My laboratory studies the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of small-molecule antitumor agents that act on molecular targets associated with the pathology of cancer. Our current research efforts are focused on developing agents for the treatment of brain tumors. The effective treatment of brain tumors presents a number of challenges, the therapeutic agent needs to cross the blood-brain barrier, localize to a specific region of the brain and exhibit tumor selectivity.
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- Sc, University of Manchester, UK (Chemistry)
- MSc, University of Manchester, UK (Pharmacology)
- PhD, University of Manchester, UK (Medicinal Chemistry)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Colorado
- MRSC, Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Affiliations
- Member - University of Colorado Cancer Center
- Member - Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute
Research Interest
- Chemical synthesis of heterocyclic compounds
- Computational-based design of novel small molecules
- Disrupting drug resistance mechanisms in cancer (DNA damage response)
- Targeting adaptive proteins and pathways in hypoxia (metabolic reprogramming)
Publications and Presentations
Matheson CJ, Casalvieri KA, Backos DS, Reigan P. Development of Potent Pyrazolopyrimidinone-Based WEE1 Inhibitors with Limited Single-Agent Cytotoxicity for Cancer Therapy. ChemMedChem. 2018;13(16):1681-1694.
Casalvieri KA, Matheson CJ, Backos DS, Reigan P. Selective Targeting of RSK Isoforms in Cancer. Trends Cancer. 2017;3(4):302-312.
Furtek SL, Backos DS, Matheson CJ, Reigan P. Strategies and Approaches of Targeting STAT3 for Cancer Treatment. ACS Chem Biol. 2016;11(2):308-18.