Christian Schöneich

Christian Schöneich is the Takeru Higuchi Distinguished Professor and Department Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Technical University of Berlin (1990) and a Diploma in Chemistry from the Free University of Berlin (1987). His research focuses on oxidative post-translational modifications of proteins in vivo and in pharmaceutical formulations, utilizing advanced proteomic and mass spectrometry techniques. Key areas include reactive oxygen species (ROS) mechanisms, protein oxidation in aging/disease, and stability of therapeutic proteins. He leads efforts to establish interdisciplinary proteomics infrastructure at KU and studies formulation stability of biologics like monoclonal antibodies and mRNA vaccines.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Technical University of Berlin, 1990
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Kansas, 1991
• Diploma in Chemistry, Free University Berlin, 1987

Research Interests:

His work spans protein oxidation mechanisms, proteomic analysis of aging-related modifications, and stability challenges in pharmaceutical formulations. Specific projects include:

• Characterizing NO-induced protein modifications (e.g., S-glutathiolation of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase)
• Developing labeling chemistries for quantifying post-translational modifications
• Studying light-induced degradation of antibodies and cyclic peptides
• Optimizing mRNA vaccine storage stability and in-use conditions

Publications:

Recent work addresses mRNA vaccine stability, antibody-drug conjugate aggregation, and iron-catalyzed oxidation pathways. His 2023 review on mRNA formulation stability highlights storage challenges, while 2024 studies examine citrate buffer/Fe(III) mediated protein degradation.

Grants & Collaborations:

He collaborates on NIH-funded projects on protein oxidation in neurodegenerative diseases and leads initiatives to build proteomics infrastructure at KU. Research extends to industry partnerships optimizing biologic drug stability.

Labs/Teams:

His lab is part of the University of Kansas’s Proteomics Center, equipped with MALDI-TOF/TOF and ion trap mass spectrometers. Focus areas include analytical proteomics, drug formulation science, and oxidative stress biomarker discovery.