Research thoughts by:

Qinheng Zheng

Research Summary

6/30/2026

Research in my lab integrates organic chemistry, chemical biology, and cancer biology to develop covalent compounds that allow chemical rescue of somatic mutations in cancer currently deemed “undruggable”. Somatic mutations, particularly in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes – key regulators of cell fate – underpin cancer development. Although there are drugs targeting activating mutations, strategies aimed at rescuing the inactivating mutations, especially in tumor suppressors remain vastly underexplored and represent an unmet therapeutic gap. Our approach capitalizes on the reactivity of mutant residues of tumor suppressor proteins, which lead to functional disruption in biological processes that cause cancer. We aim to develop small molecules that covalently modify the mutant residuein a targeted fashion, functionally restore the wild type-like activity, and inhibit tumor growth. We are interested in rescuing dysfunctioned transcription, enzyme catalysis, and proteasomal degradation in cancer cells. Each direction is scalable paving the way for novel therapeutics targeting elusive cancer mutations.