disease progression. Her current focus is on solid tumors in soft tissues. Zustiak’s laboratory also develops injectable and biodegradable hydrogel formulations for sustained localized protein release. These technologies enable novel and effective protein-based therapeutic strategies by: i) providing sustained protein release and hence increased protein residence time in vivo, ii) preserving the proteins’ bioactivity prior to release, iii) decreasing protein immunogenicity, and iv) localizing protein release to reduce protein dosage needed for a therapeutic effect and reduce systemic side effects. |
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Marvin Meyers |
Chemistry |
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The research in Marvin Meyers' lab is focused the application of medicinal chemistry towards the discovery of potential drug candidates to treat people with rare and neglected diseases. It collaborates with experts in infectious disease biology, including malaria, tuberculosis, infectious diarrhea (cryptosporidiosis), cryptococcal meningitis, hepatitis B virus and herpes simplex virus. The lab also has ongoing collaborations with experts in oncology, FSHD muscular dystrophy and infant short-gut syndrome. The lab uses synthetic organic chemistry techniques to prepare new compounds, which are analyzed by its collaborators to assess their biological properties. Using medicinal chemistry and structure-based drug design principles, the lab optimizes the potency, pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of compounds with the goals of identification of tool compounds and, ultimately, candidate drug molecules for clinical trials. |
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David Griggs |
Molecular Microbiology & Immunology |
| David Griggs' laboratory specializes in drug discovery and the translation of basic discoveries to therapeutic application. It performs assay development and optimization for high-throughput screening of compounds, assessment of target potency and selectivity for lead characterization, and in vitro and in vivo assessment of compound pharmacokinetics and metabolism (ADME). A major interest of Griggs for many years, both at SLU and in prior research performed while working at global pharmaceutical companies (Searle/Pharmacia/Pfizer), has been the roles of integrins in physiology and disease. The lab has recently discovered and characterized new small molecule compounds that are making exciting progress toward development of an effective treatment to reduce or reverse the destructive organ fibrosis that occurs in many disease conditions. The lab is also currently applying its molecular, cellular and pharmacology expertise in sponsored research programs to develop new medicines for treatment of tuberculosis, cryptosporidiosis and bone disorders. The lab maintains diverse and productive collaborations with companies, foundations, and researchers at SLU and around the world, all of which aim to advance new and better treatments for patients. | |
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Graeme Thomas |
Office of the Vice President for Research |
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Graeme Thomas is director of Saint Louis University’s Research Innovation Initiatives within the Office of the Vice President for Research. In this role, he is responsible for commercializing the products of SLU research including all aspects of IP protection, contracts management and industry collaboration. Thomas has led the spin-out and support of numerous startup businesses based on SLU research and development. They include startups engaged in the development of drugs for the treatment of fibrotic disease, (Indalo Therapeutics, Inc.,) for non-opioid pain relief (BioIntervene Inc.,) and for HSV and fungal infections and hepatitis B (Casterbridge Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). He has also been engaged in the licensing of drugs developed for use in treatment of rare diseases including MPS VII enzyme deficiencies and FSHD muscular dystrophies. Thomas is also responsible for the promotion and expansion of the university’s sponsored research initiative, for the formation and management of a series of funded research innovation initiatives and for the direction and oversight of MEDLaunch, SLU’s student-led, student-driven biomedical incubator. |
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