Image: Mattias Pettersson
Research group Our research group brings together medicinal chemistry, chemical biology and cancer biology. We develop bioactive molecules and chemical strategies to investigate disease-relevant biological mechanisms and explore new therapeutic concepts.
A central focus is the selective targeting of DNA and other nucleic acids, particularly G-quadruplex structures involved in gene regulation and disease. We develop small molecules, chemical probes and ligand–oligonucleotide conjugates that combine complementary modes of molecular recognition. An important direction is the development of multimodal molecular strategies that integrate structure recognition with sequence-directed targeting.
These approaches allow us to investigate how specific DNA structures influence gene expression and other biological processes. Cancer is a major application area, both for understanding fundamental disease mechanisms and for identifying new starting points for therapeutic development.
Alongside nucleic-acid targeting, the group has broader interests in bioactive molecule discovery, chemical probe development and early-stage drug discovery. Our work combines molecular design and organic synthesis with biophysical characterization and studies in biological systems.
The projects are often carried out through interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in molecular biology, biochemistry, medicine and biotechnology.
Are you interested in joining us for your exam project? Read more about available projects here.
Most cancer drugs target proteins. This strategy instead targets the virus's DNA.
Sparkling interest in research in the spirit of Umeå’s honorary citizen, Emmanuelle Charpentier.
EU-OPENSCREEN integrates high-throughput screening platforms in chemical biology across Europe.
