{"id":31,"date":"2021-12-03T01:11:22","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T01:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpdev.acsu.buffalo.edu\/heppner\/?page_id=31"},"modified":"2026-01-21T19:10:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:10:25","slug":"research-interests","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ubwp.buffalo.edu\/heppner\/research-interests\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Interests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The goal of our research program is to develop first-in-class tool compounds and evaluate key aspects of drug development to accelerate new therapies and reduce the burden of human disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We take an interdisciplinary approach that integrates medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and pharmacology to tackle complex challenges in early-stage drug discovery. In parallel, we are deeply committed to training the next generation of scientists by providing hands-on experience across these disciplines, fostering a collaborative environment where students learn to think critically, work across fields, and contribute meaningfully to therapeutic innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n

Covalent Drugs\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Covalent inhibitors have (re)emerged as powerful tools in drug discovery due to their ability to achieve high potency and prolonged target engagement through irreversible binding. They are particularly valuable for targeting shallow or transient binding pockets and have shown clinical success in areas such as oncology and infectious diseases. We seek to better understand the power of covalent drugs and develop deeper understanding for their characterization and optimization.<\/p>\n\n\n