Jon Thorson

Jon Thorson is a Professor and Chief Research Officer at the University of Kentucky's College of Pharmacy, where he also serves as Associate Dean of Research and Chief Scientific Officer. He holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota and has held significant roles at institutions like Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. His research focuses on chemical biology, natural products, biosynthesis, and enzyme engineering, with pioneering work in glycorandomization strategies. Thorson leads the Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation (CPRI), now an NIGMS-funded COBRE, and has co-founded biotechnology companies like Centrose. He has been recognized as a University Research Professor (2018).

• Education:
  • PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of Minnesota (1993)
  • B.A. in Chemistry, Augsburg College (1986)

Research Interests: Thorson’s work bridges chemical biology and drug discovery, emphasizing natural product biosynthesis, biocatalysts, and enzymology. He has developed innovative glycorandomization techniques to enhance drug design and created platforms for combinatorial biosynthesis of anticancer agents like anthracyclinones. His lab explores strategies to improve pharmacokinetics and therapeutic selectivity of compounds such as mithramycin analogs.

Articles: Recent work includes advancements in mithramycin analogs for Ewing sarcoma, endophytic fungi-derived antifungals, and metabolic engineering platforms for antibiotics. These studies highlight his lab’s focus on translating fundamental biosynthetic discoveries into clinical applications.

• Awards:
  • University Research Professor (2018)

Grants & Labs: Leads the CPRI, a hub for drug discovery and translational research, and co-directs the Drug Discovery & Development Module at UK’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science. His group collaborates widely, including with industry partners for biotechnology innovations.

Labs/Teams: Thorson oversees a multidisciplinary team in chemical biology, natural products chemistry, and enzymology, with active projects in antibiotic discovery, anticancer drug development, and synthetic biology.