Welcome to the Camacho-Hernandez Lab Neurochemistry Synthesis Unit
The Camacho-Hernandez Lab is a multidisciplinary research team at the interface of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, dedicated to developing and optimizing small molecules to probe transmembrane protein function, combining synthetic organic chemistry with in vitro pharmacological assays and advanced imaging techniques.
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"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
— Albert Einstein
Mission
Our Lab is dedicated to advancing our understanding of membrane protein function and regulation in the context of neuropsychiatric disorders. Through the integration of medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and in vitro pharmacology, we design and synthesize small molecules to probe ligand-gated ion channels and transporters. Our mission is to develop molecular tools and therapeutic leads that illuminate the roles of these proteins in health and disease, leveraging cutting-edge techniques in synthetic chemistry, radio ligand binding, and imaging to drive discovery and translational impact.
Research Interests and Scientific Approach
Research Interests and Scientific Approach
Transmembrane proteins are essential for controlling biological processes by transmitting and receiving signals. Our lab applies medicinal chemistry and chemical biology approaches to develop small molecules that interact with these proteins—enabling us to better understand their function and regulation in both health and disease.
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We focus on transmembrane proteins implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) and transporters.
Our drug discovery efforts are biologically driven. We design and synthesize novel small molecules, which are systematically evaluated using radioligand binding assays to generate detailed structure–activity relationship (SAR) data. Lead compounds are further optimized and tested in behavioral models to assess their therapeutic potential.
In parallel, we are developing fluorescent cleavable and non-cleavable probes to study LGICs and transporters in their native environments, using advanced microscopy techniques and flow cytometry.
Training and Technology
Lab members receive hands-on training in synthetic organic chemistry and in vitro pharmacology, with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and experimental techniques at the interface of chemistry and neuroscience.