NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Creating new methods for synthesizing important pharmaceutical compounds using gold catalysis

Official title: Development of Asymmetric Cooperative Gold Catalysis and Beyond

Funded at University of California Santa Barbara · NIH-11237271 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at new ways to use gold and special helpers to make it easier and faster to create important medicines, which could eventually lead to better treatments for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California Santa Barbara
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Santa Barbara, United States)
Project startJanuary 1, 2021
Project endDecember 31, 2025
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$57,812
NIH project number3R35GM139640-05S1
Project IDNIH-11237271 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research are individuals with conditions that could be treated by new pharmaceutical agents developed through these advanced synthetic methods.

Less likely to help

Patients who are not affected by conditions treatable by the new drugs synthesized through this research may not receive any direct benefit.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing innovative catalytic systems that utilize gold and specially designed ligands to enhance the efficiency of chemical synthesis. By exploring metal-ligand cooperation, the project aims to create new synthetic methods that can produce bioactive and pharmaceutical compounds more effectively. Patients may benefit indirectly from this research as it could lead to the development of new drugs and therapies. The approach involves rigorous experimentation and validation of new ligand designs to optimize the catalytic processes.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the creation of more effective and efficient pharmaceutical compounds, improving treatment options for various diseases.

How similar studies have gone: Other research in cooperative catalysis has shown promising results, indicating that this approach has the potential for significant advancements in chemical synthesis.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California Santa Barbara
    Santa Barbara, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Zhang, Liming — University of California Santa Barbara
  • Study coordinator: Zhang, Liming

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.