Trained in biochemistry, chemistry, and molecular biology, I have a great interest in understanding biological mechanisms utilizing novel chemical tools that can modulate biological systems of interest. I have the diverse expertise, training, leadership experience, and working knowledge of chemistry and biology necessary to carry out the proposed study. My main interests are focused on two subject fields: 1) Controlling gene transcription and cellular processes utilizing chemical tools targeting metal containing lysine deacetylases, HDACs and 2) understanding the mechanisms of natural vitamin K, vitamin E, and their analogs’ roles in mitochondrial biology. As PI or co-Investigator on NIH-, University-, and private foundation-funded grants, I have established the groundwork by developing the first allosteric class I HDAC inhibitors targeting class I HDACs and biochemical tools to study different lysine acylation post-translational modifications including formylation and short-chain fatty acid post-translational modifications (PTMs). My laboratory has also developed other HDAC inhibitors with different HDAC isozyme selectivity, which can be used to study molecular mechanism(s) linking to lysine PTMs. Our laboratory has also developed a novel class of vitamin K analogs that modulate mitochondria activity and are able to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. These vitamin K analogs have shown efficacy in serval animal models of neurological diseases including epileptic seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Alpers syndrome. I have also successfully administrated these projects both academically and in an industrial setting (including research personnel, budgeting, and research directions), collaborated with multiple researchers, and produced peer-reviewed publications and patents for each project.

We have discovered novel Vitamin K based therapeutics that target new mechanisms and are safe, specific, and different to current drugs on the market for epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and mitochondrial diseases. The organs in our body need an active form of Vitamin K in order to be healthy. However, the form of Vitamin K that we obtain from our diet needs to be further processed, to produce the active form for the proper function and health of the organ. Our modified Vitamin K that we are developing doesn’t need to be processed because it is a direct substitute of the active form that goes directly to the organ where it is needed. Please visit our website: www.NeuroeneTherapeutics.com for more information.