Research
Major Research Projects of ICB&DD
The ICB&DD integrates the existing strengths at Stony Brook in the medical and molecular sciences, and brings in complementary expertise from outside to explore drug discovery and development.
Currently, ICB&DD is focusing on drug discovery in
- (i) Cancer Therapeutics
- (ii) Therapeutics for Infectious Diseases
- (iii) Diagnostics/Therapeutics for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson Diseases
- (iv) Anti-inflammatory and Pain Management Therapeutics
wherein high level expertise already exists on the Stony Brook campus.
In order to promote drug discovery in these areas, ICB&DD has implemented the state-of-the-art Analytical Instrumentation Laboratory and Discovery Chemistry Laboratory which serve for the members of the Institute.
Since its inception in the fall of 2004, the ICB&DD-designated grants totaled more than $50.1 M and currently 15 projects, $20.0 M in grants, are ongoing. Also, among the inventions made by the ICB&DD members, 2 compounds are in the phase III and phase II human clinical trials, one compound is in phase I/II and several compounds are in preclinical development. Also, several diagnostic methods are in development.
ICB&DD’s Three Research Programs:
(i) Structural and Computational Biology Program
(Dr. Miguel Garcia-Diaz, Dr. Jin Wang, Directors)
The aim of this program is to bolster consolidated efforts for the promotion of basic chemical biology research. At the same time, this program will play a crucial role in the drug discovery research at
ICB&DD. Close collaboration has been established with the Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology and BNL. CSHL and ISMMS may join as well.
(ii) Infectious Diseases Research Program
(Dr. Maurizio Del Poeta, Director)
The main goal of this program is the promotion of collaborative research at Stony Brook University as well as research consortiums with other institutions, including BNL, Colorado State University and Rutgers University. Mt. Sinai SM may join as well. Through this program ICB&DD has been successful to acquire major grants on TB and antifungal research, as well as biodefense research.
(iii) Cancer Research Program
(Dr. Kenneth Shroyer, Director)
The main goal of this program is the promotion of collaborative research between cancer geneticists, cancer biologists, medicinal chemists, imaging scientists, and medical/ clinical oncologists at Stony Brook University, BNL and CSHL. This program will closely cooperate with the Stony Brook Cancer Center (SBCC) to promote the translational experimental therapeutics development. New initiatives with ISMMS is under development.
ICB&DD supports Educational Program:
Chemistry – Biology Interface Training Program
(Dr. Nicole Sampson, Dr. Peter Tonge, Directors)
This NIH-funded training program is set up as an umbrella program in which students will be admitted by the regular process to Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Structural Biology or Microbiology programs. Training activities will include the annual ICBDD symposium/poster session, as well as participation in the program's own version of the Chemistry/BSB/MCB style student journal club/research seminar series.
ICB&DD’s two Strategic Research Laboratories:
(i) Anti-inflammatory Research Laboratory
(Dr. Tadashi Honda, Director)
The aim of this Laboratory is to develop new anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective agents through rational drug design and medicinal chemistry, as well as to explore the new chemistry arising from the research process.
(ii) Cancer Stem Cell Research Laboratory
(Dr. Galina Botchkina, Director)
The main aim of this Laboratory is to study the prostate and colon tumor-initiating cancer stem cells (CSCs), their biological characteristics and CSC-targeted anti-cancer drug development. Another direction is mathematic modeling of the stem cell proliferation and responses to drugs in collaboration with the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Applied Biomathematics, Inc.