Ryan Shenvi

Ryan Shenvi is a Professor of Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in La Jolla. His research focuses on developing innovative synthetic methodologies to access complex natural products with potential biomedical applications. He earned his PhD in Chemistry from TSRI (2008) and a B.S. in Chemistry from Pennsylvania State University (2003).

His lab pioneered the metal-hydride atom transfer (MHAT) paradigm, enabling efficient synthesis of branched hydrocarbons and natural products like salvinorin A. Major research areas include opioid receptor ligands, neurotrophic agents, and anti-malarial compounds. Notable achievements include the first gram-scale synthesis of jiadifenolide and stabilization of salvinorin A for therapeutic development.

Dr. Shenvi has secured over 20 prestigious awards, including the E.J. Corey Award (2021) and Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award (2019). His work bridges organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and neuroscience, with collaborations spanning academic and industrial partners like Eli Lilly and Novartis. His lab emphasizes sustainability, using industrial waste in drug development and advancing computer-aided synthesis planning (CASP).

Key projects include exploring κ-opioid receptor agonists for non-addictive pain management, annotating the pharmacology of asmarine alkaloids, and synthesizing neurotrophic terpenes with anti-psychotic activity. His group’s MHAT-based cross-coupling reactions have been commercialized and widely adopted in academia and industry.