Radiosynthesis and preclinical evaluation of a carbon-11 labeled PET ligand for imaging metabotropic glutamate receptor 7.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGlu) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is preferentially found in the active zone of neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system (CNS). mGlu plays a vital role in memory, learning, and neuronal development, rendering it a potential target for treating epilepsy, depression, and anxiety. The development of noninvasive imaging ligands targeting mGlu could help elucidate the functional significance of mGlu and accelerate drug discovery for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Development of a Robust High-Throughput Screening Platform for Inhibitors of the Striatal-Enriched Tyrosine Phosphatase (STEP).

Many human diseases are the result of abnormal expression or activation of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Not surprisingly, more than 30 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are currently in clinical use and provide unique treatment options for many patients. PTPs on the other hand have long been regarded as "undruggable" and only recently have gained increased attention in drug discovery.