معرفی
Jeanne Hardy is a Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Chemistry, where she leads the Hardy Lab. Her research focuses on proteases, particularly caspases, and their roles in neurodegeneration and viral diseases. Affiliated with the Graduate Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology and the Center for Bioactive Delivery at the Institute for Applied Life Sciences, she integrates structural biology and biotechnology to develop therapies for Alzheimer's and pandemic preparedness.
Research interests include:
- Elucidating caspase-6 structural dynamics for Alzheimer's drug targets
- Engineering selective viral protease inhibitors for Dengue, Zika, and SARS-CoV-2
- Developing nanogel delivery systems for intracellular protein therapeutics
- Exploring allosteric regulation and exosite interactions in proteases
Recent publications highlight neurodegenerative disease mechanisms (2023-2025), viral protease drugability (2023-2024), and advanced structural analysis techniques (2023-2024). Her work bridges molecular biophysics and translational medicine.
Scientific awards:
- Inaugural Mahoney Life Sciences Prize (2018)
Jeanne Hardy directs the NIH-Supported Biotechnology Training Program and teaches CHEM 423: Biochemistry for Chemists & Chemical Engineers. The Hardy Lab trains future scientists through hands-on research in protease engineering and drug delivery systems.
