Chemoenzymatic strategies to find and make complex peptides
Official title: Chemoenzymatic Strategies for Molecular Discovery and Asymmetric Synthesis
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11378038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A funded project at UT Dallas is exploring new ways to create and test nature-inspired macrocyclic peptides that can precisely modulate biomolecular interactions and enable new biocatalytic methods for making complex molecules.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $593,438 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM158365-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with diseases where protein–protein interactions or membrane protein targets are key could indirectly benefit from advances in peptide modulators and covalent inhibitors.
✕Less likely to help
The research is primarily discovery-focused; immediate patient benefit is not guaranteed and depends on future translation.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing platforms to generate libraries of macrocyclic peptides inside cells or on phage, aiming to find potent modulators of protein interactions. It will also advance biocatalytic methods for asymmetric synthesis using novel, non-natural chemistries, including topologically complex peptide scaffolds and covalent inhibitors. The work builds on prior methods and seeks to validate discoveries against challenging targets such as membrane proteins, with a focus on target-driven discovery in complex cellular environments. Researchers will expand programmable synthesis, integrate chemical warheads, and explore how these macrocycles can act as selective modulators in biologically relevant settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new, highly selective peptide-based modulators and innovative chemical tools that enable better drug discovery and targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed that macrocyclic peptide libraries can disrupt challenging protein interactions with high potency, suggesting potential for further breakthroughs.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fasan, Rudi — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Fasan, Rudi
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.