PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

The principal investigator for this COBRE grant is Dr. Stephen J. Cutler.  Dr. Cutler is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and was recruited to the University of Mississippi in 2006.  He is a broadly trained scientist, with a well funded research program in natural products chemistry.  In addition, he has strong administrative experience.  Dr. Cutler attended graduate school at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and won his Ph.D. degree in Medicinal Chemistry with Dr. C. DeWitt Blanton, Jr. as his advisor. His area of study at the College of Pharmacy was drug design and development, based on natural product leads, with respect to the control of cancerous disorders and infectious diseases. He broadened his research experience with a postdoctoral appointment in the College of Agriculture, where he studied the application of biotransformation of pharmaceutical agents with fungi as well as investigated drug metabolism.  In addition, he continued to develop his understanding of agrochemicals. Following that, Dr. Cutler served on the faculty at Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy from 1991-93 where he performed both teaching and research.  He was then appointed to the faculty at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy from 1993-2006 where he continued teaching and his research in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.  His teaching assignments included all areas of pharmacy with emphasis on biochemistry, infectious disease and cardiovascular medicine, amongst others.  During the course of his career, Dr. Cutler has served on boards of numerous organizations, both at the National and International level.  In addition, he currently serves as the Editor for Medicinal Chemistry Research.  Dr. Cutler has earned numerous research, teaching, and service awards, and has over 60 publications in scholarly and professional journals, more than 24 patents and has approximately 20 patent applications awaiting allowance. Dr. Cutler is the author of several chapters in assorted books, has edited two books, and has made over 30 invited presentations at the international, national, state, and local levels.  Because of his more than 20 years of experience as a natural products chemist and due to his administrative acumen, Dr. Cutler is well-qualified to serve as P.I. on this COBRE.  As the P.I., Dr. Cutler is responsible for administering the programs and for overseeing the development of the center and its core facilities.