Biography
Jian-kang (Jack) Jiang is a research scientist and medicinal chemist at NCATS. His main research interest is in developing small molecules with drug-like properties through organic synthesis and absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) studies. Jiang developed the first human pyruvate kinase isoform M2 activator (TEPP-46) that demonstrated in vivo efficacy in a mouse xenograft model as an anticancer agent. He also is the lead inventor of a novel class of aIIbb3 integrin receptor antagonists that culminated in the discovery of RUC-4, a small molecule currently undergoing studies toward an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Jiang spearheaded the process chemistry development of RUC-4 for future manufacturing.
Jiang earned his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry in 2002. He carried out postdoctoral research in the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases from 2003 to 2007. In 2007, he joined the NIH Chemical Genomics Center at the National Human Genome Research Institute, now called the NCATS Chemical Genomics Center, where he worked for the molecular probe development program.
Research Topics
Jiang’s research focuses on the discovery of small molecules with pharmacokinetic properties that could be either used as chemical probes for proof-of-concept studies or further developed as pre-clinical candidates for filing IND applications with the FDA. Jiang has worked on many biological targets, including kinase, G protein–coupled receptor, integrin and protein-protein interaction. The list below includes key active and completed projects:
- Pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) activator
- aIIbb3 integrin antagonist
- IRAK4/FLT3 dual inhibitor (in progress)
- gp120-CCR5 PPI antagonist (in progress)