Kenneth Hugh Pearce

Dr. Kenneth Hugh Pearce is a Research Professor in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also serves as Director of the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (CICIBDD) and Director of Lead Discovery and Characterization. His research focuses on discovering small molecule and peptide modulators for therapeutic targets in cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's.

• Education: PhD in Biochemistry

Research Expertise spans protein biochemistry, biophysics, assay design, high-throughput screening, and medicinal chemistry optimization. With 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline, he led multidisciplinary teams for target-based and phenotypic drug discovery programs across antibacterials, antivirals, metabolic diseases, inflammation, and fibrosis. His lab at UNC develops chemical probes for methyl-lysine reader proteins (critical in chromatin regulation) and pioneered the first clinical candidate for reactivating innate immune response in cancer.

Recent Publications highlight his cross-disciplinary impact: covalent inhibitors for Chikungunya protease, FERM domain PPI blockers for Alzheimer's, SETDB1 allosteric modulators in cancer epigenetics, and novel adjuvants for antibiotic-resistant bacterial persisters. Collaborations span immunology, virology, and orthopedics, reflecting his integrative approach to drug discovery.

Leadership includes directing UNC's CICIBDD and Lead Discovery initiatives, fostering partnerships between academic researchers and pharmaceutical scientists.