Jianfeng Cai

Research Overview

Our group advances chemical and biomolecular research, focusing on the design of new molecules for biomedical and material applications. A major goal is to create novel peptidomimetics and small molecules that regulate protein functions in key cellular processes. Studying how these compounds interact with proteins helps reveal mechanisms controlling cell activities.

We aim to develop compounds that could lead to new therapeutics for cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. We have created a new class of sequence-specific peptidic foldamers, called AApeptides, inspired by chiral PNA backbones. AApeptides can fold into defined secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures and show strong potential for recognizing proteins and nucleic acids.

AApeptides are promising as tools or drug candidates to modulate disease-relevant protein-protein interactions and cell signaling. We use two complementary approaches: structure-based design and combinatorial screening, to identify AApeptides with desired functions. For the structure-based strategy, we design AApeptides that fold into robust helical or beta-sheet structures that mimic natural protein domains, thereby disrupting medicinally related protein-protein interactions. For combinatorial screening, we make macrocyclic AApeptide based on libraries, from which we identify potential ligands and drug candidates binding to proteins of interest.

Beyond biomedical applications, we are also interested in fundamental science. Using the AApeptide scaffold, we aim to create new artificial proteins, including enzymes with predictable functions. We explore their applications in supramolecular chemistry through controlled self-assembly and in polymer materials via controlled synthesis.

Awards

2025 – Member, Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL)
2024 – Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2024 – Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (NAI)
2024 – Okeanos-CAPA Senior Investigator Award at the Chemical and Biology Interface
2023 – Fellow, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)
2020 – Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)
2015 – Biomatik Distinguished Junior Faculty Award, CAPA
2014 – NSF CAREER Award
2014 – ChemComm Emerging Investigator
2012 – New Investigator Award, Florida Bankhead Coley Cancer Research Program
2011 – Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Publications

List of publications