معرفی
Dr. Laleh Alisaraie is an Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she leads a research group focused on computational approaches in drug discovery and structural biology. Her interdisciplinary work bridges chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, and pharmaceutical sciences, with a strong emphasis on understanding molecular mechanisms in disease and drug delivery.
Her educational background includes a Dr. rer. nat. in Chemistry from Universität Paderborn, Germany, an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry, and a B.Sc. in Applied Chemistry. She completed postdoctoral training in protein crystallography at McGill University and in computational chemical biology at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Alisaraie's research interests center on chemical biology, computational structural biology, and pharmaceutical nanoscience. She investigates the structure and function of cytoskeletal motor proteins like dynein, the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on microtubules, and the development of biomimetic nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery. Her lab uses advanced computational tools such as molecular dynamics simulations, normal mode analysis, and structural bioinformatics to explore protein-ligand interactions and nanomaterial behavior.
The trends in her recent publications highlight a strong focus on motor protein regulation, tubulin-targeting drugs, and functionalized carbon nanotubes for improved drug delivery. Her work integrates structural insights with therapeutic applications, particularly in cancer treatment and reducing drug toxicity.
- Recruitment of Dynein and Kinesin to Viral Particles (2022)
- Microtubule-Inspired Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes (2022)
- Metabolites of Vinca Alkaloid Vinblastine (2019)
Dr. Alisaraie advises multiple graduate and undergraduate researchers, including Ph.D. and M.Sc. candidates, and has mentored numerous former lab members across disciplines such as biochemistry, pharmacy, computer science, and engineering. While no specific grants are named, her research is supported by technical and funding partners, indicating active project funding. She teaches key courses including Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Design, and Proteins Structure and Function at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Her lab, located in the Health Sciences Center (H-3421-B), conducts fundamental science using computational methodologies to address challenges in drug discovery, nanomedicine, and cellular transport mechanisms. The team explores dynein’s motor domain, microtubule-binding dynamics, and peptide-functionalized carbon nanotubes as innovative drug carriers.
