The major focus of Dr. Arun Sharma’s lab is the design and development of novel small drug-like molecules as potential cancer therapeutic and preventive agents, and testing them in various in vitro and in vivo cancer models.
This effort has resulted in the development of some potent anti-cancer agents and understanding of their efficacy, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and mechanisms of action. The main strategies adapted for designing new agents include optimization of
naturally occurring agents;
existing drugs or agents that fail in clinical trials; and
lead compounds obtained from chemical library screening, to enhance potency, bioavailability and therapeutic/chemopreventive index.