Expanding chemical space with boron-nitrogen rings for new biomolecule tools
Official title: Expanding the Chemical and Functional Space with Boron-Nitrogen Heterocycles
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11380962 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project at Boston College will explore new boron-nitrogen chemistry to create novel molecules and proteins that could help scientists study biology and develop better tools for biomedical research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $387,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM153328-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380962 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; the work is foundational chemistry and tool development that could benefit future patient-oriented research.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is unlikely in the short term; the impact is through enabling future biomedical studies.
What this research studies
This grant aims to broaden the set of chemical building blocks by using boron-nitrogen isosteres to make new arenes with unique reactivity. The work spans synthetic chemistry to develop catalysts, ligands, and a versatile BN-based synthesis toolkit, plus a chemical biology component to make BN-containing proteins and a fast, selective bioconjugation method. If successful, these advances could yield new fluorescent labels and protein trackers to study how proteins interact in cells. The project will combine foundational chemistry with practical applications to enable future biomedical research. The goals are likely to generate novel compounds and methods that could be used by researchers studying diseases and cellular processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could provide new chemical tools and labeled biomolecules that help scientists study disease mechanisms and develop therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on BN/CC isosterism has opened new chemical spaces; this project builds on that to extend functionality in biology.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Shih-Yuan — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Liu, Shih-Yuan
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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.