Keynote Speaker
Brian T. Murphy, Ph.D.
Thursday, April 17, 2025
2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Gyte 103
“Discovering New Natural Product Drug Leads from Bacteria – While Partnering with Middle School Students!”
Small molecules produced by bacteria have been essential components of antibacterial drug discovery, providing us with greater than half of the antibiotics used in the clinic. However, the discovery of new drug leads is being outpaced by the development of antibiotic resistance to current medicines.
In the Murphy lab, we have built a collection of aquatic bacteria and are using them to generate natural product antibiotic drug-leads for infectious diseases. During this process, we also partner with community organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago to accomplish these goals.
About the Speaker
Brian T. Murphy is a Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The Murphy lab focuses on applying high-throughput robotics and bioinformatics toward the discovery of antibiotics from aquatic bacteria. He was recognized as a National Geographic Explorer and a Distinguished Lecturer for the American Society of Microbiology.
In Chicago, his lab partners with local community centers such as the Boys & Girls Club to perform high-end biomedical research with middle and high-school students. Dr. Murphy’s program has been featured in Chemical & Engineering News, NPR, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and the London Science Museum.