Edward L. D'Antonio

Prof. Edward L. D'Antonio is a Professor of Biochemistry and Structural Biology at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB). He has held progressive academic appointments since 2013, advancing from Assistant to Associate and Full Professor. His research is centered on drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases, particularly Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Research Interests: His work integrates Medicinal Chemistry, Structural Biology, and Biochemistry to develop inhibitors targeting pathogenic proteins. He employs structure-based drug design, high-throughput screening, and enzymatic assays to identify compounds with improved efficacy and reduced toxicity.

Recent Article Trends: His recent publications and patent focus on antiparasitic agents, including natural products like malvidin and gossypol derivatives. These studies combine in silico modeling, in vitro testing, and protein characterization, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to therapeutic development.

Scientific Awards:

• Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award (2018)
• The American Institute of Chemists Foundation Award (2008)

Advising and Grants: He has mentored undergraduate researchers and received the 2025 RISE research grant from the University of South Carolina. The grant supports his project on enzymatic hemoglobins in marine polychaetes, in collaboration with researchers from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

Labs and Teams: His research program involves both independent work and international collaborations, including scientists from Emory University, Laboratório de Biotecnologia in Brazil, and researchers in Peru and Ecuador. He also collaborates with Dr. Luis Goyzueta-Mamani and Dr. Miguel Angel Chávez-Fumagalli on antileishmanial drug discovery.