Our laboratory is engaged in collaborative, multidisciplinary probe- and drug-discovery programs. We specialize in the design and synthesis of small molecules as research tools or candidate therapeutics for a variety of human diseases. Our work typically involves Structure Activity and Structure Property Relationship (SAR/SPR) studies. These efforts are often directed towards the identification and development of probes suitable for mode of action studies, as well as candidate compounds optimized for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties that could enable in vivo proof-of-concept studies or other preclinical evaluations of efficacy and safety. Over the past several years the primary focus of our research has been in the area of CNS drug discovery with specific programs directed towards the discovery and development of candidate treatments for: (a) neurodegenerative tauopathies (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease), in collaboration with the Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Research (CNDR) at University of Pennsylvania; and (b) neuroparasitic infections (e.g., African Sleeping Sickness), in collaboration with the Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases at UC San Diego. In addition, our laboratory has been actively involved in the investigation of basic, fundamental principles in medicinal chemistry, such as in the area of isosteric replacements.Over the past several years the primary focus of our research has been in the area of Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative tauopathies with specific programs directed towards the discovery and development of (a) tau aggregation inhibitors, (b) microtubule-stabilizing agents, and (c) thromboxane A2 receptor antagonists. The laboratory has also been actively involved in the investigation of basic, fundamental principles in medicinal chemistry, such as in the area of isosteric replacements.