Darrell R. Davis

Darrell R. Davis serves as Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Utah, with primary affiliation in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and active roles in the Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry Programs.

His educational credentials include a B.S. from the University of Puget Sound and a Ph.D. from the University of Utah, establishing deep institutional roots. Research focuses on RNA structure-function relationships in viral pathogenesis, specifically developing host-targeted antivirals that disrupt viral mRNA translation mechanisms across diverse pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, HCV, and Zika virus. Laboratory work has identified enantiomerically specific compounds like DD011-E2 (EC₅₀ = 140 nM against SARS-CoV-2) with conserved activity against phylogenetically distant viruses, indicating a novel mechanism targeting cellular processes.

Publication analysis reveals consistent emphasis on RNA structural biology applied to antiviral discovery, spanning fundamental tRNA/HIV-1 interactions to translational control elements in HCV IRES. Methodologies integrate molecular dynamics simulations, NMR spectroscopy, and cell-based antiviral assays across all studies, demonstrating interdisciplinary rigor in targeting RNA for therapeutic intervention.

No scientific awards are documented in the source material.

Dr. Davis leads an active research laboratory (accessible via Lab Page link) with extensive collaborative networks evident in co-authorship patterns, though specific grant details remain unreported. He mentors graduate students in medicinal chemistry and virology, contributing to both the Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology Ph.D. programs through curriculum development and research supervision.

Laboratory infrastructure supports RNA structural analysis and antiviral screening, with current work optimizing lead compounds against pandemic-capable viruses through mechanistic elucidation of host-targeted inhibition pathways.