معرفی
Johanna Larsson is a Researcher at Uppsala University's Department of Medicinal Chemistry, working within the SciLifeLab Drug Discovery and Development platform (DDD). She specializes in designing and synthesizing novel small-molecule drug candidates during Hit-to-Lead and Lead Identification phases, collaborating with Swedish principal investigators to advance academic discoveries toward pre-clinical proof-of-concept through integrated chemistry and biology expertise.
Her academic foundation includes:
- PhD in Organic Chemistry from Stockholm University (2008-2013), focusing on transition metal-catalyzed transformations and mechanistic studies under Prof. Kálmán Szabó
- Master of Science in Chemistry from Lund University (2007)
Larsson's research bridges fundamental organic synthesis and applied drug discovery. She develops novel synthetic methodologies while optimizing drug candidates for targets like angiotensin AT2 receptors and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, emphasizing structural innovation, binding affinity, and metabolic stability. Her work integrates heterocyclic chemistry, catalysis, and structure-activity relationship analysis to address therapeutic challenges in cardiovascular disease and oncology.
Publication analysis reveals an evolution from mechanistic organic chemistry (palladium-catalyzed reactions, fluorination methods) toward target-focused medicinal chemistry. Recent work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration, combining synthetic design with biological evaluation to progress compounds from hit identification to lead optimization, particularly in sulfonamide-based ligands and enzyme inhibitors.
As part of SciLifeLab DDD's multidisciplinary team, she collaborates with chemists and biologists possessing complementary expertise in ADME, toxicology, biochemical screening, protein expression, and pharmacology. This integrated environment enables comprehensive drug discovery support for academic researchers, spanning from initial target validation through pre-clinical candidate selection.
