# Chemistry Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL · 2020 · $25,643

## Abstract

Chemistry Core/Summary
NUP98-fusion oncogenes (FO) are associated with several pediatric hematological malignancies characterized
by poor prognosis. There is a great need for new therapeutic strategies to treat NUP98 FO-driven leukemias.
To support Project 1, the Chemistry Core will design focused compound libraries including FDA drugs,
preclinical compounds and chemical probes and provide chemistry support to identify compounds that
effectively inhibit the NUP98-fusions, or block critical interactions in cell models as proposed in Project 1. To
support Project 4, we will optimize the screening hits for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties to deliver
KDM5A-PHD3 inhibitors that meet the criteria for in vitro and in vivo chemical probes. In addition, we will utilize
small molecule inhibitors/binders of KDM5A-PHD3 to develop PROTACs (PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimaera)
targeting KDM5A PHD3 and selectively degrading NUP98-KDM5A. We propose to evaluate, further optimize,
select and formulate compounds for pre-clinical in vivo efficacy evaluation proposed in Project 4.
The Chemistry Core consists of three highly integrated teams that collectively provide state-of-the-art chemical
probe design, synthesis, and evaluation capabilities: the Analytical Chemistry Center (ATC) provides an
extensive battery of analytical methods to evaluate compound chemical, biophysical and ADME properties,
and routinely elucidates structures of metabolites and other unknown molecules, develops highly customized
bioanalytical methods, and formulations for in vivo studies. The Medicinal Chemistry Center (MCC) focuses on
identification and development of potent and selective chemical probes for proof-of-concept studies in cells and
in vivo preclinical models. The Chemical Biology Center (CBC) applies advanced chemical biology methods to
develop sophisticated chemical tools designed to map and interrogate disease-related biological pathways.
The CBC chemical tool-box includes PROTACs, molecular glues, pool-down, photoactivatable and imaging
probes. For example to support PROTAC platform CBC developed an FP-CRBN assay and built a library of
>50 linker-E3 intermediates suitable for rapid “click” chemistry-based synthesis of the final PROTAC target
molecules.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10230526
- **Project number:** 3U54CA243124-01S2
- **Recipient organization:** ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Zoran Rankovic
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $25,643
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-09-19 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10230526

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10230526, Chemistry Core (3U54CA243124-01S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10230526. Licensed CC0.

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