Peter Toogood

Peter Toogood is a distinguished medicinal chemist at the University of Michigan's College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, with a prolific 35+ year career in drug discovery. His research has significantly impacted cancer therapeutics, particularly through the development of selective kinase inhibitors.

Dr. Toogood's research spans multiple therapeutic areas with a strong emphasis on cancer pharmacology and cell cycle regulation. His early work focused on bioorganic chemistry and natural products (azadirachtin insect antifeedants), evolving into targeted cancer therapies. He made seminal contributions to CDK4/6 inhibitor development, including the foundational work on PD 0332991 (palbociclib), which received FDA approval in 2015 for breast cancer treatment. Current research focuses on PDHK inhibitors for cancer metabolism and RORγ agonists for immuno-oncology applications.

Analysis of his publication trends reveals a strategic evolution from natural product chemistry to targeted kinase inhibitors, with increasing focus on cancer metabolism and immunotherapy in recent years. His work demonstrates exceptional translational impact, with multiple compounds advancing to clinical development.

Dr. Toogood has collaborated extensively across disciplines, working with biologists, pharmacologists, and clinicians to validate therapeutic targets and develop novel agents. His research has been supported by both NIH grants and pharmaceutical partnerships.