Eric C. Long

Eric C. Long is a Professor at Indiana University specializing in Chemical Biology and Bioinorganic Chemistry, with research focused on DNA and RNA binding agents for anticancer applications and nucleic acid structural probes. His laboratory develops high-throughput screening methodologies and fluorescence-based assays to characterize DNA-targeted compounds, including collaborations with Prof. M. Georgiadis on bleomycin-DNA crystallography.

Education:

• B.S., Albright College, 1984
• Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1988
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund, Columbia University and California Institute of Technology, 1989-1991

Professor Long's research centers on molecular recognition of nucleic acids by synthetic and natural compounds. His group pioneers fluorescent intercalator displacement (FID) assays for binding site analysis and couples these with host-guest crystallography to determine 3D structures of DNA-drug complexes. Key projects include developing metallopeptide-based DNA cleavers and characterizing bleomycin's DNA interactions, with implications for anticancer drug design and fundamental biopolymer recognition mechanisms.

Analysis of his 2005-2014 publications reveals consistent focus on DNA-binding agents, evolving from structural studies of bleomycin to high-throughput screening of compound libraries. Dominant themes include metallopeptide-DNA recognition, crystallographic characterization of drug-DNA complexes, and development of assays for binding site selectivity—demonstrating interdisciplinary integration of synthetic chemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research (1989-91)
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Invitation Fellowship (2004)
• Indiana University Trustees Teaching Award (2001, 2002)
• Purdue School of Science Teaching Award (1999)
• Indiana University Teaching Excellence Recognition Award (1997, 1999)
• Purdue Research Foundation Summer Faculty Fellow (1992)

Professor Long serves as Associate Editor for Current Bioactive Compounds and on editorial boards for Current Organic Synthesis and The Open Natural Products Journal. While specific grant details are unreported, his 15-year publication record indicates sustained research funding for projects in chemical biology and drug discovery. His laboratory develops novel methodologies for discovering DNA-binding agents, with current work extending to alternative nucleic acid structures and structural analysis of screening-derived compounds.