Dr. Arun Ghosh
- Ian P. Rothwell Distinguished Professor - Organic Chemistry/Medicinal Chemistry
- Email: akghosh@purdue.edu
- Phone: 45323
- Office: 273A WTHR
- Professor Arun Ghosh's individual homepage
My research group is involved in multidisciplinary research projects in the areas of synthetic organic, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry. Of particular interest, we are investigating:
Synthesis and biological studies of Bioactive Natural Products
Design and synthesis of Molecular Probes for Bioactive Peptides and Proteins
Structure-based Design of Enzyme Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease and AIDS
Development of Asymmetric methodologies (Catalytic and Stoichiometric)
Multicomponent Reactions (MCR) for Highly Functionalized Products
The total synthesis and exploration biology of various medicinally important natural products are important parts of my group's research. These interests include the development of new synthetic methodologies, general strategies for synthesis and the study of important structure-function relationships. In this context, we are investigating the chemistry and biology of anticancer agents laulimalide, amphidinolides, peloruside A and opioid receptor antagonist salvinorin D.
Another important research area in my group is the design and synthesis of molecular probes and nonpeptidal turn-mimics for biologically active peptides and proteins. We are currently studying critical ligand-binding site interactions of various proteolytic enzymes. This includes, memapsin 2, a very significant target for Alzheimer's disease as well as, HIV protease whose clinical effectiveness for the treatment of AIDS has been well recognized. Furthermore, we are involved in the development of asymmetric reactions based upon various intermolecular or intramolecular metal chelations. Of particular interest, we are investigating a variety of asymmetric syntheses including syn - and anti- selective aldol, hetero Diels-Alder, conjugate addition and multicomponent (MCR) reactions.
Education
- BSc (Honors), Calcutta University, 1979
- MSc, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 1981
- Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1985
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, 1988
Awards
- Professor S. Chandrasekaran Endowment Award Lecture, Mohali, India, 2022
- University of Pittsburgh Department of Chemistry Distinguished Alumni Award, 2022
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015
- Herbert Newby McCoy Award, 2015
- Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame, 2013
- CRSI Medal, the Chemical Research Society of India, 2012
- National Institutes of Health - MERIT Award, 2011
- Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award, 2010
- IUPAC-Richter Prize , 2010
- Jeananne D. and James B. Chaney Research and Scholarship Achievement Award, College of Pharmacy, 2010
- Novartis Chemistry Lectureship, 2010
- Thompson Reuters Award in Medicinal Chemistry, 2010
- Distinguished Alumnus Award, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 2009
- Ian P. Rothwell Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry, 2009
- Robert Scarborough Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry Award, 2008
- The Seed for Success Award, 2007
- Elected Fellow, 2005
- Scientific Advisory Board, Channel Island Alzheimer's Research Institute, 2005
- University Scholar, University of Illinois , 1998
- Sigma Xi Scientific Society, Pittsburgh, Graduate Research Excellence Award, 1985
- K. S. Memorial Honorary Medal for Excellence in Chemistry, RKMR College, 1979
- National Scholar, Government of India, 1976