Daniel Sprague, M.D., Ph.D.
Drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, and the elucidation of underlying receptor pharmacology to develop new anticancer therapeutics
Research Interest
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and a member of the Hollings Cancer Center (HCC). I am an organic chemist and drug discovery scientist with a long-standing interest in developing new small molecules to study and treat different diseases. Throughout my career, I have discovered new ways to drug epigenetic pathways in cancer, developed small molecules to treat inflammatory disorders, and uncovered new druggable targets and first-in-class treatments for drug-resistant parasitic infections. Current interests in our lab combine cell & chemical biology, molecular pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry to ask important questions about receptor signaling pathways, epigenetics, and the adverse effects of different therapies (e.g. opioids). We apply this to a variety of diseases ranging from cancer, through neurotransmitter signaling, and into Neglected Tropical Diseases and other infections. Ultimately, our goals are to apply cross-disciplinary techniques, mentor the next generation of drug-discovery scientists, and develop translational science from the bench, to the bedside.