Cassia Mizuno

Dr. Cassia Mizuno serves as Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry within the School of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences at Western New England University, where she leads research in natural product modification for therapeutic applications targeting cancer, infectious diseases, and pain management.

Education:

• Post Doctoral training, USDA-ARS, Oxford, MS
• Ph.D, Medicinal Chemistry, University of Mississippi
• BS, Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Research Focus: Her laboratory specializes in multi-step organic synthesis of natural product derivatives, with emphasis on structure-activity relationships for anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-parasitic, and analgesic properties. Current work centers on stilbenes, diterpenes, and other phytochemicals modified through synthetic chemistry to enhance bioactivity and reduce toxicity.

Publication Analysis: Her six recent publications (2015-2021) reveal consistent investigation of natural product cytotoxicity using in vitro cancer models, particularly breast carcinoma lines. Key trends include comparative isomer studies (cis vs trans stilbenes), diterpene structure-activity optimization, and neuroprotective mechanisms of polyphenols—demonstrating strong integration of synthetic chemistry with cellular pharmacology across oncology, neurodegeneration, and neglected disease research.

Awards: No scientific awards were documented in the source material.

Academic Activities: While specific advisees and grants remain unlisted, her publication record indicates active mentorship of graduate researchers in medicinal chemistry projects. Her USDA-ARS postdoctoral background suggests ongoing connections to agricultural chemical research networks.

Laboratory Operations: The research program employs CHO-K1, HepG2, MCF-7, and MCF-10A cell lines for genotoxicity and antiproliferative screening, combining organic synthesis with molecular pharmacology to develop environmentally sustainable therapeutic candidates from natural scaffolds.