Vern L. Schramm

Vern L. Schramm is a Professor and holder of the Ruth Merns Chair in Biochemistry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His research focuses on enzymatic transition states, using isotope effects and quantum chemistry to design drugs for cancers, antibiotics, and metabolic disorders. Key projects include developing inhibitors for purine nucleoside phosphorylase (targeting T-cell cancers and gout), malaria parasite enzymes, and saporin-based cancer therapies. His work integrates enzymology, synthetic chemistry, and computational modeling, with active collaborations in structural biology and clinical translation.

Research interests span enzyme catalysis mechanisms, transition state analogues, and their applications in drug design. Projects address human genetic deficiencies, parasitic protozoa growth inhibition, and epigenetic control pathways via methyltransferases. His lab trains students in enzymology, inhibitor design, and multi-disciplinary approaches combining NMR, X-ray crystallography, and synthetic chemistry. Recent advances include FDA orphan drug status for T-cell cancer therapies and preclinical malaria inhibitors.

Publications emphasize kinetic isotope effects, transition state structure determination, and translational drug development. Collaborations extend to drug metabolism studies in cells and animals, with a focus on optimizing inhibitor lifetimes and reducing chemotherapy side effects.

Scientific contributions include pioneering methods for transition state analysis and clinical-stage drug candidates. Current efforts target cancer, infectious diseases, and metabolic disorders, leveraging both academic and industrial partnerships for application in human health.