Christopher Arnatt

Christopher Arnatt, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Saint Louis University, within the School of Science and Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University (2013) and a B.S. in Chemistry from Hampden-Sydney College (2009). His research focuses on leveraging organic chemistry to decode cellular processes and disease mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on developing small molecule and fluorescent probes to study biological systems. Current projects target nuclear proteins, DNA modifications, and their roles in cancer and stem cell biology.

His research portfolio includes groundbreaking work on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), especially GPR183 and GPER, exploring their roles in neuropathic pain, estrogen signaling, and cancer progression. He has pioneered methodologies in metabolomics using advanced mass spectrometry techniques like isobaric tagging for high-throughput analysis. His lab also develops novel therapeutic agents, including photoswitchable molecules for cancer treatment and GPER modulators for estrogen-related disorders.

Dr. Arnatt teaches advanced chemistry courses (CHEM 2410–5160) and maintains an active laboratory program (arnattlab.com) that emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches at the chemistry-biology interface. His work bridges synthetic organic chemistry with translational research, addressing unmet clinical needs in pain management and oncology.