Scientific Team
Principal Investigator
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Drew Adams, Ph.D.
Postdoc, Chemical Biology Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT PhD, Organic Chemistry Harvard University BA, Biochemistry Swarthmore College Drew graduated from Swarthmore College with Highest Honors and obtained his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Harvard University (Prof. David A. Evans). He then undertook postdoctoral studies with Prof. Stuart L. Schreiber at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT within the Center for the Science of Therapeutics. There he used high-throughput screening and chemical biology techniques to identify drug candidates that modulated cancer cell stress phenotypes and to eluciddate these molecules' cellular mechanisms-of-action. Drew joined the Case Western Reserve University Genetics Department in 2015 as an Assistant Professor, and in July 2018 he was appointed as the Thomas F. Peterson, Jr. Professor of Cancer and Energy Research. Drew also serves as Director of the Small-Molecule Drug Development Core, a newly-built facility enabling high-throughput screening to accelerate academic drug discovery efforts. |
Postdoctoral Fellow
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Ryan Friedrich, Ph.D.
PhD, Chemistry University of Iowa BA, Chemistry University of Minnesota Ryan received his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Iowa in 2017. There he expanded a strategy to synthesize chiral 1,5-polyols and applied it to the synthesis of tetrafibricin, a biologically active natural product. He joined the Adams lab in early 2018 and is currently working on a variety of medicinal chemistry projects as a member of the Small-Molecule Drug Development Core. In his free time he enjoys playing disc golf, watching movies, and trying new foods. |
Graduate Students
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Zita Hubler
BS, Bioengineering University of Illinois U-C Zita is a third year PhD student in the CWRU MSTP. Her current research utilizes genetic, chemical, and biological tools to investigate the mechanism of action of small molecules which alter cell fate decision making in stem cells. Her undergraduate research was mostly computational; she uses these skills to streamline and automate certain aspects of her experiments. Outside of work, she enjoys training for local distance races, cooking new recipes, and exploring the outdoors. However, her newest hobby is growing succulents and cacti which adorn the lab. Additionally, she is involved with organizations such as MSTP council, Graduate Student Senate, and MSTP Women’s Group. |
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Joel Sax
BA, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology UC Berkeley Joel is 2nd year medical student in the MSTP at the CWRU School of Medicine. His research interests include translational science with an emphasis on biochemistry and chemical biology. The Adams Lab allows him the flexibility in taking a high-throughput screening approach to many biological problems. Beyond research, he enjoys mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and running. |
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Matthew Pleshinger
BA, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology The College of Wooster Matthew is a first-year PhD student in the BSTP at CWRU. Currently, his research interest lies in understanding the mechanism of action of drugs and identifying novel targets. His goal is to provide fundamental information for translational medicine. In his free time, he enjoys participating in and watching soccer, baseball, and basketball. |
Undergraduate Students
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Matt Thompson
Matt Thompson is a fourth-year undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry and a B.A. in Theatre. He has been a member of the Adams Lab team since May 2016 where he has sought to identify small molecules capable of reversing Huntington’s Disease progression through restoration of mitochondrial function. In 2018, he was selected as a Barry Goldwater Scholar and named a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow by the American Chemical Society in partnership with Pfizer and Merck. He hopes to attend medical school following graduation from CWRU. In his free time, Matt enjoys playing basketball and golf, cooking, and camping. |
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Farrah Gao
Farrah is a third year undergraduate student majoring in biochemistry and minoring in classics. She is interested in research and is planning on pursuing a PhD after graduation. Outside of the lab she enjoys traveling, reading books, and going to concerts. |