Kabirul Islam

Kabirul Islam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on chemical approaches to understand epigenetic mechanisms in human biology and disease, integrating organic synthesis, bioorganic chemistry, and structural biology. Key projects include developing chemoproteomic tools like interaction-based protein profiling (IBPP) and allele-specific chemical genetics to study epigenetic regulators.

Research interests span epigenetic protein interactions, metabolic-epigenetic links (e.g., 2-ketoglutarate-dependent demethylases), and precision medicine targeting epigenetic drivers of cancer and obesity. The Islam Lab employs synthetic chemistry, protein engineering, and advanced spectroscopic methods to modulate and interrogate chromatin modifications.

Publications highlight contributions to TET enzyme analysis, histone demethylase inhibition, and photochemical tools for interactome profiling. Ongoing work explores allele-specific modulation of epigenetic machinery and boron-based oligonucleotide delivery systems.

Lab activities include mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and collaborations across chemistry, biology, and materials science. The group actively seeks to bridge chemical innovation with biomedical applications, emphasizing translational research in epigenetic therapies.