PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Paul Trippier, PhD

Paul received an M.Chem. in Chemistry, Drug Design, and Toxicology with first class honors from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom (UK). He completed his graduate studies in Synthetic Organic Chemistry at Oxford University, UK with Prof. Mark Moloney. He conducted postdoctoral research with Prof. Chris McGuigan at Cardiff University, UK and then with Prof. Rick Silverman at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.

Dr. Trippier’s research is focused on small molecule drug discovery for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. His lab employs synthetic medicinal chemistry, chemical biology and molecular pharmacology techniques to design, optimize and employ biologically active compounds as chemical probes to interrogate novel pathways relevant to human disease and as lead compounds for novel drug discovery.

Discoveries in the Trippier lab have led to the identification of the most potent and selective Aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) inhibitor which shows significant effect to counter drug resistance in prostate cancer and leukemia; best-in-class synthetic succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors with significant anticancer activity; novel multi-targeted agents for neurodegenerative disease therapy; and first-in-class activators of neurolysin for stroke therapy development.

POST DOCS

Sravan Jonnalagadda, Ph.D.

University of Minnesota
Joined August 2019

Xiaoyu ‘George’ Hao, Ph.D.

Sichuan University, P. R. China
Joined January 2022

Aarfa Queen, Ph.D.

Jamia Millia Islamia University, India
Joined January 2022

Ramu Venkatesan, Ph.D.

Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
Joined October 2022

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Louise Dow (G4)

M.Chem. Heriot-Watt University, UK.
Joined January 2021

Princess Simeon (G4)

BS. Central State University, OH.
Joined May 2022

Hamdan Alrefaei (G3)

MS. University of Mississippi, MS.
Joined January 2022

Megan Paustian (G3)

BS. University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE.
Joined August 2022

Alfie Case (G3)

M. Chem. University of Southampton, UK.
Joined August 2022

Jared Bogenhagen (MS2)

B.S.  University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE
Joined January 2024

William Taylor (G2)

B.S.  Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Joined June 2024

UNDERGRADS & PHARMACY STUDENTS

Cole Mack

UNO Chemistry Undergrad
Joined June 2024

Melanie Smith

UNO Chemistry Undergrad
Joined September 2022

Interested in Research?

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ALUMNI

POSTDOCS
Dr. Shirisha Jonnalagadda
Research Associate
2021-2023
Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater
Dr. Krishnaiah Madeboina
Research Instructor
2019-2021
Current Position: Staff Scientist, Levine Cancer Institute
Dr. Shikha Kumari
Ph.D. University of Delhi
2019-2021
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, University of Toledo, OH.
Dr. Hezhen Wang
Research Associate
2013-2016
Current Position: FDA
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Md. Shafikur Rahman, Ph.D.
Graduate Student
2018-2023
Current Position: Postdoc with Prof. Jennifer Golden, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Angelica Carmona, Ph.D.
Graduate Student
2018-2023
Current Position:
Ahmed Morsy, Ph.D.
Graduate Student
2016-2021
Current Position: Lecturer University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE
Bader Huwaimel, Ph.D.
Graduate Student
2016-2021
Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Hail, Saudi Arabia
Juan Valdez, M.S.
Masters Student
2017-2019
Current Position: Chemist I, Entegris, Burnett, TX
Andrew Baez, B.S.
Graduate Student
B.S. Texas Tech University
Joined September 2017
Current Position: MS, U Tampa, FL
Nihar Kinarivala, Ph.D.
Graduate Student
2013-2017
Current Position: Postdoc with ​Prof. Derek Tan, MSKCC, New York, NY
Kshitij Verma, Ph.D.
Graduate Student
2013-2017
Current Position: Postdoc at Genentech, CA
UNDERGRADS and PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS
Edress Amani
Undergraduate
2022-2023
Current Position: Undergraduate, University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE
Hong Trinh
Pharm.D. Student
2022-2023
Current Position: Pharmacy School
Isaac Hueftle
Pharm.D. Student
2022
Current Position: Pharmacy School
Zach Marshall
Undergraduate
2022
Current Position: Undergraduate, University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE
Alfie Case
Undergraduate (M.Chem. Research Placement)
2021-2022
Current Position: Graduate School, UNMC
Hossam Elaraky
Undergraduate
2021-2023
Current Position: Medical School
Ashley Carron
Pharm.D. Student
2021
Current Position: Pharmacy School
Nauman Zia
Pharm.D. Student
2018-2019
Current Position: Pharmacy School
Myla Bhakta
Pharm.D. Student
2018-2019
Current Position: Pharmacist
Andrew Soliman
Pharm.D. Student
2018-2019
Current Position: Pharmacy School
Amin Patel
P2 Pharm.D Student
2017
Current Position: Pharmacist
Delaney Farris
Undergraduate ABRI Intern
Summer 2017
Current Position: Graduate School, Yale University
Kaeli Faires
Undergraduate Honors College Summer Intern
Summer 2015
Current Position: Pharmacy School
Bryan Yu
Pharm.D. Student
2015-2017
Current Position: Pharmacist
Jessica Mayo
ABRI Intern
Summer 2014
Current Position: TTUHSC Medical School
Juan Guerrero
P1/2 Pharm.D Student
2014-2016
Current Position: Pharmacist
Esther Bae
P1 Pharm.D Student
2014-2015
Current Position:
Pharmacist
Peter Botros
P1 Pharm.D. Student
2013-2014
Current Position: Pharmacist