# Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2021 · $2,260,084

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT - OVERALL
We propose to establish a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) in Pharmaceutical Research
and Innovation at the University of Kentucky (UK). CPRI will serve as a comprehensive multidisciplinary center
focused on translational chemical biology [the nexus of chemical biology (the application of chemical biology
principles to develop validated probe/models to advance our understanding of biology) and pharmaceutical
science (the application of pharmaceutical principles to advance leads/materials/devices that address unmet
clinical needs)]. The COBRE will leverage and develop unique translational chemical biology research support
infrastructure/expertise to facilitate junior faculty mentorship and career development, innovative biomedical
research probe/tool/model/materials development and validation, and the early advancement of potential
‘translatable’ assets. Key COBRE infrastructure to be developed and implemented in Phase I includes the CPRI
Administrative Core and two research support cores (the Translational Core and the Computational Core) and
the COBRE will also further develop and leverage the COBRE for Molecular Medicine’s Organic Synthesis Core
to support CPRI junior faculty projects/pilots. CPRI will initially support four outstanding junior investigators
working in three therapeutic areas (cancer, infectious disease and cardiovascular disease).
 Our overarching hypothesis is that CPRI’s translational chemical biology focus presents a distinctly unique
UK platform to: i) engage, integrate and mentor junior faculty from a broad range of fundamental, applied and
clinical disciplines; ii) facilitate the development of new impactful probes/tools/models and advance innovative
transdisciplinary research; and iii) bridge the gap between basic academic research discoveries and
commercial/clinical application via education, mentorship and key support infrastructure. CPRI’s distinct focus
on translational chemical biology and early translation fills a notable preclinical research gap for many of UK’s
exceptional research centers strategically focused on understanding, treating and preventing the major diseases
that contribute to Kentucky’s disproportionate health challenges. Anticipated COBRE outcomes include an
increase in the number and diversity of UK junior faculty engaged in translational chemical biology research and
better-prepared to develop and employ innovative biomedical probes/tools/models/materials, new sustainable
UK translational chemical biology research support infrastructure and capabilities, an increase in the number of
UK junior faculty with independent research funding, and a boost in the number potentially ‘translatable’ UK
preclinical assets.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10112923
- **Project number:** 5P20GM130456-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jon Scott Thorson
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,260,084
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10112923

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10112923, Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation (5P20GM130456-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10112923. Licensed CC0.

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