- Name: Corey Hopkins, Ph.D.
- Hometown: Mitchell, Ind.
- New title and department at UNMC: Associate professor, UNMC Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research/professional interests:
My research interests are related to the design, synthesis and optimization of biologically active small molecules as in vivo probes, drug discovery lead compounds and preclinical candidates. My recent research has focused on designing novel positive allosteric modulators related to numerous CNS-related therapeutic areas.
In addition, I have been interested in ion channels for kidney failure, kinase targets for rare and neglected diseases, including pediatric cancers and ion channels for insecticide resistant mosquitos relating to malaria and Zika. Initial work here at UNMC will focus on developing novel chemical probes as: TRPC5 ion channel antagonists that protects the kidney filter, G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium channel (GIRK) activators as novel anxiolytics, and inhibitors of the AeKir1 ion channel that cause kidney failure in mosquitoes that carry malaria, West Nile virus, dengue and yellow fever and Zika.
How I fell in love with research:
My interest in medicinal chemistry stems from my graduate school training in natural product synthesis and seeing how a molecule that was synthesized in my hood could be used to perturb a biological system. This research interest has further been solidified through my research in industry in a number of therapeutic areas and further through my independent academic career.
Teaching activities:
Medicinal chemistry, drug discovery
Previous positions:
- Research assistant professor and associate director of medicinal chemistry, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville
- Senior research investigator, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Bridgewater, N.J.
Education:
- Ph.D., organic chemistry, University of Pittsburgh
- B.S., chemistry, Indiana University
Three things you don’t know about me:
- My ninth great grandparents (John Alden and Priscilla Mullins) arrived in the U.S. on the Mayflower.
- I have an English bulldog named Meatball.
- I have been married to my wife, Dawnan, for 23 years, and we have two daughters.