New ways to make drug-like compounds
Official title: New Methods for the Synthesis of Biologically Active Compounds
Funded at New York University · NIH-11515318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are creating new chemical methods to make molecules that could lead to treatments for cancer, malaria, and bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $23,312 |
| NIH project number | 3R35GM148203-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11515318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll patients now, but people with cancer, malaria, or bacterial infections could be future candidates for therapies developed from these compounds.
✕Less likely to help
Patients needing immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to infection or cancer are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research in the near term.
What this research studies
Researchers at New York University will develop new chemical reactions to build cyclic and aromatic peroxides, natural-product motifs with a range of biological effects. They will study how these compounds trigger cell death through ferroptosis and work to improve the potency and metabolic stability of a lead molecule called FINO2. The team will also study acetal substitution chemistry to make synthesis more reliable and scalable. Collaborations with other labs will help identify the biological targets and mechanisms behind these compounds' effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new types of medicines that kill infection-causing organisms or cancer cells by novel mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: Some related natural-product peroxides (for example artemisinin for malaria) have been successful, but using cyclic peroxides to trigger ferroptosis in cancer is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woerpel, Keith Allen — New York University
- Study coordinator: Woerpel, Keith Allen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
-
Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
-
SNEngage: How Social Networks and Supports Shape Mental Health Care for Black and Latino Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
A long-term study following Black and Latino individuals with serious mental illness to learn how their social networks affect engagement with mental health services and overall well-being.
-
Endosomal signaling and cancer pain control in oral cancer
A study to understand how signals inside nerve cells and supportive cells contribute to pain in people with oral cancer.
-
Accelerating hydroxyurea use for sickle cell disease in Nigeria
A pragmatic study in Nigeria aims to help doctors use hydroxyurea more consistently for people with sickle cell disease.
-
Preventing youth violence by better delivering proven programs to middle schools
A large study in middle schools will test practical ways to help teachers implement a well-known social-emotional learning program so it reaches students as intended.
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.