Creating new methods to produce complex natural molecules for treating diseases
Official title: New Bond Disconnections in the Streamlined Synthesis of Complex Bioactive Molecules
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11012210 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on finding easier ways to make natural compounds from certain plants that could help treat diseases like cancer and HIV, with the hope that these new treatments will be available for patients in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | May 6, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $493,243 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM156482-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11012210 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include individuals affected by cancer, HIV, or neurodegenerative disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to cancer, HIV, or neurodegenerative diseases may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative synthetic methods to create complex natural molecules that have potential therapeutic benefits for diseases such as cancer and HIV. By simplifying the chemical processes involved, the researchers aim to produce these biologically important compounds more efficiently and in larger quantities. The approach involves using natural products from specific plant families and applying new strategies to generate diverse chemical structures that can be tested for their medicinal properties. Patients may benefit from new treatments derived from these compounds as they progress through clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new and effective therapies for cancer, HIV, and neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in developing therapeutic agents from complex natural products, indicating a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maimone, Thomas John — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Maimone, Thomas John
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Mobile AI-powered microscope to quickly spot parasites in wastewater
A new AI-enabled mobile microscope will be tested to quickly detect parasite eggs in wastewater from refugee settings to help protect public health.
-
SCAN: Standardized brain imaging for Alzheimer’s and related dementias
A nationwide effort to standardize brain imaging data in people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias so researchers can compare results and learn how to diagnose and track the disease.
-
Cerebellum’s role in thinking and behavior across tasks
This grant explores how the cerebellum helps people think, feel, and behave across different tasks, with a focus on understanding cognitive and affective processing in cerebellar disorders.
-
Genetic clues to how teeth form and replace themselves in sticklebacks
A study in a fish model aims to uncover the genetic factors that control how teeth form and keep renewing, with potential implications for human tooth regeneration.
-
California Abundant Birth Project: does guaranteed income during pregnancy affect birth outcomes and child development?
A government-backed program gives pregnant people in California monthly income to reduce stress, with researchers studying how this helps birth outcomes and early child development.
-
American-Asian Arbovirus Research and Enhanced Surveillance Center
A2CARES is a national program that brings together scientists across disciplines to improve detection, study, and response to arthropod-borne viruses affecting adults in the Americas and Asia.
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.