# Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology Core

> **NIH NIH U54** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2022 · $4,064,232

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology Core
The Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology (MCCB) Core will be a key nexus point of the ADDD CENTER
for the delivery on the primary objective of high quality lead molecules for prioritized disease targets that are
suitable for further optimization into drug candidates. The MCCB Core strategy is to complement the deep
Alzheimer’s Disease biology expertise and core technologies of the ADDD CENTER with CNS drug discovery
and development experience and flexible medicinal chemistry approaches to expertly help select and prosecute
a diverse portfolio of projects. The MCCB Core will work across all Technical Cores and the entire workflow of
the ADDD CENTER to ensure a proficient integration of complimentary activities that move projects towards key
milestones in a timely manner with optimal use of resources and shared learning/decision making. For all
projects, the MCCB Core will establish hit discovery approaches that maximize the probability of finding novel
chemical starting points, and then pursue multi-parameter hit optimization strategies that provide the best
balance of pharmacology and drug-like properties that are reflected in ADDD CENTER approved lead molecules.
The MCCB Core will be led by Dr. Alan Palkowitz, who will also be the co-PI for the ADDD CENTER. The
composition of the MCCB Core will include dedicated medicinal chemists at Purdue University and flexible
synthetic chemistry capacity contracted through AMRI. To ensure scientific diversity and ongoing expert input,
a CNS Medicinal Chemistry Advisory Group will actively work within the MCCB Core and provide valuable advice
to Dr. Palkowitz and team members on all scientific activities directed toward milestone contributions and
deliverables. Additionally, the MCCB Core will integrate advanced in vivo testing (in partnership with the
MODEL-AD Center) for later stage lead candidate optimization and selection in support of milestone decisions.
The Specific AIMs of the MCCB Core are:
1. Provide input on target analysis and selection including assessment of druggability, design of
validation experiments, and support of target enablement studies for applied drug discovery.
2. Work with all ADDD CENTER Technical Cores to design and implement the lead generation strategy
for each prioritized target.
3. Analyze output form primary screening/molecular design efforts to identify potential hit series.
Conduct iterative hit-to-lead optimizations studies to deliver go/no decisions on possible lead
candidates that meet robust performance criteria.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10475869
- **Project number:** 5U54AG065181-04
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Alan D. Palkowitz
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $4,064,232
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10475869

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10475869, Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology Core (5U54AG065181-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10475869. Licensed CC0.

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