Joseph Matthew Rogers is our new Associate Professor in Peptide and Protein Medicinal Chemistry
Joseph Matthew Rogers is heading the Rogers Lab, where his research focuses on cyclic peptides and the discovery of drugs with new chemical properties. He has agreed to answer a few questions from Pharma Communications about his research and his teaching.
What are you currently working on and what are you hoping to achieve in the future, as part of your new position?
“The mission of the Rogers Lab is the discovery of new molecules - new in form, function, or both. There is a great need for new molecules, to act as research tools, or as future therapeutics. We are developing and applying cutting-edge experimental methods to discover highly modified “cyclic” peptides that can tightly bind specific proteins that cause disease.
Next, we want to explore new peptide chemistry (non-canonical amino acids), new modes of binding, new computational methods of design, and new ways to sort molecules for the drug properties we need.
Ultimately, developing the approaches that will allow us to target essentially any protein we choose, unlocking thousands biologically- or disease important proteins for new molecule discovery.”
You are teaching at the Biopharmaceuticals course: What is important to you when you are teaching students at the Bachelor level? What do you think is important for teaching in the future, for example new topics, skill sets, etc?
“When I am teaching at the Bachelor level, I think it is important, wherever possible, to focus on the fundamental biology and chemistry that pharmaceutical science is built upon, the knowledge and skills that students can apply to new problems they might face in other parts of their studies, or after their studies.
For future teaching, it is important to keep students informed about the new scientific developments in drug discovery. Drug discovery is a fast-moving, world-wide enterprise, where progress comes from both academia and industry, and is increasingly interdisciplinary and data driven. We need to prepare and motivate our students to join this important, challenging, and scientifically exciting endeavour.”