Fortschritte der Chemie organischer Naturstoffe Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products

Dr. C. Benjamin Naman obtained his B.S. degree in Chemistry and Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University in 2006 before joining Givaudan Flavors Corp. for four years in chemical industry discovering new natural flavors and fragrances for the food, beverage, and perfumer markets. He served as technical project manager for global citrus research and development and was a key asset on the natural sweetness team, ultimately contributing to several marketed flavor products and a new patented, FEMA GRAS status, and commercialized natural sweetness ingredient before returning to academia. He went on to earn his Ph.D. as a student of Prof. A. Douglas Kinghorn in the Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University in 2015, researching cancer chemoprotective constituents of botanical dietary supplement ingredients (e.g. berry extracts) and the antiparasitic and cytotoxic properties of natural products isolated from medicinal plants. He moved on to a postdoctoral research position in the lab of Professor William Gerwick at the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California – San Diego from 2015-2017, to develop expertise in the natural products chemistry of marine filamentous cyanobacteria and modern informatics approaches to this study. During that time, he also participated in international exchanges in India and China prior to eventually accepting a faculty position in China, late 2017, as associate professor and, in early 2019, being appointed as deputy director of the Department of Marine Pharmacy, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University. The Naman lab at Ningbo University is focused on the discovery of new bioactive natural products from Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) plants and South China Sea marine cyanobacteria, along with other untapped resources, and has obtained national-level grant funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). More information about Dr. Naman’s research group can be found here: https://www.namanlab.com/.Dr. Naman has been a long-time member of the American Chemical Society (ACS; 2005-), the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP; 2012-), the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS; 2012-), and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS; 2014-). In 2015, he was selected by the Chemical Abstracts Service division of ACS to receive a SciFinder Future Leaders Award, and in 2018 to join the cohort of AAAS Scientific Diplomacy Leadership Fellows. In 2020, he was elected to serve as the Younger Members Representative on the Executive Committee of the ASP from 2020-2022. He is an author or coauthor of more than 35 published journal articles, book chapters, and awarded patents, and has given over 50 refereed conference lectures or invited seminars on natural products chemistry, drug discovery, dietary supplements, natural medicine, bioprospecting, research ethics and biodiversity protection.

Deniz Tasdemir holds full professorship in marine natural product chemistry at both GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (Germany) and Kiel University (Germany) since 2014. She is the head of the GEOMAR Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry and the director of the GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology (GEOMAR-Biotech). She obtained her PhD degree in phytochemistry at ETH-Zurich (1997), followed by a post-doctoral training on anticancer sponge metabolites at the University of Utah (USA, 1998-2001). She then worked at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Zurich and was senior lecturer at the School of Pharmacy, University of London (now UCL). In 2011, she was appointed as full professor in Marine Biodiscovery at the National University of Ireland Galway.Her research interests include marine biotechnology with strong focus on marine biodiscovery (against human and crop diseases), comparative metabolomics and chemical ecology. She applies molecular network-based automated metabolomics, OSMAC, microbial co-cultivation and imaging mass spectrometry (DESI-IMS) as research tools on marine invertebrates, seaweeds, marine bacteria and fungi from both temperate and extreme (e.g. polar) marine environments.Prof. Tasdemir is the recipient of many distinctions and prestigious awards, including ETH-Zurich Silver medal (Distinction for PhD, 1997), Pierre Fabre Prize of Phytochemical Society of Europe (PSE, 2004), Egon-Stahl Silver Medal of Society for Medicinal Plant Research and Natural Products (GA, 2005) and Waters Award for Excellence in Natural Product Innovation (2016).Since 2009, Prof. Tasdemir has been serving in the Advisory Board of the Society for Medicinal Plant & Natural Product Research (GA). Previously she was designated as Permanent Committee member of the GA Young Researchers Workshop (2009-2015) and as membership secretary of the PSE (2008-2013).Prof. Tasdemir serves in the editorial/advisory editorial board of several international journals, including Marine Drugs, Planta Medica, Phytochemistry Letters. She has guest-edited several special issues in Journal of Natural Products, Marine Drugs and Planta Medica.

Dirk Trauner, born April 17th 1967 in Linz, Austria, studied Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Vienna from 1986–1991. From 1992–1995 he switched to study Chemistry at the Free University of Berlin and completed his Diploma under Johann Mulzer, whom he followed to Frankfurt and subsequently Vienna as an Assistant. In 1997 he completed his PhD under Mulzer at the University of Vienna with summa cum laude. From 1998–2000 he was a postdoc under Samuel J. Danishefsky at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. In 2000 he moved to the University of California, Berkeley, where from 2000–2006 he was Assistant Professor (with tenure) and from 2006–2010 Associate Professor, with additional affiliation to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory from 2005–2008. From 2008–2017 he was Professor for Chemical Biology and Chemical Genetics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. He currently resides as Janice Cutler Chair and Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience and Physiology at New York University.Among his honors are: 2019, the Adolf Lieben Lectureship of the Austrian Chemical Society, 2017, Member, Leopoldina — German Academy of Sciences, 2016, Otto Bayer Award, 2016, Emil-Fischer-Medal of the German Chemical Society, 2015–2016, George Büchi Lecturer at MIT, 2014–2015, Morris S. Kharasch Visiting Professor, University of Chicago,2014–2015, Novartis Chemistry Lectureship, 2013, Kitasato Microbial Chemistry Medal, 2012, Beijing University Shenzhen Graduate School Lectureship, 2012, Nankai University Lectureship, 2011, Corresponding Member, Austrian Academy of Sciences, 2011 Hofmann Lecture, Imperial College, London, 2011, European Research Council Advanced Investigator Grant, 2010, Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship, 2010, Andy Derome Lecturer, University of Oxford, 2010, Givaudan/Karrer Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Zurich, 2008, Roche Excellence in Chemistry Award, 2007, Schulich Lecturer, Technion, Israel, 2004 – 2006, Japanese-American Frontiers of Science Fellow, 2005, Novartis Young Investigator Award, 2004, Amgen Young Investigator Award, 2004, AstraZeneca Young Investigator Award, 2004, Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, 2003, NSF Career Award, 2003, GlaxoSmithKline Chemistry Scholar Award, 2003, Eli Lilly Grantee Award, 2003, NARSAD Young Investigator Award, 2002, Hellman Family Faculty Award, UC Berkeley, 1998 – 2000, Schering Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, 1997, Austrian Chemical Society Award (best thesis of the year 1997).Prof. Trauner serves the Community in many positions as Editor or Adviser. He is a member of the American, Austrian and German Cheical Societies, and the Leopoldina – German Academy of Sciences, and a corrsponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.Professor Trauner is known for his work on the synthesis of natural products and in photopharmacology. His view is that many biologically active compounds even of low molecular weight have not yet been discovered, and he has directed his research group to perform the total synthesis of such compounds. He is a pioneer in the area of photopharmacology, the control over the activity of biologically active substances using light, with potential applications in cancer therapy and in vision restoration. He has hitherto published his work in about 260 papers in most distinguished journals.

Born in Carmagnola (TO), September 1, 1955 and graduated at the University of Torino in 1979. University Lecturer in 1983 (University of Torino); Associated Professor in 1998 (University of Torino); Full Professor from 2000 to present at the Università del Piemonte Orientale, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Visiting scientist at the University of Gent (Belgium) in 1985 (Laboratory of Organic Synthesis, Prof. Pierre De Clercq). Editor in Chief of the Journal Fitoterapia and member of the Advisory Board of European Journal of Organic Chemistry, Phytochemistry Letters, The Open Natural Products Journal, Natural Products Communications and PharmaNutrition.The research activity of Prof. Appendino takes inspiration from natural products to address problems in organic chemistry (new synthetic methodologies), cell biology (novel mechanisms of activity), and medicine (new drug leads). The following lines of research are currently pursued:Brain lipidomics: identification, synthesis and chemical modification of bioactive endolipids (endocannabinoids, endovanilloids, endogenous eicosanoids) and their natural products mimics (cannabinoids, capsaicinoids)Sensory chemoreception: Synthesis of molecular probes to explore various classes of TRP-(TRPV1, TRPM8, TRPA1, TRPV4) and bitter (hTAS2R family) receptors, and their pharmacological exploitation.Anticancer and antiviral chemotherapy: Synthesis of molecules aimed at various oncological end-points (tubulin, PgP, NF-B, PKC) and at achieving HIV de-latentization (phorboids).Synthetic methodologies: chemoselective modification of polyfunctional compounds (polyphenolics, phenolic alcohols, phenolic amines). Development of new protocols of functional group modification.Bioprospecting: secondary metabolites from niche area (Sardinia, Mediterranean Alps) and from medicinal plants.Secondary metabolites from edible plants and spices: identification of neutraceutical agents from local food plants.Prof. Appendino has elucidated the structure of over 300 new natural products, and has published over 350 peer-reviewed articles and 11 book chapters on the chemistry and bioactivity of natural products. His distinctions include the Rhône-Poulenc Rorer Award of the Phytochemical Society of Europe for his studies on terpenoids (1991), the Quilico Medal of the Italian Chemical Society for his studies on bioactive natural products (2009), and the Bruker Award of the Phytochemical Society of Europe (2014).

Nicholas H. Oberlies, Ph.D. received his B.S. in Chemistry from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1992 and his Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) in 1997, where he studied under Professor Jerry L. McLaughlin. He then spent a year as a postdoctoral chemist at American Cyanamid (Princeton, New Jersey), where he investigated leads with insecticidal, herbicidal, and fungicidal properties from natural sources. In 1998, he joined the Natural Products Laboratory at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in North Carolina, specifically to be mentored by Dr. Mansukh C. Wani and the now late, Dr. Monroe E. Wall, who are most well known as the co-discoverers of taxol and camptothecin. He rose progressively through the ranks of RTI and eventually directed the Natural Products Laboratory. In 2009, he re-located his research group to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He leads a mulidisciplinary effort to identify, isolate, and characterize new drug entities from natural sources, such as plants, fungi, and bacteria. His lab also examines herbal drugs, especially for the development of reference standards.There are several actively-funded projects being conducted concomitantly in his laboratories, all of which are supported by various institutes within the National Institutes of Health, including the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Current projects in the realm of natural products drug discovery are focused on discovering anticancer leads from filamentous fungi collected from all over the world. Current projects in the herbal drug arena are focused on the development of reference standards and study materials for investigating the chemopreventive properties of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and the evaluation of potential drug-diet interactions via the consumption of cranberry juice (Vaccinium marcocarpon). All of these projects include close collaboration with a team of multidisciplinary investigators with diverse areas of expertise, such as metabolism, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, and mycology. More information about his research group can be found here: http://www.uncg.edu/che/faculty/NicholasOberlies.html.Dr. Oberlies has received several awards that speak to his accomplishments. In particular, he was honored in 2005 with the Matt Suffness Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Pharmacognosy, their highest distinction for young scientists. He was recognized in 2004 by the Triangle Business Journal with their 40 under 40 Leadership Award, which honors accomplishments both in business and in the community. Dr. Oberlies has published over 40 peer reviewed manuscripts of original research, 8 reviews of the literature, and 7 book chapters.

Rachel Mata is an Emeritus Professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She obtained her Ph.D. degree from Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN, USA, in 1979. Following a postdoctoral stay at the Institute of Chemistry at UNAM, she became an Assistant Professor of the School of Chemistry at the same university in 1985, and was promoted to Full Professor in 1992. Prof. Mata served as Head of the Department of Pharmacy from 2003 to 2012, and since 2013 has been a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Chemistry. Moreover, she has served on several National and International Advisory Boards, including the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, USA, from 2003 to 2007. Prof. Mata is a Past-President of the Phytochemical Society of North America (1996-1997) and was named as a Fellow of the American Society of Pharmacognosy in 2014. Her work has contributed significantly to knowledge of Mexican traditional medicine by establishing the chemical composition and biological properties of many widely used herbal drugs. She has published over 200 original papers as well as several book chapters and books on medicinal plants from Mexico. She was a Visiting Professor at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA, and has collaborated with many research groups from Mexico, Canada, the UK, and the USA. These contributions have earned her both national and international recognition, including being named as an Emeritus National Researcher from CONACyT-Mexico in 2015, and in receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Purdue University in 1998, the National Chemistry Research Award from the Mexican Chemical Society in 2013, and the Norman Farnsworth Research Achievement Award from the American Society of Pharmacognosy in 2014. She has trained numerous Ph.D. students, of whom many are now gainfully employed in academia.

Prof. Roberto G. S. Berlinck graduated in Chemistry (1988) at the University of Campinas, Brazil. Obtained his PhD in Sciences (Organic Chemistry) at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (1992). In 1993 moved to the Universidade de São Paulo as assistant professor. During 1997-1998 was a visiting professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada, in collaboration with Professor Raymond J. Andersen (Departments of Chemistry and Earth and Ocean Sciences). Since 1993, Dr. Berlinck’s research interest included the discovery of pharmacologically active chemicals from marine invertebrates. During the period between 2001-2006 participated in the National Cooperative Drug Discovery Group program funded by the National Institutes of Health, leaded by Professor Chris M. Ireland (then at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, USA), working in collaboration with Professors Ireland, Andersen and the Pharmaceutical CompanyWyeth-Ayerst. Dr. Berlinck established collaborations with a number of Brazilian and international investigators, including specialists in cancer, inflammation and immunomodulation, antibiotics, parasitic diseases, in biodiscovery, organic synthesis and natural product biosynthesis. His interest in the discovery of anti-parasitic is currently a very active program. More recently Dr. Berlinck’s interests got wider towards the understanding of biochemical pathways controlling the biosynthesis of biologically active secondary metabolites produced by fungi in culture conditions. These include complex alkaloids and highly modified polyketides, in collaboration with Professors David H. Sherman (University of Michigan, USA), Richmond Sarpong (University of California, Berkeley, USA) and Prof. Alessandra Eustaquio (University of Illinois, Chicago). Dr. Berlinck supervised over 50 MSc, PhD students and post-doctoral researchers and published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Born in 1965, Yang Ye has got his Ph. D. in Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1992. He was an Alexander von Humboldt fellow and made his postdoctoral stay in the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Munich. He is now a full professor and deputy director of Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also in the editorial/advisory board of several international journals and book series, including Planta Medica, Phytochemistry Letters, Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, etc.Dr. Ye studies mainly secondary metabolites from traditional herbal medicinal plants. His goal is to disclose the chemical essence of traditional Chinese medicine, as well as to find potential pharmaceutical lead structures.

Dr. Jun’ichi Kobayashi was born in 1949 at Hirosaki, Japan. He completed his B.S. degree in 1973, and his M.S. degree in 1975, at Hokkaido University, working with Professor Yoshihisa Mizuno on studies of nucleic acid synthesis. In 1975 he joined Mitsubishi-Kasei Institute of Life Sciences where he worked on the synthesis and conformational analyses of bioactive peptides. After receiving his Ph.D. from Hokkaido University in 1979, he initiated his research program on marine natural products and worked at the University of Illinois with Professor K. L. Rinehart from 1982 to 1984. In 1989 he was appointed as a full professor at Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he still continues his research career. He has received the 2008 Sumiki-Umezawa Memorial Award from Japan Antibiotics Research Association.Dr. Kobayashi's research has been supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and by private industries. His main research interests are directed to search for bioactive natural products from marine organisms, terrestrial plants, and marine/terrestrial microorganisms and their application to the basic research of life sciences as well as the development of new drugs.Dr. Kobayashi is a member of Editorial Advisory Boards of the Journal of Organic Chemistry (2002-present; published by the American Chemical Society) and the Journal of Natural Products (2000-present; co-published by the American Chemical Society and ASP), and Editorial Boards of the Journal of Antibiotics (2007-present; published by Nature Publishing Group), and is Series co-Editor of Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products (“Zeichmeister”; Springer Verlag, Vienna). He has authored or co-authored about 530 peer-reviewed research articles, review articles, and book chapters. Dr. Kobayashi has been Major and/or Thesis Advisor to 100 graduate students.