Michael Pollastri
Associate Professor
417 Egan Research Center
Tel: 617.373.2703
Fax: 617.373.8795
m.pollastri@neu.edu
Pollastri Group Laboratory
Twitter:@NUTrypkiller
Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Technology
Education:
PhD, Brown University, Providence, RI
MS, Duke University, Durham, NC
AB, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
Research Interests
Our primary research focus is on discovery of new therapeutics for neglected tropical diseases, using a “parachute” or “repurposing” approach. In this approach, we identify parasitic targets of importance that have been previously biochemically validated, with a further focus on those targets with human homologs that have been pursued in human drug discovery. We then prepare known ligands previously reported against the human homolog for assessment against the parasite target, and then pursue an optimization program
from that starting point. Our first project is focused on trypanosomal phosphodiesterases, enzymes that have ~30% homology to human PDE4 and 5. Other projects focus on trypansomal TOR, Aurora kinases, dihydrofolate reductase, and HDACs.
Our secondary area of focus is on chemical technologies. Projects in this category include diversification of lead compounds using reaction screening approaches, applications of flow chemistry, and Green Chemistry.