Steve J Sucheck

Steve J Sucheck is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of Toledo within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. His research spans bioorganic chemistry with a focus on developing novel therapeutics and vaccines. He maintains an active research group and collaborates with structural biologists, microbiologists, and immunologists.

• B.S. (1992), University of Toledo
• Ph.D. (1998), University of Virginia
• NIH Postdoctoral Fellow (1998-2000), The Scripps Research Institute
• Senior Scientist (2000-2002), Optimer Pharmaceuticals
• Group Leader (2003-2005), Optimer Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Sucheck's research focuses on three main programs: 1) Synthesis of enzyme inhibitors targeting trehalose utilization pathways in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), including glycoside hydrolase and esterase inhibitors; 2) Synthesis of marine natural products active against dormant Mtb; and 3) Development of antibody recruiting molecules (ARMs) to enhance immunotherapeutics. His work addresses critical challenges in tuberculosis treatment and cancer immunotherapy, with particular emphasis on carbohydrate-based therapeutics and vaccine development.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on tuberculosis drug discovery, with numerous papers on inhibitors targeting Mtb enzymes like GlgE and Antigen 85C. His work combines synthetic chemistry with structural biology approaches, often using X-ray crystallography to understand enzyme-inhibitor interactions. He also maintains significant activity in vaccine development, particularly using carbohydrate-based approaches to enhance immune responses through antibody recruitment mechanisms.

Dr. Sucheck has received NIH funding for multiple research programs focused on tuberculosis and immunotherapeutics. His collaborative approach provides students with opportunities to work with experts across multiple disciplines including structural biology, microbiology, and immunology.

His laboratory, the Sucheck Group, focuses on bioorganic chemistry with particular expertise in synthesizing small molecules that interact with biological targets. Current projects include developing inhibitors for essential Mtb enzymes, synthesizing marine natural product derivatives with activity against dormant bacteria, and creating improved cancer vaccines using antibody-recruiting strategies.