Iredia D Iyamu

Chemical probes are essential tools in elucidating complex cellular processes that drive cancer and other diseases. Additionally, a probe that displays a promising effect can serve as a beginning chemical compound for drug discovery.

The Iyamu laboratory is focused on:

• Developing chemical probes for potential disease targets for utility in target validation and drug discovery with a focus on epigenetics
• Utilizing high-throughput and fragment-based lead discovery screening to discover chemical leads.

Research in the Iyamu group will develop chemical probes for novel biological targets through an integrative approach that includes the application of chemistry in conjunction with informatics (bio- and cheminformatics) and molecular interaction studies for probe identification and optimization. We will also use biochemical assays to investigate in vitro activity, cell-based assays to validate cellular target engagement, and pharmacology to explore the functions of the probe in developing new therapeutic strategies. We are working at the interface of chemistry and biology to design tools and inhibitors to study the function of human proteins in cells and diseases.

Research interests:

• Epigenetics, posttranslational modification, methyltransferase, acetyltransferase, medicinal chem
• Posttranslational modification
• Methyltransferase
• Acetyltransferase
• Medicinal chemistry
• Drug discovery