Drug Discovery | First-year Research Immersion

From Lab to Life: Discover New Pathways to Combat Diseases with Cutting-Edge Therapies

Drug discovery focuses on how organic molecules function and, in turn, then can be used to address medical problems. The research carried out by first-year students in the Drug Discovery research stream at Binghamton University contributes to better understanding of how to improve targeted delivery of biomedicine in the human body. In particular, the stream research focuses on understanding the role and requirement of biomolecules in neurological disorders and cancer. Researchers within this steam will identify molecular targets for therapeutic treatment.

An infographic showing a circle labelled “Drug Discovery” in the center, with surrounding icons labelled “Searching for Novel Targets,” “Drug Library Screening,” “Novel Drug Combinations,” and “Mitigating Side Effects” around the center. — Drug Discovery uses methods such as tissue culture and plate assays to investigate novel pharmaceutical uses for compounds.

Drug Discovery research intersects the traditional disciplines of Pharmacology, Chemistry, Genetics, Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Cellular Biology, Neurochemistry, and Molecular Biology. The research questions our FRI students explore are to investigate biomolecules in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer to better understand how they function and, in turn, provide insight in targeting and designing novel medicinal therapies.

All of the research projects in this field will advance medicinal practices. Each discipline, neurochemistry, genetics, molecular and cellular biology, biophysics, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology, is intertwined to allow for an increased understanding of cellular complexities and will aid in developing therapeutic avenues to support public health.

Research Themes

Slowing Cancer Cell Growth	Reducing Side Effects
Novel Drug Combinations	Natural Product Therapies

Research Educator

Patricia Wolfe

Drug Discovery, Research Assistant Professor

First-year Research Immersion Program

pwolfe@binghamton.edu

607-777-5523

S2 443

Research Interests

Cell Biology
Pharmacology
Nutritional Biology

Dr. Patricia (Patti) Wolfe is the Research Educator for the Drug Discovery Stream, which focuses on searching for pharmaceuticals that can be redirected as new therapies. A library of FDA-approved drugs will be probed using techniques such as fluorometric and colorimetric plate assays, in-silico screening, and differential scanning to identify targets that can be further characterized for activity against human diseases that differ from the condition for which the drug was previously approved. She has found great satisfaction in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in their development as scientists.

Research Techniques

Green and gray infographic outlining laboratory skills and analysis techniques, with sections for liquid handling, tissue culture, plate assays, microscopy, drug library screens, protein analysis, RNA/DNA analysis, and data analysis, accompanied by corresponding laboratory images and a data graph. — In the drug discovery stream, students learn a variety of lab and analysis skills.

Research Projects

Cohort 11 (2024-2025)
- Bridging immunology and oncology: Utilizing JAK inhibitors and chemotherapy drugs to treat pancreatic cancer
- Effect of thiamine-like drugs on transketolase activity in FL83B cells
- Evaluating hepatoprotectivity of glycyrrhizin and silibinin for pyrazinamide-induced liver injury
- G-quadruplexes as drug targets for pancreatic cancer
- Toxicity of biofilm releasing agents in FL83B cells
Cohort 10 (2023-2024)
- Effect of TLR-7 inhibition on an agonist-induced HEK-Blue TLR7 cell line
- Stabilization of MYC G-quadruplex by small molecule ligands
- Synergistic effects of MMP-9 and tubulin inhibition in A549 lung carcinoma cells
- Synergistic treatment with puromycin and vorinostat of MYC-driven lung cancer
- The synergistic effect of natural compounds on combating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease