Biography

Harrison C. Daly, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral visiting fellow in the Early Translational Branch within NCATS’ Division of Preclinical Innovation, where his current projects include target deconvolution, assay development and hit-to-lead optimization in the disease areas of cancer and chronic pain management as part of The Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®.

Prior to joining NCATS in 2021, Daly was a postdoctoral visiting fellow in the Chemical Biology Laboratory within the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research, where he synthesized and designed small molecule, xanthene-based short-wave infrared imaging agents. Before joining NIH in 2018, Daly worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a process development chemist at Astellas Pharma Ireland.

As a recipient of an Irish Research Council (EMBARK Scheme) postgraduate scholarship, Daly earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from University College Dublin, where—under the supervision of Professor Donal F. O’Shea at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland—he developed BF₂-azadipyrromethene bio-responsive near-infrared fluorescent imaging platforms. He earned his Bachelor of Science in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology from University College Dublin. In his final year thesis project, Daly contributed to the synthetic development of lipoxin A₄ analogues as anti-inflammatory agents under the tutelage of Professor Patrick Guiry.

Research Topics

Daly’s research interests sit at the interface of translation, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, medical imaging and human health.