Research
Interests:
Determining
those molecular features of a molecule which contribute to its pharmacological
efficacy for a human disease has long been an interest of mine.
My students and I do synthetic organic chemistry tightly linked
to drug design and discovery. We collaborate with pharmacologists,
toxicologists, and clinicians studying structure-activity relationships
in candidate pharmaceuticals. Recent projects have involved
anticancer agents, central nervous system regulators, anti-inflammatories,
anti-Alzheimer's drugs, and dermatologicals. We have also
been concerned with biopolymers as transport and depot platforms
useful in drug targeting. Many of our projects are collaboratory
with pharmaceutical industry and provide opportunities for the student
to do part of his/her thesis inside the industry.
Teaching
Interests:
As
you might expect, I teach courses in the area of my research expertise.
These include a graduate course in synthesis, one in heterocyclic
compounds, another in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, and
a "gateway" course on organic reaction mechanisms.
Selected
Publications:
C.
A. Martey, A. M. Vetrano, B. Billack, M. S. Whittemore, T. M. Mariano,
D. E. Heck, D. L. Laskin, N. D. Heindel, and J. D. Laskin, "Iodomercurio-4'5'-Dihydrotrimethylpsoralen
as a Novel Inhibitor of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression
in Murine Keratinocytes," Molecular Pharmacology, in press (2004).
T.
M. Mariano, A. M. Vetrano, S. L. Gentile, D. E. Heck, M. S. Whittemore,
C. D. Guillon, I. Jabin, R. D. Rapp, N. D. Heindel, and J. D. Laskin,
"Cell-Impermeant Pyridinium Derivatives of Psoralens Retain Activity
as Inhibitors of Keratinocyte Growth," Biochemical Pharmacology,
63 , 31-39 (2002) .
C.
A. Martey, A. M. Vetrano, M. S. Whittemore, T. M. Mariano, S. L.
Gentile, D. E. Heck, D. L. Laskin, N. D. Heindel, and J. D. Laskin,
"Mechanisms of Growth Inhibition in Keratinocytes by Mercurio-Substituted
4',5'-Dihydropsopralens," Biochemical Pharmacology, 7242
, 1-9 (2002) .
M.S.
Whittemore, N.D. Heindel, I. Jabin, C. Guillon, T. E. McNeel, R.
D. Rapp, D.E. Heck, J.D. Laskin, "Synthetic approaches to 4,8-dimethyl-5'-(N-pyridiniummethyl)-4',5'-dihydropsoralens
and 4,8-dimethyl-5'-(N-aminomethyl)-4',5'-dihydropsoralens ,"
J. Heterocyclic Chem., 38 (4), 909-916
(2001).
M.
S. Whittemore, N. D. Heindel, C. Guillon, T. McNeel, R. D. Rapp,
J. Laskin, T. Marino, and D. Heck, "Synthetic Approaches to 4,8-Dimethyl-4'-(N-Pyridiniummethyl)-4',5'-Dihydropsoralens
and their Activity against PAM 212 Keratinocytes," Heterocycles,
55 , 1081-1093 (2001).
N.
D. Heindel, J. D. Laskin, D. E. Heck, R. D. Rapp, M.S. Whittemore,
T. E. McNeel, and I. Jabin, "Amino-and Mercurio-Substituted 4',5'-Dihydropsoralen
and Therapeutic Uses Thereof," U. S. Patent 6,255,324 (issued July
3, 2001).
N.
D. Heindel, J. D. Laskin, M. Whittemore, T. McNeel, C. Guillon,
D. Heck, and R. D. Rapp. "Syntheses and Therapeutic Uses of 4'-Substituted-4',5'-Dihydropsoralens,"
U. S. Patent 6,177,424 (issued January 23, 2001 ).
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