From 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
From early discoveries rooted in traditional remedies to today’s cutting-edge laboratory techniques, the search for anti-cancer drugs in nature has evolved dramatically. How Were Anti-Cancer Drugs from Nature Discovered in the Past? How is it Done Today? Explores how scientists have historically identified powerful natural compounds, and how modern research continues to uncover new possibilities using advanced tools and interdisciplinary approaches. Gain insight into the journey from plant and fungal sources to potential therapies, and how innovations in chemistry and biology are accelerating the discovery process.
Nicholas Oberlies leads a dynamic lab of researchers from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels, focused on understanding the chemistry of nature to discover compounds that benefit humankind, especially anticancer and antibiotic drug leads. He earned his B.S. from Miami University and Ph.D. from Purdue University. After postdoctoral work in industry and at RTI, where he advanced to direct the Natural Products Laboratory, he moved to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. There, he leads efforts to develop new compounds from natural sources, with a focus on anticancer fungi and the safety and quality of herbal remedies.