Stanton McHardy with student researchers at the CIDD on the UTSA Main Campus.
(Jan. 23, 2018) -- Stanton McHardy is a professor of research, an associate professor of chemistry and the director the UTSA Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD). The CIDD is a joint venture between UTSA and UT Health San Antonio. It provides a diverse array of core facilities and expertise to facilitate the translation of basic scientific discoveries into tangible pre-clinical candidate drugs that can be further developed into clinical therapies for human disease. McHardy recently recipieved a nearly $4.6 million grant to design better, more effective cancer drugs through small molecule drug discovery and to provide opportunities to develop new therapeutic cancer treatment programs.
We sat down with Dr. McHardy this week to learn about new developments in drug discovery.
How would you describe your current research? Why did you decide to focus on this topic?
Our CIDD collaborative medicinal chemistry strategy is focused on the translation of small molecules into tangible drug candidates that can be advanced toward clinical studies. Medicinal chemistry is a core discipline in the drug discovery process and is applicable across all therapeutic areas. This allows the CIDD to create numerous productive research collaborations in areas such as cancer, infectious disease and diabetes, as well as psychotherapeutics and neurodegenerative central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Our strategy has allowed us to collaborate with the top researchers in the state and nation to build multi-disciplinary expertise and strengthen programs, which in turn has added value to the UTSA mission through successful grant funding and valuable research experience for UTSA students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
What is one experience as a professor or researcher that has inspired you?
Having lost family members to cancer and central nervous system disorders inspires me every day.
How has UTSA changed since you joined its community?
The UTSA mission of growing into a Carnegie R1-status research institution has become more focused in the identification of areas of strength/growth opportunities and key faculty hires.
What advice do you have for a student considering joining your field?
Study extremely hard for organic chemistry, practice it and become proficient at it. Organic chemistry concepts form the foundation for synthesis and medicinal chemistry research. You cannot become a synthetic or medicinal chemist without a strong working knowledge of organic chemistry.
What is the most important thing going on in your field that no one is talking about?
It is talked about but is rapidly growing: small molecule drug combinations with immunotherapy approaches. As an example, researchers have found that novel epigenetic drugs can prime lung cancer cells to respond better to immunotherapy approaches.
What makes the CIDD unique?
The CIDD brings two key resources and capabilities not normally found in the academic environment: medicinal chemistry and high throughput in vitro screening. These two resources allow scientists from different disciplines, such as chemistry and biology, to work together, creating a synergistic strategy to address a drug discovery unmet medical need. Furthermore, these multi-disciplinary collaborations create a strong research platform that has ultimately increased the competitiveness of state and federal extramural grant applications.
Do you have a favorite quote?
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. – Albert Einstein
Learn more about the UTSA Center for Innovative Drug Discovery.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Join the UTSA community in celebrating the life of Dr. Thelma Duffey.
Aula Canaria (BV 1.328), Buena Vista Building, Downtown CampusThe proposed annual BME Research Symposium will allow students to present their undergraduate research free of charge, providing them with the opportunity to network and build their professional skills.
H-E-B Student Union Ballroom 1 & 2, Main CampusThe UTSA Marches Committee, in partnership with the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Education Foundation, invites everyone to the 27th annual Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice. This event is in conjunction with the "Yes We CAN" food donation drive with the San Antonio Food Bank. Guests are encouraged to bring canned food items with them to the march to deposit cans into barrels before the march begins.
1310 Guadalupe St, San Antonio, TX 78207Join us to learn about how Impostor Syndrome can affect your career decisions and how you view yourself, your knowledge, and abilities. You will leave with actionable items related to implementing coping strategies for symptoms that may arise in your career development (mentally, physically, emotionally).
University Career Center (S.U. 2.02.04,) Main CampusJoin UTSA librarians for this introductory workshop for early career faculty on how to build your online scholarly identity.
John Peace Library, GroupSpot BJoin the conversation with Karleen Pendleton Jimenez, a professor in the Department of Gender and Social Justice at Trent University.
Virtual EventLearn to use the dynamic tool VMOCK to assist you in your job/internship search. Evaluate your resume. Get feedback on your "elevator pitch" and on how you engage in verbal communication virtually and in-person.
Multidisciplinary Studies (MS 2.02.36,) Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.