
Karatas Lab
C. Eugene Bennett
Department of Chemistry
Our lab focuses on addressing unmet needs in disease treatment. We explore new drug targets, develop protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors/modulators and identify their mechanism of action.

PPIs are frequently targeted with small molecules, monoclonal antibodies (mAb) or peptidomimetics. The peptidomimetics can be developed starting from a peptide sequence either protein uses to interact. Alternatively, screening technics (e.g., fragment-based, high through-put or in silico screening) could be used to develop small molecule inhibitors.
Using structure-based and fragment-based approaches, we develop PPI inhibitors for targets associated with diseases. The protein targets we are currently interested in are HoxA9, Pbx, Meis and β-catenin – all of which are implicated in cancer.

Group in April 2025
Left to right, Kamal Rai, Abra Dadum, Olaosebikan Ibukunoluwa (Abigail), Hacer Karatas Bristow,
Vahid Lotfikalajahi, Pegah Norouzi, Caitlyn Staiger