# Synthetic Chemical Biology Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE · 2021 · $207,655

## Abstract

Project Summary
Although the precise definition of “chemical biology” can be a subject for lively discussion, it is
universally understood to entail the use of small molecules and peptides for greater understanding of
biology. Depending on the goals of its specific practitioners, the specific compounds discovered in the
context of a chemical biology program are most often pharmacological tools for in vitro or in vivo
elucidation of particular pathways. In some cases, however, the development of such “probes”
constitutes the first step toward drug discovery by providing lead compounds for preclinical study. In
either case, the success of a given chemical biology project requires the identification of suitable
molecules for study, the optimization of desired properties at the expense of undesired properties, and
the construction of custom-made probes for additional biological evaluation. Since it is rare that an ideal
probe molecule is sitting in a screening collection just waiting to be discovered, all of the above activities
rely on synthetic medicinal chemistry to optimize initial hits and ultimately provide the molecule around
which a chemical biology program will be based. The Core D, Synthetic Chemical Biology, will enable
researchers to understand and combat infectious disease by providing design and synthesis of peptides
and small molecules that are chemically targeted to the specific biological needs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10270503
- **Project number:** 2P20GM113117-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE
- **Principal Investigator:** Chamani Perera
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $207,655
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-05-15 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10270503

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10270503, Synthetic Chemical Biology Core (2P20GM113117-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10270503. Licensed CC0.

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