Research in the Luesch lab lies at the interface of chemistry and biology and addresses multiple aspects of the drug discovery process ranging from assay development, identification and structure determination of bioactive small molecules with a focus on marine natural products, studies toward their mechanism of action, chemical synthesis and drug development of promising agents, the engineering of their biosynthetic pathways and development of heterologous expression systems, to the discovery of novel drug targets. Other products of our research are unique small molecule tools for chemical biology to probe gene and protein functions.

Specific areas of research
A New Wave of Medicine: Answer the Call
Gatorbulin-1

Lab information
Treasure Hunt: Cyanobacteria
Funding
The Luesch lab gratefully acknowledges past and current funding from the following sources:
Intramural:
- Debbie and Sylvia DeSantis Endowed Chair/Professorship
- UF Health Cancer Center, UF College of Pharmacy and UF Research Opportunity Fund
- The Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida
Extramural:
- National Institutes of Health (NCI, NIGMS)
- American Heart Association
- James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program
- Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program
- Florida Sea Grant College Program
- Florida Institute of Oceanography
- Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc.
Diving with a Donor
Learn more about UF College of Pharmacy alumna and supporter Debbie DeSantis, ʼ82, and her interest in natural products. This video highlights a May 2015 trip to the Florida Keys to collect cyanobacteria.
This lab is managed by Hendrik Luesch