秋葵视频

Research Areas

Cancer Biology, Drug Discovery, Structural Biology, and Biophysics

Education

University of Louisville, PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, 2022
University of Louisville, MS in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, 2019
Ateneo de Manila University, MS in Chemistry (Physical Chemistry), 2014
Ateneo de Manila University, BS in Chemistry, 2012

Publications

1. Yost, Chase; dela Cerna Mark Vincent C.*; Chaurasia, Savita*. 鈥�Eriodictyon californicum Extract Inhibits Therapeutically Relevant Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B,鈥� Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology (2025), In-Press, co-corresponding authors
    
2. Jong, Hoe-Myung; Ha, Jung-Hye; dela Cerna, Mark Vincent C.; Burlison, Joseph A.; Choi, Joonhyeok; Kim, Bo-Ram; Bang, Jeongkyoo; Ryu, Kyoung-Seok; Lee, Donghan. 鈥淎n innovative inhibitor with a new chemical moiety, aimed at Biliverdin IXB reductase for Thrombocytopenia, resilient against cellular degradation,鈥� Pharmaceutics (2024), 16(9): 1148 
   
3. The Atomwise AIMS Program*. 鈥淎I is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study,鈥� Scientific Reports (2024), 14, 7562, *full list of authors available in manuscript
   
4. Bennet, Grace; Starczewski, Julia; dela Cerna, Mark Vincent C. 鈥�Identification of putative druggable pockets in PRL3, a significant oncology target, using in silico analysis,鈥� Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports (2024), 39: 101767

Funding

Current Grants

1. NIH/NIGMS R16GM154696, Principal Investigator, PRL3 inhibitors as migrastatics and the molecular determinants of PRL3 druggability, $527k, August 2024 – July 2027
   
2. The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Principal Investigator, Jean Dreyfus Lectureship for Undergraduate Institutions, $25k, August 2024 – July 2027 
   
3. NIH/OD S15OD039824, Principal Investigator, Increasing capacity and capability of shared biochemistry/biomedical science instrumentation through acquisition of modern, high-speed centrifuges, $91k, August 2025 – July 2026
   
4. NSF S-STEM 2424868, Senior Personnel, Scholarships and a Holistic Support Program for Undergraduates Pursuing Degrees and Careers in Science, Mathematics, and Technology, $2M, March 2025 – Feb 2030
   
5. AMRIS User Grant, Principal Investigator, Uncovering the relationship between protein structure, function, dynamics, and stability using evolution informed perturbation of homeodomains, $15,000, October 2025 – October 2028 
   
6. COSM Collaborative Grant Initiative, Principal Investigator, The bactericidal activity of cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) antimicrobial peptides (with Lisa Brown), $7,500, May 2025 – May 2026 
   
7. COSM Collaborative Grant Initiative, Principal Investigator, Characterization of a solute carrier, CIA8, involved in inorganic carbon uptake in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (with Mary Machingura), $7,500, May 2025 – May 2026 
   
8. GS Faculty Research Council Seed Grant, Principal Investigator, Expression and Purification of PTPN20 and PTPDC1, $8,950, May 2025 – May 2026

Previous Grants

1. Korea Basic Science Institute, Principal Investigator, Visiting Scientist, $3,500 (Travel, Accommodation, and Food), November 2024
   
2. Kentucky Academy of Science Summer Research Grant, Principal Investigator, Development of a Continuous Nanobody Evolution Platform (with student Jacob Santana), $3,000, May 2022 – July 2022

Research Projects

Development of Migrastatics Targeting Pro-oncogenic and Pro-metastatic Phosphatase, PRL3

The phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 has been identified as a significant therapeutic target not only on oncogenesis but also metastasis. Our lab is interested in developing novel migrastatics using a combination of computational drug discovery, diversity screening, and biologics design. Our lab has so far identified several small molecules that directly bind PRL3 and through a combination of computational studies and synthetic chemistry optimizing the inhibition and binding of these molecules.

Illuminating the Roles of Understudied Phosphatases, PTPN20 and PTPDC1, in Rare Cancers

There are 107 protein tyrosine phosphatases encoded by the human genome. Several of these have been linked to diseases and are validated therapeutic targets. However, a large majority remain understudied, and in particular, a few are classified as 鈥渄ark.鈥� In this project, we are interested in exploring and uncovering the roles of PTPN20 and PTPDC1, two such dark PTPs, in rare cancers, particularly ovarian cancer and glioblastoma, where they have been detected and linked. The initial goal of this project is to identify substrates and binding partners as well as pathways regulated by these phosphatases.

Structure, Dynamics, and Inhibition of Bacterial Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains to be an ongoing major public health threat globally. Pathogens develop the ability to resist certain antibiotics by evolving and developing mechanisms that allow them to persist despite antibiotic treatments. We are interested in exploring the possibility of developing novel antibiotics that specifically target protein tyrosine phosphatases that are critical for the survival and proliferation of various bacteria. Our current targets include S. pyogenes and A. baumannii.

News

1. MS APS graduate was awarded the Averitt Awards for Excellence in Graduate Research, 2024
2. Past trainees of the group have gone to graduate/professional school or are employed as researchers (GS Grads: Research Assistant at Vanderbilt, a PhD student in Biochemistry at UGeorgia; from Bellarmine: MD at ULouisville, MD at UKentucky)

Research Group

High School Students

• Ella An
• Walter Yang
• Mingyu Wang

Undergraduate Students

• Chahat Patel
• Hannah Scroggins
• Matthew Knecht
• Kaelin Winkler-Durst
• Jada鈥橫arie Samuels
• Gracie Bliss
• Oscar Sistos-BarronSmith
• Kaleah Mccall
• Zach Murphy

Graduate Students

• Anna Feil
• Pangbewindin Ouedraogo

Research Staff

• Alicia Brinegar
• Grace Bennett
• Kathryn Swindle